[2] A substantial majority of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary rated Selna "well qualified" for the position, with a minority abstaining.

[6][7] In May 2009, Selna granted, in part, the by-then-former student's motion for summary judgment, ruling that one statement of the many cited by the student—a comment that creationism was "superstitious nonsense"—did violate the Establishment Clause.

[8] Selna also determined that the teacher was protected by qualified immunity and entered judgment denying the Farnan's request for declaratory, injunctive or monetary relief, and inviting the defendants to apply for recovery of attorney fees and costs.

[12] The following year, Selna found Qualcomm in contempt for violating an injunction ordering it to stop using technology subject to the Broadcom patents.

The operator challenged the city's ordinance requiring "sober-living homes in single-family neighborhoods to obtain special permits and be at least 650 feet from one another."

[18] On August 16, 2023, he rejected a proposed $200 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit prompted by a rise in thefts of vehicles manufactured by South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia.