Pamela A. Harris
How Judge Harris rules, drawn from 81 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Harris
Pamela Ann Harris is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Appointed by President Barack Obama, Judge Harris received a commission on July 29, 2014.
Judge Harris's practices and standing orders
The court's website lists no individual practices or standing orders of Judge Harris'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 Harris decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Salgado-Sosa's asylum and withholding appeal, she held that his family membership was a central reason for the gang's persecution and remanded the withholding claim.
“The record compels the conclusion that at least one central reason for Salgado-Sosa’s persecution is membership in his family, a protected social group under the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
In Staudner's labor agreement suit, she held that the § 301(a) exhaustion rule was not jurisdictional and that this agreement did not require exhaustion.
“We hold that the Supreme Court’s § 301(a) exhaustion requirement is not jurisdictional, and that the agreement at issue in this case does not require exhaustion.”
In United States v. Barrett, Harris vacated denial of a sentence-reduction motion after finding that the district court misunderstood the scope of its authority under the retroactive guideline amendment.
“In sum, we find that the district court misapprehended the scope of its authority in this § 3582(c)(2) proceeding.”
Procedural preferences
In a challenge to West Virginia's pandemic orders, she vacated the district court's judgment and directed dismissal after the challenged orders ended and the appeal became moot.
“For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the district court’s judgment and remand the case with instructions to dismiss the case as moot.”
In the Marriott data breach litigation, she vacated class certification because the district court had not addressed the effect of class-action waivers signed by the putative class members.
“For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the district court’s certification order and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
Cautions
In Ray's excessive force suit over the shooting of her dog, she held that disputed facts about whether the dog posed a threat required a jury trial.
“That function is reserved for a jury, and only if ‘the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact’ may summary judgment be awarded.”
In Evans's sentencing appeal, she vacated because the district court attributed a co-conspirator's drug quantities without applying the required relevant-conduct standard or making the needed factual findings.
“But because the district court did not apply the § 1B1.3 standard, it also failed to make the necessary factual findings on those questions.”
In the second Maldini class-certification appeal, Harris reversed the Accenture issue classes because the district court had identified no superiority ground independent of the now-defeated Marriott damages classes.
“we also reverse the district court’s recertification of the issue classes against Accenture.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED IN PART, DENIED IN PART, AND REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS”
“PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED, REVERSED IN PART, VACATED IN PART, AND REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS”
“For the foregoing reasons, the petition is dismissed. PETITION DISMISSED”
“PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED; VACATED AND REMANDED”
“PETITION FOR REVIEW GRANTED; VACATED AND REMANDED”
“For the reasons given above, the judgment of the district court is affirmed.”
“For the foregoing reasons, we hold that the district court correctly denied Krueger’s suppression motion and affirm Krueger’s conviction.”
“For the foregoing reasons, we vacate Evans’s sentence and remand for resentencing proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
“For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the district court’s order denying Benton’s § 2255 motion, vacate his § 922(g) sentence, and remand for resentencing.”
“For the foregoing reasons, we vacate Jackson’s sentence and remand for resentencing proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
“For the reasons stated, we vacate Singletary’s sentence and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
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