John E. McDermott

How Judge McDermott rules, drawn from 4 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Judge McDermott no longer sits on this court. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.

Court
United States District Court for the Central District of California
Position
Magistrate judge
Status
Left this court 2023
Served
2009–2023
Commissioned
July 2, 2009
Signed orders read
4

About Judge McDermott

John E. McDermott served as a United States magistrate judge for the Central District of California from July 2009 until 2023. He handled civil matters in Los Angeles, where Stephanie S. Christensen succeeded him.

How Judge McDermott decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

Remand followed when unresolved conflicts between medical limitations, the residual functional capacity, and vocational evidence left the denial unsupported.

“The Court cannot accept from the Commissioner facts and reasons the ALJ and VE must provide.”

Vocational testimony supported affirmance where the expert identified significant job numbers consistent with the supported functional capacity.

“The ALJ’s step five finding is supported by substantial evidence.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Alberto Hernandez v. Kamala D. Harris
2:16-cv-00039 · 2016-06-27
Motions to dismiss (respondents) Granted

“Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss is granted”

Laura Michelle Garcia v. Carolyn W. Colvin
2:16-cv-00652 · 2016-10-27
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Granted

“Judgment be entered reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security and remanding this case for further proceedings”

Catalina Gontes v. Carolyn W. Colvin
5:16-cv-00379 · 2017-02-13
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“Judgment be entered affirming the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security and dismissing this case with prejudice”

Paul Edward Jones v. Rickey Rackley
2:16-cv-04958 · 2017-08-03
Habeas petition (petitioner) Denied

“the Petition is denied”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

All twenty sampled matters had terminated. Their median duration was 370 days, with a range of 98 to 699 days.

Pending matters in the official report

Judge McDermott was last listed in the Civil Justice Reform Act report as of March 31, 2023.

Motions pending more than six months0
Bench trials submitted more than six months0
Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months0
Social Security appeals pending more than six months0
Civil cases pending more than three years0
ReportMotions over six monthsCases over three years
Mar 202300
Sep 202201
Mar 202200
Sep 202110
Mar 202100
Sep 202000

A snapshot on that date: matters listed may since have been decided or reassigned. A motion referred to a magistrate judge is counted for both judges. Motions in multidistrict litigation, section 2255 cases and Social Security appeals are not counted, and a very large three-year count is generally a multidistrict docket. Source: Appendix A of the report (PDF); about the report.

A historical record

Judge McDermott no longer sits on this court. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.