Kimberly G. Altman
How Judge Altman rules, drawn from 14 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Altman
Kimberly G. Altman has served as a United States magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Michigan since September 2020. She earned degrees from Michigan State University and Wayne State University Law School before joining the bench.
Judge Altman's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Altman, as published on the court's website (checked October 8, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Discovery
No exhibits or attachments shall be filed with the Joint List.
“No exhibits or attachments shall be filed with the Joint List.”
Discovery
The list should be e-filed at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing.
“The list should be e-filed at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing.”
Trial
Counsel and the parties must consent to jury selection by the magistrate judge in writing.
“Counsel and the parties must consent to jury selection by the magistrate judge in writing.”
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 8, 2026).
- Procedures for Access, Service, and Management of Sealed Documents ↗
- Procedures for the Filing, Service and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- Standing Order for Discovery and Inspection and Fixing Motion Cut-Off Date in Criminal Cases ↗
- Pro Se Filings (Revised & Amended) ↗
- Filing a New Civil Case or Civil Initiating Papers Under Seal ↗
How Judge Altman decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
In Wagle v. Corizon, Altman recommended granting summary judgment for Farris while denying it without prejudice for Corizon.
“Defendants' motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 25) is GRANTED as to Farris; and ... DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE as to Corizon.”
Cautions
In Savoie v. Oliver, Altman recommended denying one motion to dismiss and granting and denying the defendants' summary-judgment motions in part. The district judge later modified the recommendation.
“Magistrate Judge Kimberly G. Altman issued a report recommending that the motion to dismiss be denied and that the motions for summary judgment be granted and denied in part.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“defendants' motion to dismiss the complaint and for summary judgment on the basis of exhaustion (ECF No. 22) is granted.”
“Magistrate Judge Kimberly G. Altman issued a report recommending that the motion to dismiss be denied and that the motions for summary judgment be granted and denied in part.”
“recommending that ... the motions for summary judgment be granted and denied in part”
“Defendants' motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 25) is GRANTED as to Farris; and ... DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE as to Corizon.”
“The motion for summary judgment filed by Green and Mikat (ECF No. 17) is GRANTED; The motion for summary judgment filed by Ealey and Peterson (ECF No. 34) is GRANTED; and This case is hereby DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
“the undersigned RECOMMENDS that Hurse's motion to remand (ECF No. 6) be GRANTED, and the case remanded to Monroe County Circuit Court.”
“Valdes' second motion to compel (ECF No. 23) is DENIED AS MOOT.”
“Stenberg's motions to strike (ECF Nos. 59, 62, 68, 69) are DENIED.”
“Stenberg's motion (ECF No. 90) is GRANTED IN PART, such that Stenberg may file a sur-reply; and Wellpath's motion to extend (ECF No. 91) is GRANTED”
Altman recommended dismissal after the plaintiff failed to prosecute the civil-rights action. The recommendation stated: “the undersigned RECOMMENDS that the case be DISMISSED for failure to prosecute under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41 and E.D. Mich. LR 41.2.”
“the undersigned therefore RECOMMENDS that defendants’ motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 29) be GRANTED.”
“Defendants’ motion to dismiss and for summary judgment on the basis of exhaustion (ECF No. 34) be GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART”
“Moon’s motion for a preliminary injunction (ECF No. 39) be DENIED.”
“Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction, ECF No. 10, is DENIED”
“Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction, ECF No. 11, is DENIED”
“Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction, ECF No. 12, is DENIED”
“Plaintiff’s Motion for Declaratory Judgment, ECF No. 15, is DENIED.”
Pending matters in the official report
Reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts under the Civil Justice Reform Act, as of March 31, 2026.
| Motions pending more than six months | 0 |
| Bench trials submitted more than six months | 0 |
| Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Social Security appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Civil cases pending more than three years | 0 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2020 | 0 | 0 |
A snapshot on that date: matters listed may since have been decided or reassigned. A motion referred to a magistrate judge is counted for both judges. Motions in multidistrict litigation, section 2255 cases and Social Security appeals are not counted, and a very large three-year count is generally a multidistrict docket. Source: Appendix A of the report (PDF); about the report.
How long civil cases take in this court
For the whole of U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, not for Judge Altman: median time from filing to disposition of the civil cases the court closed in the 12 months ending September 30, 2025, as reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
| Cases | Median time | |
|---|---|---|
| All civil cases closed | 2,926 | 8.3 months |
| Closed with no court action | 410 | 2.9 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 1,246 | 4.1 months |
| Closed during or after pretrial | 1,252 | 15.3 months |
| Closed during trial | 18 | 35.8 months |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 2,926 | 8.3 months |
| Sep 2024 | 2,615 | 7.9 months |
| Sep 2023 | 2,616 | 8.5 months |
| Sep 2022 | 2,541 | 9.2 months |
| Sep 2021 | 2,405 | 10.2 months |
| Sep 2020 | 2,677 | 9 months |
| Sep 2019 | 3,237 | 8.6 months |
The table leaves out prisoner petitions, land condemnations, deportation reviews, recovery of overpayments and enforcement of judgments, and reports no median for fewer than 10 cases. A district that closed a large multidistrict litigation in the period shows very large counts and long medians for that year. Source: Table C-5, U.S. District Courts (spreadsheet).
Draft for Judge Altman with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Altman, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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