Richard B. Farrer
How Judge Farrer rules, drawn from 14 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Farrer
Richard B. Farrer has served as a U.S. magistrate judge for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio since 2017. He earned a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and previously served as an assistant solicitor general of Texas. He also clerked for Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Judge Farrer's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Farrer, 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.
- Judge-Farrer-Civil-Fact-Sheet-Updated-8-2026.pdf ↗
- Judge-Farrer-Standing-Order-for-Ex-Parte-Duty-Filings-7-30-2026.pdf ↗
Key rules
Contacting chambers
If relief is requested from the Court, including regarding scheduling, a motion should be filed.
“If relief is requested from the Court, including regarding scheduling, a motion should be filed.”
Contacting chambers
It’s rare that direct contact with Court staff, including my Law Clerks, will be appropriate.
“It’s rare that direct contact with Court staff, including my Law Clerks, will be appropriate.”
Filing
the original submission shall be placed on the docket under the same case number as any subsequent amended, altered, or revised submission(s).
“the original submission shall be placed on the docket under the same case number as any subsequent amended, altered, or revised submission(s).”
Motions
If counsel requires an expedited hearing in a civil case, file an appropriate motion and contact the Court to alert the Court of the situation.
“If counsel requires an expedited hearing in a civil case, file an appropriate motion and contact the Court to alert the Court of the situation.”
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 Farrer decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
In Century Surety Company v. EC & SM Guerra, LLC, he recommended granting the plaintiff's summary-judgment motion. The district judge adopted his report and entered that result.
“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
In Ferrara's federal employment suit, Farrer recommended granting the VA's motion to dismiss. The district judge adopted his recommendation in part, supplied separate reasoning for one claim, and dismissed all claims 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.”
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.
“Defendant Felder’s Motion to Dismiss, Dkt. No. 14, and Defendant Butler’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, Dkt. No. 21, should be DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
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.
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 | 1 |
| Mar 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2024 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| Mar 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2022 | 0 | 1 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2020 | 0 | 0 |
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 Farrer: 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).
Draft for Judge Farrer with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Farrer, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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