William B. Porter
How Judge Porter rules, drawn from 8 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Porter decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In habeas discovery, Porter requires specific, substantial allegations connecting the requested material to a viable claim; speculation and broadly framed requests do not establish good cause.
“Before discovery may be ordered, petitioners must make specific and substantial allegations about the information requested and how that information would entitle them to relief.”
In default-judgment proceedings, he independently checks jurisdiction, service, liability, and evidentiary support for damages rather than treating default as automatic entitlement to the requested award.
“Even so, the court does not automatically consider as admitted the amount of damages.”
Procedural preferences
He treats habeas discovery as a focused tool to test pleaded facts, not as a way to search for a new post-conviction theory.
“This second request for discovery is also overly broad and more like a ‘fishing expedition’ for facts.”
For third-party subpoenas, Porter narrows an overbroad request to known identifiers when that protects unrelated people without eliminating relevant discovery.
“This modification adequately protects unrelated individuals while preserving the subpoena’s legitimate evidentiary purpose.”
Cautions
The signed written sample contains several default-judgment recommendations, so the reasoning counts reflect the available publication mix rather than contested-motion base rates.
“The undersigned recommends entry of default judgment for Zayo and against SFO.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Court recommends that Plaintiffs' Motion for Default Judgment against Lynnway T&T, Dunn, and Gossard be GRANTED.”
“The undersigned recommends entry of default judgment for Plaintiffs and against Defendants.”
“ORDERED that Petitioner's Motion for Leave to Conduct Discovery and for a Court Order to Obtain Documents is DENIED.”
“the undersigned recommends entry of default judgment for Plaintiff and against the Foreign Defendants.”
“The undersigned recommends entry of default judgment for Zayo and against SFO.”
“Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 44) is GRANTED”
“Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 48) is DENIED”
“The Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Plaintiff's Motion. (ECF No. 16.)”
“The Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in part the Motions as to the subpoena directed to Costco.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Only entries expressly identifying Porter as the signer are included in the motion outcomes.
Draft for Judge Porter with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Porter, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Grounded in Judge Porter's own signed orders
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace