Dee Dodson Drell
How Judge Drell decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
On FTCA discretionary-function challenges, denies dismissal where a mandatory federal guide arguably prescribed a course of conduct, defeating the discretion defense.
“Before the Court is the Motion to Dismiss or in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment filed by the United States on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture (Doc. 25). ... For the following reasons, the motion will be DENIED.”
On RFRA claims, grants summary judgment treating a self-certification 'trigger' mechanism as a substantial burden on religious exercise.
“For the following reasons, we find that Plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment as to its Religious Freedom and Restoration Act claim.”
In immigration-detention cases, may grant emergency relief where a person living in the United States was detained under the mandatory-entry statute rather than the bond-hearing statute and the resulting loss of liberty supports immediate intervention.
“We find that Pineda Parada will likely succeed on the merits of his claim. He has lived in the United States since 2023 and has been known by USCIS since October of 2023. As such, he should have been detained pursuant to § 1226(a) and provided a bond hearing. Instead, he has been detained pursuant to § 1225 and denied his due process rights.”
Procedural preferences
In insurance-coverage contests, applies strict Louisiana contract interpretation — clear and explicit terms control — and rejects waiver/estoppel defenses absent inducement.
“(1) Valiant’s Motion for Summary Judgment regarding additional insured coverage will be GRANTED;”
Does not treat Section 2243's three-day language as controlling a habeas briefing schedule; applies the governing habeas rules and allows time for a meaningful factual investigation.
“Requiring a response to the pending habeas petition within three days increases the risk of a ruling that inadequately addresses the issues due to more evolving or unknown facts. Both parties will be better served by a ruling based on the correct facts and applicable law, rather than a quick one.”
Cautions
In section 1983 suits against state entities and officials, grants summary judgment on Eleventh Amendment and qualified immunity, requiring only the barest procedural protections for a tenured employee terminated by program elimination.
“Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment will be GRANTED and Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment will be DENIED. This suit will be DISMISSED with PREJUDICE.”
Will deny a temporary restraining order that simply repackages the habeas petition's request for immediate release, and instead set an orderly response-and-reply schedule.
“Thus, we find the TRO to be nothing more than an attempt to have his petition decided immediately. Courts in the Western District of Louisiana have consistently denied such attempts, and this matter is no exception.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Before the Court is the Motion to Dismiss or in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment filed by the United States on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture (Doc. 25). ... For the following reasons, the motion will be DENIED.”
“For the following reasons, we find that Plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment as to its Religious Freedom and Restoration Act claim.”
“Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment will be GRANTED and Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment will be DENIED. This suit will be DISMISSED with PREJUDICE.”
“Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment will be GRANTED and Plaintiffs Motion for Partial Summary Judgment will be DENIED.”
“(1) Valiant’s Motion for Summary Judgment regarding additional insured coverage will be GRANTED;”
“(2) Valiant’s Motion for Summary Judgment regarding Offshore Energy Services’ (OES) claims for contractual liability will be GRANTED in part and DENIED in part;”
“and (3) Valiant’s Motion for Summary Judgment regarding the drilling rig exclusion will be GRANTED.”
“Before the court are two motions for summary judgment: one filed by the Historic District Business Association, Inc. ("HDBA") (Doc. 96) and the second filed by the City of Natchitoches, Mayor Lee Posey, Police Chief Micky Dove, and Samantha Bonnette (Doc. 102). For the reasons set forth herein, we find the motions should and will be GRANTED.”
“For the reasons set forth herein, we find the motions should and will be GRANTED.”
“IT IS ORDERED that the request for the issuance of an order to show cause is DENIED.”
“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the motion for a temporary restraining order is GRANTED. Petitioner should be provided an individualized bond hearing before an immigration judge pursuant to § 1226(a) no later than November 12 at which the Department of Homeland Security will bear the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that Petitioner is a danger to the community and that no financial bond and conditions can mitigate his risk of flight.”
“IT IS ORDERED that Petitioner's motion for temporary restraining order (Doc. 25) is DENIED.”
Put Judge Drell's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Drell actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Drell's own signed orders and cites them.