Roseann A. Ketchmark
How Judge Ketchmark decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Will stay a case to await a controlling appellate decision when a materially similar issue is pending before the Eighth Circuit, framing it as judicial economy under the Landis docket-control power. If a near-identical case is up on appeal, expect a stay rather than a merits ruling.
“the power to stay proceedings is incidental to the power inherent in every court to control the disposition of the causes on its docket with economy of time and effort for itself, for counsel, and for litigants.”
Procedural preferences
Treats subject-matter jurisdiction as raisable at any time and will reach a late jurisdictional motion even when an alternative Rule 12(c) motion is untimely; in § 1983 cases she treats the Heck v. Humphrey favorable-termination bar as jurisdictional in this circuit. A guilty plea to even a lesser/ordinance offense can defeat a later § 1983 wrongful-prosecution claim.
“so long as it applies, Heck implicates the Court’s subject matter jurisdiction.”
On a Rule 12(f) motion to strike she applies the Iqbal/Twombly pleading standard to affirmative defenses, requiring specific facts tied to each defense, but — because striking is disfavored — typically grants leave to replead rather than striking outright. Plead affirmative defenses with supporting facts, and drop 'failure to state a claim' as a standalone affirmative defense.
“striking a party’s pleading is an ‘extreme measure’ that is ‘viewed with disfavor and infrequently granted.’”
Cautions
She flags Rule 16(b) 'good cause' problems with dispositive motions filed long after the scheduling-order deadline; here a Rule 12(c) motion filed ten months late drew an express timeliness concern (though she resolved the case on the always-available jurisdictional ground instead). Do not file dispositive motions out of time without seeking leave and showing diligence.
“Plaintiff raises valid concerns regarding the timeliness of Defendant’s Rule 12(c) motion – filed ten months after the dispositive motions deadline in the amended scheduling order expired without seeking leave to file out of time or adequately satisfying Rule 16(b)’s ‘good cause’ standard.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is GRANTED, and this case is remanded to state court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c).”
“The Government’s motion to strike affirmative defenses 1-4, 8-10, 12-16, 19, and 22, is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.”
“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, in light of the stay, all other pending motions are DENIED without prejudice to refiling, as appropriate, upon lifting of the stay.”
“This case is therefore DISMISSED with prejudice. All remaining motions are denied as MOOT.”
“Plaintiff's Motion to Remand (Doc. 11) is DENIED.”
“Defendant's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED.”
“Defendant's motion to exclude the testimony of Erik Bauer and Neal Sawyers (Doc. 62) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part”
“Plaintiff's Motion to Remand is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. ... the case is REMANDED ... but Plaintiff's request for attorneys' fees is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff New Prime, Inc.'s verified motion for default judgment (Doc. 30) is DENIED.”
“Defendant Federal Insurance Company's motion to set aside clerk's entry of default (Doc. 36) is GRANTED.”
“Defendant's motion for reconsideration is DENIED.”
“Hardwood's motion for judgment on the pleadings as to Brewco's Count II will be denied.”
“Hardwood's motion to dismiss Brewco's Count II for failure to state a claim will be denied.”
“Hardwood's motion to strike, or in the alternative, to make more definite statement will be denied.”
“Defendant LM's motion for summary judgment as to Plaintiff Wills' garnishment claim is GRANTED.”
Put Judge Ketchmark's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Ketchmark actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Ketchmark's own signed orders and cites them.