Thomas S. Hixson
How Judge Hixson decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
On a motion for default judgment he recommends granting the motion and awarding contract damages but independently sets a reasonable attorney-fee figure, trimming the claimed billing rates rather than rubber-stamping them.
“Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson issued a report and recommendation on March 11, 2021, requesting reassignment to a district judge and recommending that the motion be granted and damages and attorney's fees be awarded. ... I ADOPT IN PART Judge Hixon's report and recommendation with respect to the entry of default judgment and its award of damages. ... Fooksman's motion for default judgment is GRANTED on the breach of contract claim and Fooksman is awarded $3,187,028 in damages. ... I will, however, depart from the recommended award of attorney's fees.”
Cautions
At 28 U.S.C. 1915(e) screening Hixson recommends dismissing an IFP action for failure to state a claim (with prejudice) or for failure to prosecute, and district judges adopt his Report in every respect.
“On September 3, 2019, Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson issued a Report and Recommendation, recommending dismissal of this IFP action for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). ... I agree with Judge Hixon's Report and Recommendation and adopt it in every respect. This case is DISMISSED with prejudice for failure to state a claim.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“On September 3, 2019, Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson issued a Report and Recommendation, recommending dismissal of this IFP action for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). ... I agree with Judge Hixon's Report and Recommendation and adopt it in every respect. This case is DISMISSED with prejudice for failure to state a claim.”
“The Court has reviewed Judge Thomas S. Hixson's Report and Recommendation Re: Dismissal of the Complaint, and notes there are no objections to the Report. The Court adopts the Report in every respect. Accordingly, the complaint is dismissed without prejudice for failure to prosecute.”
“Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson issued a report and recommendation on March 11, 2021, requesting reassignment to a district judge and recommending that the motion be granted and damages and attorney's fees be awarded. ... I ADOPT IN PART Judge Hixon's report and recommendation with respect to the entry of default judgment and its award of damages. ... Fooksman's motion for default judgment is GRANTED on the breach of contract claim and Fooksman is awarded $3,187,028 in damages. ... I will, however, depart from the recommended award of attorney's fees.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The sampled civil cases were assigned to Hixson by the parties' consent and both ended through voluntary dismissal. The durations measure filing to termination, not motion-to-ruling time.
Put Judge Hixson's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Hixson actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Hixson's own signed orders and cites them.