Christopher D. Baker
How Judge Baker rules, drawn from 9 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Baker decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
On summary judgment, issues a split recommendation: granting exhaustion-based summary judgment for some defendants (dismissing without prejudice) while denying it for others.
“Defendants Brainard and Stohl's motion for summary judgment based on failure to exhaust administrative remedies (Doc. 63) be GRANTED and claims against these defendants be dismissed without prejudice”
Applies Social Security step two as a de minimis screening threshold and remands when the ALJ treats documented mental and physical impairments as non-severe without considering their combined workplace effects at later steps.
“Because Plaintiff’s evidence establishes her mental impairments have more than a minimal effect on her ability to work, the Court cannot find that it is clearly established by the medical evidence that Plaintiff’s mental impairments are non-severe.”
Procedural preferences
Grants partial summary judgment, dismissing specific counts with prejudice while letting others proceed.
“City Defendants' motion for partial summary judgment (Doc. 53) is GRANTED IN PART to the following extent: i. The motion is GRANTED to the extent of dismissing counts two, seven, eight, and ten with prejudice, and count six with prejudice as to Defendants Anderberg and the City of Bakersfield; ii. The motion is DENIED as to count nine (Fourth Amendment - search and seizure of vehicle).”
Cautions
In Social Security appeals, denies the claimant's motion for summary judgment and affirms the Commissioner's decision.
“Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment (Doc. 20) is DENIED; 2. The decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is AFFIRMED.”
Will treat an ALJ's factual mistake as harmless when other clear and convincing reasons independently support the symptom-testimony analysis.
“The ALJ erred in finding that Plaintiff had failed to mention her need to lie down to her medical providers in the period under review. However, the error is harmless as the ALJ provided valid reasons to discount Plaintiff’s credibility as to her symptom testimony”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendants Brainard and Stohl's motion for summary judgment based on failure to exhaust administrative remedies (Doc. 63) be GRANTED and claims against these defendants be dismissed without prejudice”
“Defendant Arevalos's motion for summary judgment (Doc. 77) be DENIED”
“Plaintiff's motion for default judgment (Doc. 79) be DENIED”
“Defendants' motion for summary judgment for a failure to exhaust administrative remedies (Doc. 37) be DENIED, subject to an evidentiary hearing.”
“Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment (Doc. 20) is DENIED; 2. The decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is AFFIRMED.”
“City Defendants' motion for partial summary judgment (Doc. 53) is GRANTED IN PART to the following extent: i. The motion is GRANTED to the extent of dismissing counts two, seven, eight, and ten with prejudice, and count six with prejudice as to Defendants Anderberg and the City of Bakersfield; ii. The motion is DENIED as to count nine (Fourth Amendment - search and seizure of vehicle).”
“Plaintiffs' motion for default judgment (Doc. 15) is recommended GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff's motion for award of attorney's fees (Doc. 49) is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment (Doc. 16) is GRANTED; The ALJ’s decision (Doc. 11) is REVERSED; This matter is REMANDED pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. §405(g) for further proceedings consistent with this decision;”
“Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment (Doc. 18) is DENIED; The ALJ’s decision is affirmed;”
“Defendants’ motion to dismiss (Doc. 30) is GRANTED;”
“Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file supplemental authority (Doc. 35) is DENIED;”
“Non-party Edward Santillan’s motion for leave to file amicus curiae brief (Doc. 36) is DENIED;”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
- Baker presides over a Bakersfield-division consent Social Security docket in which the parties proceed under 28 U.S.C. 636(c) and he enters the final merits judgment himself.
- His broader referral docket carries prisoner civil-rights (42 U.S.C. 1983) matters, habeas corpus petitions (28 U.S.C. 2254 and 2241), civil motions in diversity and federal-question cases, and criminal matters arising on federal lands.
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Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Baker, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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