William Martin Conley
How Judge Conley rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Conley decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Grants a defendant's motion for summary judgment where the plaintiff comes forward with no evidence: speculation and argument in briefs are not enough to defeat the motion.
“IT IS ORDERED that: 1) Defendants' motion for summary judgment (dkt. #33) is GRANTED;”
Procedural preferences
Denies a preliminary injunction where the movant has not carried the burden on the injunction factors.
“IT IS ORDERED that plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction (dkt. #2) is DENIED.”
After classwide relief is implemented, he keeps the case within the claims actually adjudicated rather than converting it into a forum for individual benefits-processing disputes; class members may pursue those disputes through the ordinary administrative and state-court review channels.
“Although plaintiffs raise important issues about claims processing, this class action was filed to challenge the validity of a state statutue. The court will not now expand the case to encompass individual claims processing disputes.”
Cautions
Denies a defendant's summary judgment where a genuine fact dispute (e.g., the reasonableness of force during an arrest) requires trial.
“IT IS ORDERED that defendant Christopher Allen's motion for summary judgment (dkt. #14) is DENIED.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“IT IS ORDERED that: 1) Defendants' motion for summary judgment (dkt. #33) is GRANTED;”
“IT IS ORDERED that defendant Christopher Allen's motion for summary judgment (dkt. #14) is DENIED.”
“IT IS ORDERED that plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction (dkt. #2) is DENIED.”
“2) Defendant Johnson's motion to dismiss or transfer (dkt. #14) is DENIED.”
Pro se prisoner Eighth Amendment failure-to-protect suit. A defense summary-judgment motion was pending, but the court dismissed the case sua sponte under Rule 41(b) after the plaintiff missed the response deadline and a court-set extension, deeming the case abandoned. Grounding quote: 'IT IS ORDERED that this lawsuit is DISMISSED with prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) for plaintiff's failure to prosecute it.' The dismissal was with prejudice, and the pending summary-judgment motion was never reached on the merits.
“The Homeowners' motion for a preliminary injunction (dkt. #88) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
“Defendant's motion to compel arbitration or dismiss for failure to state a claim (dkt. #50) is DENIED.”
“The amended federal habeas corpus petition filed by Terrence Buchanan (dkt. #7) is DENIED, and this action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for failure to exhaust state court remedies.”
“Defendant's motion to dismiss (dkt. #16) is GRANTED, and this case is DISMISSED with prejudice.”
“Defendant Sam Sperry's renewed motion for directed verdict and entry of judgment as a matter of law pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(b) (dkt. #161) and motion for a new trial pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 59 (dkt. #162) are DENIED.”
“defendants' motion for summary judgment (dkt. #102) is GRANTED”
“Defendant’s motion for summary judgment (dkt. #18) is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment on liability (dkt. #25) is GRANTED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reviewed assignments include prisoner and other civil-rights cases, employment, benefits, Social Security, consumer, contract, foreclosure, wage, bankruptcy, and public-law disputes. They illustrate the docket's breadth but do not form a complete census.
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