Jason Kenneth Pulliam
How Judge Pulliam rules, drawn from 39 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Pulliam
Jason Kenneth Pulliam is a judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. Appointed by President Donald J. Trump, Judge Pulliam received a commission on August 5, 2019.
Judge Pulliam's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Pulliam, 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
Filing
The Court will strike any Federal Rule 12(b) Motion to Dismiss if it does not contain the required Certificate of Conference
“The Court will strike any Federal Rule 12(b) Motion to Dismiss if it does not contain the required Certificate of Conference”
Motions
To advance the case efficiently and minimize the cost of litigation, the Court will provide parties an opportunity to amend their pleadings once before considering a Federal Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss.
“To advance the case efficiently and minimize the cost of litigation, the Court will provide parties an opportunity to amend their pleadings once before considering a Federal Rule 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss.”
Motions
This conference shall include written (email or certified mail) notification of the Plaintiff’s right to amend the pleading under these procedures, specifying the proposed deficiencies and the deadlines below.
“This conference shall include written (email or certified mail) notification of the Plaintiff’s right to amend the pleading under these procedures, specifying the proposed deficiencies and the deadlines below.”
Motions
The Amended Complaint must be filed within seven (7) days of the filing date of the Advisory.
“The Amended Complaint must be filed within seven (7) days of the filing date of the Advisory.”
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).
- Standing Order Regarding Joint or Unopposed Request to Change Deadlines ↗
- Order Regarding Procedures for the Filing, Service and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- General Order Regarding Electronic Filing of Transcripts ↗
- Standing Order Regarding Attorney Admissions and CLE Requirements ↗
- Privacy Policy and Public Access to Electronic Files ↗
- Standing Order Regarding the Electronic Submission of Sealed Civil Documents ↗
How Judge Pulliam decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In an immigration-detention habeas case, evidence that the petitioner had lived in the United States for years after release, completed prior immigration proceedings, established a life without criminal history, and was then detained without notice or a bond hearing supported a procedural due-process violation and release.
“Under the facts here, when immigration authorities detained Petitioner in January 2026 without notice or explanation, he had been released into the United States after his initial encounter with immigration authorities and had completed all immigration proceedings until removal proceedings were terminated on the motion of the Government. He had established a life in the United States without any criminal history. His detention violates his due process rights.”
Procedural preferences
In an employment pleading dispute, the court denied a proposed amendment after reviewing it against the previously identified defects and finding it futile.
“For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendants TxDOT and NTT’s Motions to Dismiss, (ECF Nos. 49, 52), DENIES Martinez’s Motion to Amend Complaint, (ECF No. 75), and DENIES AS MOOT any other pending motions.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“After reviewing the briefing and summary judgment evidence, Plaintiff's complaint and statement of discrimination, and the relevant law, the Court GRANTS Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 13). By separate document, the Court will enter Final Judgment for Defendant.”
“Consistent with the Court's September 7, 2022 ruling, the Court DENIES the School District's motion as to its original argument and GRANTS the School District relief based on the parties' subsequent briefings filed under Federal Rule 56(f). This case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“The Court finds the Plaintiffs raise no issues giving rise to relief under Rule 59(e) and, accordingly, DENIES their motion to amend the judgment.”
“For the reasons discussed, the Court finds Plaintiffs have plausibly alleged their causes of action sufficiently to survive HCMA's Rule 12(b)(6) challenge. HCMA's Motions to Dismiss are, therefore, DENIED. ECF Nos. 9, 16.”
“HCMA's Motions to Dismiss are, therefore, DENIED. ECF Nos. 9, 16.”
“Here, Plaintiff makes several generalized alleged errors of fact or law but does not satisfy the requirements for obtaining relief under Rule 59(e). ... For the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES the Motion to Alter and Amend Judgment (ECF No. 16) filed by pro se Plaintiff Rudy Castaneda.”
“For these reasons, the Court finds the request to reconsider lacks merit and denies the motion. ... For these reasons, the Court DENIES Plaintiffs' Motion for Reconsideration or, Alternatively, for Certificate of Appealability & to Stay (ECF No. 29).”
“Before the Court is Defendant New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network's (New Jersey Sharing Network) Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. ECF Nos. 81,101. ... Upon consideration, the Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED. ... For the reasons stated, NJ Organ and Tissue Sharing's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim pursuant to Federal Rule 12(b)(6) is GRANTED.”
“Before the Court is Defendant Southwest Transplant Alliance Inc.'s (STA) Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. ECF Nos. 65,88. ... Upon consideration, the Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED. ... For the reasons stated, Southwest Transplant Alliance's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim pursuant to Federal Rule 12(b)(6) is GRANTED.”
“Before the Court is Defendant United Network for Organ Sharing's (‘UNOS’) Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. ECF Nos. 72,92. ... Upon consideration, the Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED. ... For the reasons stated, UNOS's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim pursuant to Federal Rule 12(b)(6) is GRANTED.”
“Before the Court is Defendant LiveOnNY's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim. ECF Nos. 78,98. ... Upon consideration, the Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED. ... For the reasons stated, LiveOnNY's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim pursuant to Federal Rule 12(b)(6) is GRANTED.”
“For the reasons stated, Parkland’s Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim pursuant to Federal Rule 12(b)(6) is GRANTED.”
“Upon consideration, the Court concludes Allstate's Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED. ... For these reasons, Allstate's arguments supporting summary judgment on the breach of contract cause of action are without merit, and summary judgment will be denied.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The roughly twenty sampled San Antonio dockets are criminal-heavy and include a notable False Claims Act cluster, along with civil-rights, employment, and commercial cases. The sample is not a complete census.
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 | 1 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 2 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 4 |
| Mar 2021 | 2 | 6 |
| Sep 2020 | 0 | 5 |
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 Western District of Texas, not for Judge Pulliam: 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 | 3,691 | 7.7 months |
| Closed with no court action | 1,171 | 5.5 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 2,115 | 7.5 months |
| Closed during or after pretrial | 366 | 14 months |
| Closed during trial | 39 | 30.6 months |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 3,691 | 7.7 months |
| Sep 2024 | 3,440 | 7.8 months |
| Sep 2023 | 3,823 | 7.2 months |
| Sep 2022 | 3,633 | 8.3 months |
| Sep 2021 | 3,178 | 8 months |
| Sep 2020 | 2,990 | 6.4 months |
| Sep 2019 | 2,854 | 7.1 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).
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