Michael Yale Scudder Jr.
How Judge Scudder rules, drawn from 57 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Scudder
Michael Yale Scudder, Jr. is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Appointed by President Donald J. Trump, Judge Scudder received a commission on May 21, 2018.
Judge Scudder's practices and standing orders
The court's website lists no individual practices or standing orders of Judge Scudder'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 Scudder decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In National Casualty Co. v. Continental Insurance Co., Scudder affirmed that arbitrators should decide the preclusive effect of earlier arbitral awards because circuit precedent resolved the issue, leaving any request to change that rule for the full court or Supreme Court.
“They can ask our full court to revisit our position or seek Supreme Court review. But, as a panel, our only course is to affirm.”
In LKQ, the panel certified two Delaware-law questions and then applied the state high court's answer to the stock-award dispute.
“we certified two questions to the Delaware Supreme Court seeking guidance”
Procedural preferences
In Dameron, the panel declined to reach a broader constitutional argument that had not been presented to the district court and affirmed on the narrower vehicle-search ground.
“We decline the invitation, as Dameron never presented this argument to the district court.”
An appellant challenging an administrative decision must engage the record and show a lack of substantial evidence, not merely criticize the order's reasoning.
“It is not enough to nitpick the ALJ’s order. To warrant reversal, Morales must show that the ALJ’s determination was not supported by substantial evidence.”
In a postjudgment asset dispute, Scudder distinguished a special master’s factual findings after an evidentiary hearing from his legal conclusions, applying clear error review to the former.
“where credibility determinations are central to factual findings”
Cautions
In NLRB v. Haven Salon + Spa, Scudder held the company in contempt after it ignored the Board’s order and two court orders. He imposed fees and fines that increased with continued noncompliance.
“Parties ignore court orders at their peril. This is true in civil and criminal litigation, and this opinion reinforces that the point applies with full force to orders of the National Labor Relations Board.”
Briefs must be checked for factual and legal accuracy; citation errors that do not alter the result may still prompt a public warning about counsel's professional obligations.
“the court expects members of our bar to exercise care and diligence in preparing their briefs to en- sure complete factual and legal accuracy.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For these reasons, we REVERSE the district court’s entry of summary judgment for Rutledge on LKQ’s claim that he violated the RSU Agreements.”
“We have no difficulty affirming, as abundant evidence supports that decision. ... For these reasons, we AFFIRM.”
“In the final analysis, then, we AFFIRM”
“We therefore hold Haven in contempt. ... We also order Haven to pay a fine of $1,000, as well as a fine of $150 per day for every day of the next week that Haven fails to comply.”
“National Casualty and Nationwide now appeal the district court's order granting Continental's motion to compel arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act. Because our precedent required that outcome, we affirm. ... For these reasons, we AFFIRM.”
“For these reasons, we VACATE and REMAND for further proceedings.”
“For these reasons, we REVERSE and REMAND for proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
“So, while this case is plenty messy, in the end we affirm.”
“In the end, Groves’s case suffered from a failure of proof—he alleged a theory and account of reverse race discrimination but ultimately never backed it with enough evidence to allow a jury to find in his favor. For these reasons, we AFFIRM.”
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