Richard B. Farrer
How Judge Farrer decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
His reports and recommendations on dispositive motions -- summary judgment, motions to dismiss, and motions for default judgment -- are routinely adopted by the district judges, who enter the recommended disposition.
“It is ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Farrer (ECF No. 37) is ADOPTED. Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 19) is GRANTED.”
Cautions
He recommends dismissal with prejudice where the claims fail as a matter of law, and screens in forma pauperis complaints under 28 U.S.C. 1915(e), recommending dismissal of legally frivolous theories (such as sovereign-citizen claims) and non-state-actor claims and denying leave to amend as futile.
“it is ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge Richard B. Farrer (ECF No. 12) is ADOPTED IN PART AND AFFIRMED... Defendant's Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 10) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“It is ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Farrer (ECF No. 37) is ADOPTED. Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 19) is GRANTED.”
“For the reasons stated in the recommendation, Plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment (docket no. 49) is DENIED and Defendant's motion for summary judgment (docket no. 51) is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment (docket no. 49) is DENIED and Defendant's motion for summary judgment (docket no. 51) is GRANTED.”
“the Court ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation (Dkt. # 27) as the opinion of the Court and GRANTS Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment. (Dkt. # 25.)”
“Defendants D.R. Horton, Inc.'s and Continental Homes of Texas, LP's 12(b)(6) Motion to Dismiss the Complaint of Plaintiff Fair Housing Council of South Texas (docket no. 27) is GRANTED in PART and DENIED in PART. Plaintiff Fair Housing Council of South Texas's reasonable modification claims under 3604(f)(3)(A) of the Fair Housing Act and Texas state law are DISMISSED. Plaintiff... reasonable-accommodation claims under 3604(f)(3)(B)... remain live and pending...”
“the Court ACCEPTS the Magistrate Judge's recommendation. Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 25) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“it is ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge Richard B. Farrer (ECF No. 12) is ADOPTED IN PART AND AFFIRMED... Defendant's Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 10) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
In this self-represented Section 1983 suit, Farrer granted leave to proceed without prepayment and twice ordered a more definite statement, but both orders were returned undeliverable. He recommended dismissal without prejudice because the private defendants were not state actors, the claims might be unripe, and the plaintiff had failed to prosecute. The district judge adopted the recommendation.
In this self-represented mandamus action, Farrer granted leave to proceed without prepayment but recommended dismissal with prejudice because the sovereign-citizen theory was legally frivolous and amendment would be futile. The district judge adopted the recommendation and warned that continued vexatious filings could lead to sanctions or a pre-filing injunction.
“Motion to Remand to State Court, Dkt. No. 8, be GRANTED”
“a default judgment should be entered against individual Defendant Alyssa Trinidad”
Sua sponte recommendation to dismiss a pro se in forma pauperis complaint: "this case should be DISMISSED under Rule 41(b) for want of prosecution and failure to comply with a Court Order"; no adverse motion was decided.
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Judge Farrer sits in the San Antonio Division and receives civil referrals from Judges Xavier Rodriguez, Fred Biery, Orlando L. Garcia, and Senior Judge David Alan Ezra. In cases handled by consent under 28 U.S.C. 636(c), he serves as the judge of record. His 2026 docket included more than eight related AETC II privatized military-housing cases.
Put Judge Farrer's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Farrer actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Farrer's own signed orders and cites them.