Robert M. Spector
How Judge Spector decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Social Security appeals, reverses or remands for further consideration where the ALJ's decision is not supported, but affirms where substantial evidence supports it.
“The plaintiff's motion for an order reversing or remanding the Commissioner's decision (Doc. No. 18) is GRANTED and the Commissioner's motion to affirm that decision (Doc. No. 24) is DENIED.”
Procedural preferences
On a motion for attorney's fees under 42 U.S.C. 406(b), grants a reasonable fee and orders counsel to refund the smaller EAJA award to the claimant.
“the Court recommends that Counsel's Motion for Attorney's Fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 406(b)(1) be GRANTED in the amount of $17,680.50 and that counsel be ordered to refund the $11,622.85 he received under the EAJA to the plaintiff.”
Cautions
On discovery disputes, denies overbroad motions to compel while granting narrowly tailored relief, and will sua sponte seal a filing that exposes personal identifiers.
“all motions are DENIED with one exception: the plaintiff's Motion to Compel ESI (Doc. No. 181) is GRANTED for the limited purpose of Robert Fitzpatrick conducting a forensics examination”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The plaintiff's motion for an order reversing or remanding the Commissioner's decision (Doc. No. 18) is GRANTED and the Commissioner's motion to affirm that decision (Doc. No. 24) is DENIED.”
“The plaintiff's motion for an order reversing or remanding the Commissioner's decision (Doc. No. 18) is DENIED. The Commissioner's motion to affirm that decision (Doc. No. 20) is GRANTED.”
“The plaintiff's motion for an order reversing or remanding the Commissioner's decision (Doc. No. 20) is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART for further consideration of the effect of the plaintiff's mental impairment on the RFC. The Commissioner's motion to affirm that decision (Doc. No. 22) is DENIED.”
“the Court recommends that Counsel's Motion for Attorney's Fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 406(b)(1) be GRANTED in the amount of $17,680.50 and that counsel be ordered to refund the $11,622.85 he received under the EAJA to the plaintiff.”
“all motions are DENIED with one exception: the plaintiff's Motion to Compel ESI (Doc. No. 181) is GRANTED for the limited purpose of Robert Fitzpatrick conducting a forensics examination”
“For the aforementioned reasons, the Court DENIES the plaintiff's Mot[ions to Compel] (Doc. Nos. 182 & 194)”
“the Court GRANTS the Motion to Amend the Complaint (Doc. No. 18) on the ground that the plaintiff is entitled to amend his complaint as a matter of course”
“the Court finds that the defendant's motion to compel the Willkie Farr Emails is GRANTED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
His docket combines criminal-duty matters with a substantial consent civil docket dominated by Social Security appeals. His non-Social-Security work also includes referred discovery and property or contract disputes.
Put Judge Spector's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Spector actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Spector's own signed orders and cites them.