Michael H. Simon
How Judge Simon rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Simon
Michael H. Simon is a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. Appointed by President Barack Obama, Judge Simon received a commission on June 22, 2011.
Judge Simon's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Simon, as published on the court's website (checked October 9, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Filing
Paper copies are required only for declarations over 100 pages, voluminous summary judgment exhibits, and trial documents.
“Judge Simon does not require paper courtesy copies of filings except for declarations over 100 pages, summary judgment exhibits (if voluminous), and trial documents.”
Filing
Submit a required judge’s copy double-sided and three-hole-punched.
“If a judge’s copy is required, please submit the copy double-sided and three-hole-punched.”
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 9, 2026).
How Judge Simon decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Hamat v. Vestas-American Wind Technology, Simon denied summary judgment to enforce an alleged settlement because the record left genuine disputes over the former attorney's authority to settle. He also denied the defendant's sanctions motion.
“The Court DENIES Defendant's motion for summary judgment, ECF 34, and DENIES Defendant's motion for sanctions, ECF 34.”
In a constitutional emergency-relief case, Simon found that the defendants had complied with a temporary restraining order for 28 days without prejudice or risk of irreparable harm to them.
“Defendants have complied with the Court's Temporary Restraining Order for 28 days without problem or prejudice, let alone any risk of irreparable harm.”
In Connor, he denied dismissal of an ERISA benefit claim where the plaintiff identified a plan provision that could cover the disputed procedures despite ambiguity in the plan guidance.
“identified a provision that allegedly covers the requested procedures.”
Procedural preferences
In a case involving a disputed settlement, Simon granted the defendant’s alternative motion to transfer venue to the Western District of Texas.
“The Court GRANTS Defendant's alternative motion to transfer venue, ECF 34, and transfers this case to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.”
Cautions
In a service dispute involving ADT, Simon granted a dismissal motion and dismissed the case without prejudice.
“ADT's motion to dismiss (Dkt. 7) is GRANTED and this case is DISMISSED without prejudice.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Court DENIES Defendant's motion for summary judgment, ECF 34, and DENIES Defendant's motion for sanctions, ECF 34.”
“The Court GRANTS Defendant's alternative motion to transfer venue, ECF 34, and transfers this case to the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.”
“Accordingly, Plaintiff did not baselessly challenge the settlement agreement, and sanctions are not warranted.”
“GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART PGE's motion for summary judgment (ECF 68). The Court grants PGE's motion for summary judgment against Grand Ronde's affirmative defenses of laches and failure to exhaust administrative remedies but denies PGE's motion as to all other claims.”
“the Court DENIES Grand Ronde's motion for summary judgment (ECF 66)”
“ADT's motion to dismiss (Dkt. 7) is GRANTED and this case is DISMISSED without prejudice.”
“The Court DENIES Defendants' motion for summary judgment, ECF 38.”
“The Court DENIES Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, ECF 2567.”
“The Court GRANTS Plaintiffs' Motion”
“The Court DENIES Defendants' request”
“The Court ADOPTS Judge Beckerman’s Findings and Recommendation, ECF 73. The Court GRANTS Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF 68.”
“The Court GRANTS Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF 22) and DISMISSES Plaintiff’s Complaint (ECF 13) with prejudice.”
“The Court DENIES AS MOOT Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint (ECF 21), Defendant’s Motion to Stay (ECF 30), and Plaintiff’s Motion for ESI Preservation Order (ECF 32).”
“The Court GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART Lake Oswego School Board and Lake Oswego School District’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF 73.”
“The Court GRANTS Mr. Haskins’ and Portland Public Schools’ Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF 78.”
“The Court GRANTS the Oregon School Activities Association’s Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF 80.”
“The Court GRANTS Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (ECF 6) without prejudice.”
“DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment, ECF 78.”
“Because Plaintiff’s FAC supersedes her original complaint, and because Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss were directed at the original complaint, those Motions are now moot. The Court DENIES Dr. Roberts’ Motion to Dismiss, ECF 15, and Mr. Bugher’s Motion to Dismiss, ECF 18.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The 2020-2021 case sample includes employment and prisoner civil-rights matters, insurance coverage, public-records and press-access disputes, False Claims Act cases, and criminal matters. Reported durations measure the life of each case, not the time taken to decide a motion.
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 | 16 |
| Bench trials submitted more than six months | 1 |
| Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Social Security appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Civil cases pending more than three years | 23 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 16 | 23 |
| Sep 2025 | 10 | 21 |
| Mar 2025 | 17 | 17 |
| Sep 2024 | 23 | 16 |
| Mar 2024 | 13 | 13 |
| Sep 2023 | 17 | 17 |
| Mar 2023 | 19 | 17 |
| Sep 2022 | 9 | 17 |
| Mar 2022 | 20 | 56 |
| Sep 2021 | 10 | 57 |
| Mar 2021 | 19 | 33 |
| Sep 2020 | 5 | 19 |
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 United States District Court for the District of Oregon, not for Judge Simon: 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 | 1,647 | 9.8 months |
| Closed with no court action | 300 | 5.2 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 1,316 | 10.4 months |
| Closed during or after pretrial | 9 | not reported |
| Closed during trial | 22 | 33.6 months |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 1,647 | 9.8 months |
| Sep 2024 | 1,633 | 10.2 months |
| Sep 2023 | 1,472 | 11.6 months |
| Sep 2022 | 1,620 | 13.7 months |
| Sep 2021 | 1,501 | 11.8 months |
| Sep 2020 | 1,536 | 11.8 months |
| Sep 2019 | 1,596 | 11.6 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 Simon with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Simon, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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