Michael Lawrence Brown
How Judge Brown decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In defamation, separates the fact/opinion question from the malice question: even a provably-false factual statement is not actionable unless the public-figure plaintiff pleads specific facts showing the publisher subjectively knew it was false or recklessly disregarded falsity; ill will, bias, or failure to investigate is not enough.
“The tweet might show Mr. Noble's ill will towards the President, but it fails to plead actual malice in the constitutional sense - that is, it does not show Mr. Noble made the Statement with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false.”
Procedural preferences
Strictly enforces the burden-allocation rules: will not make a party's argument for it. A defendant resisting Rule 4(k)(2) jurisdiction must itself identify a state where the plaintiff could have sued (not merely 'consent'); a non-movant who ignores Local Rule 56.1B has the movant's facts deemed admitted.
“Bodenstedt has thus not met his burden to defeat Plaintiff's assertion of jurisdiction under Rule 4(k)(2). The Court will not do the work for him.”
Will not consider arguments raised only in footnotes rather than the body of a brief.
“We do not ordinarily consider arguments raised in passing in one footnote rather than the body of the brief.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Court GRANTS Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 16) and DISMISSES Plaintiff's Complaint (Dkt. 1). The Court ORDERS Plaintiff to file an amended complaint no later than November 30, 2020.”
“The Court DENIES Defendant Bodenstedt's Partial Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 35).”
“The Court GRANTS Defendant The Kroger Co.'s Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. 34) and DISMISSES this action.”
“Court DENIES Defendants' Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint (Dkt. 59)”
“Defendants' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Statute of Limitations Issues (Dkt. 61)... [DENIED]”
“the Court ... GRANTS Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 30).”
“the Court DENIES Plaintiff's Motions for Leave to File a Second Amended Complaint (Dkt. 40, 51)”
“Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 14) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
“Motion for Partial Summary Judgment Based on Issue Preclusion (Dkt. 104) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.”
“The Court DENIES Defendant Resh, Inc.’s renewed Motion to Stay (Dkt. 105).”
“The Court GRANTS Defendant Johnson’s Rule 12(i) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim (Dkt. 59).”
“The Court GRANTS Defendant Manning’s motion to dismiss for failure to effectuate service of process (Dkt. 71) and DISMISSES Defendant Manning from this case WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
“The Court DENIES Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration of the Court’s Order declining to enter default against Defendant Manning (Dkt. 73).”
“The Court DISMISSES Count 1 (Title VI) and Count 6 (Injunctive Relief) WITHOUT PREJUDICE for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The Court otherwise GRANTS Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 28) and DISMISSES Plaintiff's remaining claims (Counts 2–5, and 7) WITH PREJUDICE. The Court DIRECTS the Clerk to close this case.”
“The Court OVERRULES Marshall's Objections (Dkt. 76), ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation (Dkt. 74) with the addition that the Court also applies the good-faith exception to suppression, and DENIES Marshall's Motions to Suppress his statements (other than pre-Miranda statements), the search of his home, the search of his person and phone, and the search of his Snapchat account (Dkts. 41, 42, 43, 46).”
“The Court OVERRULES Defendant Barnes's Objections (Dkt. 227), ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation (Dkt. 223), and DENIES the Defendant Barnes's Motions to Suppress (Dkts. 162, 163).”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 285 days (N = 9).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 333.0 days (N = 2).
The sampled cases reflect a general civil docket in which personal-injury removals, consumer credit-reporting matters, and debt-collection suits are common. The published opinions also include a notable First Amendment and defamation dispute.
Put Judge Brown's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Brown actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Brown's own signed orders and cites them.