Sidney Runyan Thomas
How Judge Thomas rules, drawn from 34 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Thomas
Sidney Runyan Thomas is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Appointed by President William J. Clinton, Judge Thomas received a commission on January 4, 1996. Judge Thomas assumed senior status on May 4, 2023.
Judge Thomas's practices and standing orders
The court's website lists no individual practices or standing orders of Judge Thomas'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 Thomas decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Keyser v. Commissioner, Thomas reversed denial of disability benefits because the administrative law judge had not followed the required procedure for evaluating Keyser’s mental impairments or considered whether a severe impairment met a listing.
“We reverse the judgment of the district court with instructions to remand to the ALJ to conduct a proper review of Keyser’s mental impairments.”
In Hawkins v. Franchise Tax Board, Thomas held that the bankruptcy tax-discharge exception required specific intent to evade tax, vacated the judgment, and remanded for analysis under that standard.
“we vacate the judgment and remand so that the courts can reanalyze the case using the specific intent standard”
Procedural preferences
In Montes-Lopez v. Gonzales, Thomas granted review and remanded because the immigration board had failed to decide Montes-Lopez’s preserved claim that the immigration judge violated his right to counsel.
“We therefore remand to the BIA for determination of the claim that Montes-Lopez’s right to counsel was violated at the proceedings before the IJ.”
In Nichols v. Dancer, Thomas reversed and remanded for the district court to analyze the employee’s First Amendment claim because its prior reliance on the political patronage doctrine was inapplicable and the record was incomplete.
“We remand to allow the district court to conduct such an analysis in the first instance. We do not prejudge the outcome of that inquiry.”
Cautions
In Native Village of Kivalina v. ExxonMobil, Thomas affirmed dismissal of a federal common-law public nuisance damages claim over greenhouse gas emissions because the Clean Air Act displaced that cause of action.
“the solution to Kivalina’s dire circumstance must rest in the hands of the legislative and executive branches of our government, not the federal common law”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“We reverse the district court’s order denying the motion to dismiss Plaintiffs’ claims arising under section 1194 of the California Labor Code.”
“In sum, the district court correctly concluded that the Settlement was not a coupon settlement within the meaning of CAFA, and did not abuse its discretion in making the fee award. ... AFFIRMED.”
“The district court correctly concluded that a reasonable fact finder could not find, by clear and convincing evidence, that the Reporters acted with actual malice in publishing the allegedly defamatory statements. ... AFFIRMED.”
“having concluded that federal jurisdiction is constrained by the TIA, there is no need for us to reach that issue. AFFIRMED.”
“We affirm the judgment of the district court denying federal habeas relief. AFFIRMED.”
“the BAP correctly concluded that sending faxes was not the equivalent of paying taxes. Therefore, it properly affirmed the holding of the bankruptcy court that the California state taxes that Sienega owed were non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. AFFIRMED.”
“We therefore remand to the BIA for determination of the claim that Montes-Lopez’s right to counsel was violated at the proceedings before the IJ. PETITION GRANTED; REMANDED.”
“We conclude that it has jurisdiction and we grant the petition for review.”
“The district court properly concluded that the bankruptcy court properly exercised jurisdiction over the malpractice claim and correctly dismissed the case on the merits. AFFIRMED.”
“For these reasons, we affirm the judgment of the district court without reaching the merits of Nitco’s argument. AFFIRMED.”
“We reverse the judgment of the district court with instructions to remand to the ALJ to conduct a proper review of Keyser’s mental impairments.”
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