DeAndrea Gist Benjamin
How Judge Benjamin rules, drawn from 37 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Benjamin
DeAndrea Gist Benjamin is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Appointed by President Joseph R. Biden, Judge Benjamin received a commission on February 21, 2023.
Judge Benjamin's practices and standing orders
The court's website lists no individual practices or standing orders of Judge Benjamin's own (checked October 11, 2026), so the court's local rules and general orders are the place to look (court page ↗).
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 11, 2026).
How Judge Benjamin decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Mitchell’s sentencing appeal, Benjamin declined to apply clear-error deference to a disputed enhancement where the district court had not explained its reasoning.
“clearly erroneous standard does not guide our review on appeal.”
In Poudel v. Mid Atlantic Professionals, Benjamin's opinion affirmed the judgment after rejecting an attempt to extend Maryland law beyond its territorial reach.
“Again, we decline to expand the reach of Maryland law”
In a challenge to a North Carolina election statute, Benjamin held that the discriminatory motive behind the operative enactment and its continuing effects violated equal protection.
“it violates equal protection under Arlington Heights.”
In Deal’s municipal-board dispute, Benjamin held that the city’s broad appointment discretion defeated the asserted property interest in a board seat.
“The discretion afforded to the City is dispositive here.”
In Robertson’s federal tort suit, Benjamin confined the state-law comparison to how similarly situated private parties would be treated.
“our analysis is limited to that question”
Cautions
In Barnhill’s retaliation appeal, Benjamin held that minor workplace slights did not satisfy the required showing of materially adverse harassment.
“high burden cannot be satisfied by claims based on ‘petty slights or minor annoyances.’”
In Jensen’s cannabis-license appeal, Benjamin treated arguments first developed in the reply brief as waived.
“Jensen has waived the arguments in her Reply Brief”
In TitleMax’s subpoena appeal, Benjamin held that the unripe claims had to be dismissed without prejudice.
“they must be dismissed without prejudice.”
In Extra Energy’s black-lung benefits petition, she held that the employer forfeited a regulatory challenge by failing to present it to the agency.
“it has forfeited its challenge to the validity of 20 C.F.R. § 718.305(b)(2).”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded with instructions by published opinion.”
“Reversed, vacated and remanded with instructions by published opinion.”
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