Robert Lee Pitman
How Judge Pitman rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Pitman decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In First Amendment cases he grants preliminary injunctive relief where the movant shows a likelihood of success, even enjoining a governmental practice and excusing a security bond.
“Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction, (Dkt. 16), is GRANTED... Defendants are PRELIMINARILY ENJOINED from (a) enforcing their policy of closing all magistration proceedings under Article 15.17 to the press and public and (b) from closing any magistration proceeding... Plaintiffs are not required to post a security bond.”
Procedural preferences
On a motion to dismiss he dismisses without prejudice where the pleading defects may be curable by amendment.
“Defendant's motion to dismiss, (Dkt. 3), is GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant Laura Moore's No Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 31) is hereby GRANTED.”
“Defendant Laura Moore' Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 30) is hereby DISMISSED AS MOOT.”
“Defendants Jeanette Zimmermann, Karin Harbers, Jessica Jackson, and Kelly Sandoval's Motion for Summary Judgment on the Basis of Qualified Immunity is hereby DENIED.”
“Plaintiffs' Second Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint (Dkt. 42) is hereby GRANTED. All claims and causes of action not asserted in the Second Amended Complaint are dismissed with prejudice.”
“RRISD's Motion to Dismiss ... is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART ... Plaintiff's 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim against RRISD is DI[S]MISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. If Plaintiff wishes to replead his § 1983 claim against RRISD, he must do so by January 16, 2026. ... Plaintiff's DJA claim for an alleged violation of Texas Family Code § 221.110 and retaliation claim under Texas Family Code § 221.110 are both DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“Azaiez's Motion to Dismiss ... is GRANTED; therefore, Plaintiff's 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim against Azaiez in his official capacity is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE and Plaintiff's ultra vires claims may only proceed based on ¶¶ 66a-f, i, and j-l of his First Amended Complaint.”
“Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction, (Dkt. 16), is GRANTED... Defendants are PRELIMINARILY ENJOINED from (a) enforcing their policy of closing all magistration proceedings under Article 15.17 to the press and public and (b) from closing any magistration proceeding... Plaintiffs are not required to post a security bond.”
“Defendants' motion to dismiss, (Dkt. 20), is DENIED.”
“IT IS ORDERED that Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, (Dkt. 64), is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART... Insofar as Plaintiffs plead a Procedural Due Process claim, that claim is WITHDRAWN, and Defendants' motion to dismiss those claims is MOOT. The motion to dismiss is DENIED as to all other claims.”
“Defendant's motion to dismiss, (Dkt. 3), is GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
“Defendants' motion to dismiss, (Dkt. 57), is DENIED.”
“Defendant Chase Bank and Wells Fargo's Motion to Dismiss, (Dkts. 19, 21), are GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“IT IS ORDERED that Villalon's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, (Dkt. 1), is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants' motion to dismiss, (Dkt. 7), is GRANTED. IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that a certificate of appealability is DENIED.”
“Because Plaintiff has not previously sought entry of default pursuant to Rule 55(a), the instant motion must be and is hereby DENIED.”
“Motion for Default Judgment, (Dkt. 70), is GRANTED as follows”
“Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment, (Dkt. 71), is DENIED”
“Motion to Dismiss, (Dkt. 6), is GRANTED”
“GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The ten Austin Division dockets reviewed include False Claims Act, civil-rights, criminal, and patent matters. This is an illustrative sample rather than a complete census of Judge Pitman's caseload.
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