Ralph Robert Erickson
How Judge Erickson rules, drawn from 24 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Erickson no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Erickson decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In the suppression context, the court examined the entire encounter and rejected consent produced by pressure rather than a real choice.
“Consent obtained by duress or coercion is not voluntary consent.”
In a Social Security appeal, the court applied deferential review while requiring substantial evidence across the whole record.
“the Commissioner’s findings are to be affirmed if supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole.”
Procedural preferences
Reconsideration required manifest error and diligence; material available earlier did not justify reopening a prior ruling.
“Intermec has failed to meet the high standard of demonstrating a ‘manifest error of law or fact’ to warrant reconsideration of the Court’s previous Orders. Intermec has also failed to act with due diligence, rendering reconsideration inappropriate.”
The court enforced statutory exhaustion by looking to every step the prison grievance system made available.
“Proper exhaustion ‘means using all steps that the agency holds out, and doing so properly.’”
Cautions
A preliminary-injunction request failed when irreparable harm, the balance of harms, and the public interest did not favor relief.
“the court finds the plaintiffs have failed to establish irreparable harm, or that the balance of harms and interest of the public weigh in their favor.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“As Defendant has appealed both his conviction and death sentence, the Court stays the sentence of death imposed on February 8, 2007.”
“Defendant United States Air Force’s Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED.”
“DENIES Plaintiff Allen’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment.”
“Koenig’s motion for an emergency stay is DENIED”
“Koenig’s petition for habeas relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 is hereby DISMISSED without prejudice.”
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Shell’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED; the personal capacity excessive force claim against Shell is dismissed with prejudice;”
“His motion to vacate is therefore DENIED, and this action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“Motion to Proceed Pro Se is GRANTED. The Court ORDERS that Defendant be permitted to represent himself at every stage of these proceedings.”
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is DENIED.”
“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Defendant’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED.”
“The Court has no subject matter jurisdiction over the instant suit. The case is DISMISSED with prejudice.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Intermec’s motion for reconsideration is denied.”
“Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED (doc. #7)”
“Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED (doc. #6).”
“The United States’ motion to dismiss the first alleged violation is granted.”
“Defendants’ motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is GRANTED;”
“Defendant Lonnie Wangen’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction is also GRANTED;”
“Plaintiff Gleeson’s motions for summary judgment, for a trial date, for evidence, and to strike are DENIED as moot.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The oldest sampled matters include Social Security appeals, foreclosures, civil-rights, product-liability, employee-benefits, forfeiture, and government enforcement cases. All ten sampled cases were terminated, but their entry streams were unavailable, so no motion timing or disposition rates are reported.
A historical record
Judge Erickson no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.