James G. Glazebrook
Judge Glazebrook no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Glazebrook decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Applies a consistent substantial-evidence framework across his Social Security docket: the Commissioner's findings stand if supported by more than a scintilla of relevant evidence, even where the court might have weighed the record differently itself, and treats a claimant's re-argument of the medical evidence as an invitation to reweigh facts the court will not accept.
“Where the Commissioner's decision is supported by substantial evidence, the district court will affirm, even if the reviewer would have reached a contrary result as finder of fact.”
Will remand under sentence four when an ALJ's own findings are internally inconsistent with the ultimate work-capacity conclusion -- for example finding real non-exertional limitations from an untreated mental impairment, then assessing other work without reference to them -- even where several of the claimant's other arguments fail.
“Nevertheless, without relying on the regulations pertaining to alcohol and drugs, the ALJ found that Hostetler actually had certain non-exertional limitations, yet assessed his ability to do other work without reference to those limitations. On the present record, the Commissioner has not met her burden and remand is appropriate.”
Holds the Appeals Council to a real burden of reasoned explanation when it accepts new treating-source evidence into the record: a boilerplate denial-of-review letter is not enough to insulate the agency from review once the Council has substantively considered new material evidence, and he will call out a government argument to the contrary as risking the agency's own credibility with the court.
“the Appeals Council simply cannot review an ALJ's decision on appeal, and then insulate itself from appellate review of its decisions under 42 U.S.C. section 405(g) by asserting that it has 'found no reason under our rules to review the Administrative Law Judge's decision [and therefore] we have denied your request for review.'”
In childhood-disability appeals, looks past a single evaluator's summary conclusion to the cumulative record of documented behavior (school discipline history, self-harm threats, family conflict) before accepting an ALJ's less-than-marked functional-limitation finding.
“The record as a whole, however, suggests that Niurka may have marked limitations in her ability to interact and relate to others.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the reasons stated above, the decision of the Commissioner should be REMANDED under Sentence Four for further proceedings not inconsistent with this decision. The Clerk should enter a judgment.”
“For the reasons stated above, the final decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED and REMANDED to the Commissioner under Sentence Four for further proceedings and disposition not inconsistent with this opinion. The Clerk should enter a judgment.”
“For the reasons stated above, the decision of the Commissioner is REMANDED to the Commissioner of Social Security under Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. section 405(g). The Clerk shall enter a judgment, and close the case.”
“For the reasons set forth below, the Commissioner's decision is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings.”
“For the reasons set forth below, the Commissioner's decision is REMANDED.”
“For the reasons set forth below, the Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED.”
“For the reasons set forth below, the Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reviewed matters include 28 consent Social Security dispositions from cases filed between 2004 and 2006 and decided between April 2005 and March 2007. His final disposition in this group was issued about five weeks before his death. This is a descriptive sample rather than a complete measure of his caseload.
A historical record
Judge Glazebrook no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.