Scott W. Skavdahl
How Judge Skavdahl decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Applies strict scrutiny with teeth to content-based speech restrictions, putting the narrow-tailoring and least-restrictive-means burden squarely on the government and striking statutes (such as Wyoming's 'data trespass' laws) as facially unconstitutional.
“ORDERED that Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 95) is GRANTED ... the State of Wyoming is permanently enjoined from enforcing Wyoming statutes 6-3-414(c) and 40-27-101(c) as both are in violation of the First Amendment”
Cautions
Applies Wyoming's oilfield anti-indemnity statute by substance over label, voiding release, assumption-of-liability, and duty-to-defend clauses that would relieve a party of liability for its own negligence, and reads the contract as a whole to avoid rendering provisions meaningless.
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Plaintiff's Motion to Dismiss Defendant Noble Casing, Inc.'s Counterclaim [ECF No. 28] is hereby GRANTED.”
Rule 59(e) reconsideration is not a vehicle to relitigate: he denies it where the movant shows no proper factual or legal basis, directing that the proper remedy is an appeal.
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Plaintiff's Motion for Reconsideration (ECF No. 67) is DENIED.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Plaintiff's Motion to Dismiss Defendant Noble Casing, Inc.'s Counterclaim [ECF No. 28] is hereby GRANTED.”
“It is FURTHER ORDERED Defendant Noble's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 30] is hereby DENIED.”
“ORDERED that Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 95) is GRANTED ... the State of Wyoming is permanently enjoined from enforcing Wyoming statutes 6-3-414(c) and 40-27-101(c) as both are in violation of the First Amendment”
“FURTHER ORDERED that State Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 98) is DENIED”
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED Plaintiff's Motion for Reconsideration (ECF No. 67) is DENIED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Willey, a heavily litigated First Amendment and parental-rights case, was filed on April 20, 2023 and terminated on April 28, 2025 after 739 days. The directly assigned 2026 cases remained pending at the evidence cutoff and supply no durations. Other terminated matters, including Burnett and Great West Casualty, are not represented in the dispositive-timing sample.
Put Judge Skavdahl's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Skavdahl actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Skavdahl's own signed orders and cites them.