Thomas G. Wilson
How Judge Wilson 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 he applies deferential substantial-evidence review and will not reweigh the administrative record or substitute his own judgment for the ALJ's; the recurring losing argument is a request to re-decide the facts.
“It is, moreover, the function of the Commissioner, and not the courts, to resolve conflicts in the evidence and to assess the credibility of the witnesses.”
A decision he will reverse is one that is not adequately explained -- an ALJ's conclusion must be traceable to the record through a 'logical bridge,' particularly where the ALJ discounts a consulting or examining medical opinion.
“The ALJ erred by failing to create a 'logical bridge' between the evidence and his conclusion that the child has a 'less than marked' limitation in the functional domain of attending and competing tasks. Both arguments are meritorious.”
On a step-five transferable-skills finding, he requires the vocational-expert testimony to actually support the ALJ's conclusion; an unsupported transferability finding is reversible even where other parts of the decision are sound.
“Because substantial evidence does not support the finding that the plaintiff acquired work skills from past relevant work that are transferable to other jobs available in significant numbers in the national economy, I recommend that the decision be reversed, and the matter remanded for further consideration.”
For FLSA settlements he applies the Eleventh Circuit's fairness-review standard and will approve a compromise even without itemized attorney time sheets, so long as the fee was negotiated separately from the employee's recovery and is not unreasonable on its face.
“As to the attorney's fee, the plaintiff did not provide time sheets detailing counsel's time or the hourly rate. This lack of information, however, does not undermine the Court's ability to evaluate the reasonableness of the parties' settlement, as I do not find the amount of the attorney's fee to be unreasonable on its face.”
Procedural preferences
On an unopposed motion the Commissioner itself files to remand a Social Security case, he rules within days rather than waiting for further briefing.
“ORDER granting 23 Motion of Entry of Judgment with Remand.. Signed by Magistrate Judge Thomas G. Wilson on 8/19/2024.”
Cautions
Do not frame a Social Security appeal as a disagreement with how the ALJ weighed the evidence -- that argument is repeatedly rejected. Frame it instead as a legal or explanatory gap: an unaddressed medical opinion, an unsupported vocational finding, or a missing logical bridge between the record and the conclusion.
“the court is not to reweigh the evidence, but is limited to determining whether the record as a whole contains sufficient evidence to permit a reasonable mind to conclude that the claimant is not disabled”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Because the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is supported by substantial evidence and contains no reversible error, the decision will be affirmed.”
“Because the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is not adequately explained, the decision will be reversed and the matter remanded for further consideration.”
“Because the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is supported by substantial evidence and the plaintiff does not identify any reversible error, the decision will be affirmed.”
“Because the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is supported by substantial evidence and does not contain reversible error, the decision will be affirmed.”
“Because the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is supported by substantial evidence and the plaintiff does not identify any reversible error, the decision will be affirmed.”
“Because the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is supported by substantial evidence and does not contain any reversible error, the decision will be affirmed.”
“ORDER granting 23 Motion of Entry of Judgment with Remand.. Signed by Magistrate Judge Thomas G. Wilson on 8/19/2024.”
“Because substantial evidence does not support the finding that the plaintiff acquired work skills from past relevant work that are transferable to other jobs available in significant numbers in the national economy, I recommend that the decision be reversed, and the matter remanded for further consideration.”
“Because I find the parties' settlement agreement constitutes a fair and reasonable compromise of this dispute, the motion will be granted and the case will be dismissed with prejudice.”
“That argument fails because the law judge indicated the plaintiff could stand/walk for two hours at a time. ... Furthermore, in light of the Scheduling Order and Memorandum Requirements, any other argument is forfeited”
“Because the Commissioner's finding that the plaintiff experienced substantial post-operative improvement is inconsistent with his determination that the plaintiff's residual functional capacity did not change during the alleged disability period, the decision will be reversed and remanded for further consideration.”
“ORDER affirming the Commissioner's decision. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this Order and close this case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Thomas G. Wilson on 2/18/2026.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 432 days (N = 9).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 146 days (N = 9).
His current docket is dominated by consent Social Security disability appeals (28 U.S.C. 636(c)), which he decides to final judgment as the parties' agreed judge of record. Alongside those, he takes referral or consent jurisdiction over a broad range of general civil matters -- FLSA wage-and-hour, ADA, diversity contract and admiralty in rem cases, and civil-rights suits -- typically alongside a district judge (e.g. Judge Mizelle) before the parties consent to his full jurisdiction. He also continues to sit as the duty magistrate on criminal complaints and initial appearances.
Put Judge Wilson's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Wilson actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Wilson's own signed orders and cites them.