Michael G. Gotsch Sr.
How Judge Gotsch rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Gotsch no longer sits on this court. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Gotsch
Michael G. Gotsch Sr. served as a United States Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Indiana’s South Bend Division from August 2016 until August 2024. He previously served as a judge of the St. Joseph Circuit Court and earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Notre Dame.
How Judge Gotsch decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Singleton's Social Security appeal, Gotsch found the ALJ's Step Two analysis unsupported by substantial evidence and remanded the case.
“Court CONCLUDES that the Administrative Law Judge's Step Two analysis was not supported with substantial evidence.”
In Stewart’s disability cessation appeal, Gotsch affirmed the agency decision after finding that the ALJ connected the evidence to the conclusion and supported the vocational analysis with substantial evidence.
“Accordingly, this Court AFFIRMS the ALJ’s finding that Stewart’s disability ended on November 15, 2011, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
Procedural preferences
In Marvin's civil-rights suit, Gotsch resolved cross summary-judgment motions separately by claim and defendant, granting judgment on the unlawful-entry claim for Corban while denying it for Holcomb and Lawson-Rulli.
“GRANTED as to Plaintiffs unlawful entry claim as it pertains to Defendant Corban; DENIED as to Plaintiffs unlawful entry claim as it pertains to Defendants Holcomb and Lawson-Rulli”
In Davis's habeas case, Gotsch dismissed the petition as untimely and denied a certificate of appealability.
“The Court DISMISSES the petition 1 because the claims are untimely, DENIES Clinton Davis, a certificate of appealability pursuant to Section 2254 Habeas Corpus Rule 11”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“OPINION AND ORDER: The decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is AFFIRMED pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Clerk DIRECTED to enter judgment in favor of the Commissioner of Social Security. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 10/20/16.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: Plaintiff Christopher J Keenan's request to remand this case is GRANTED. This case is REMANDED to the Commissioner of Social Security for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion and Order. Clerk DIRECTED to terminate the case. Signed by Judge Michael G Gotsch Sr on 9/12/16.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: The Court now GRANTS Gillespie's request to remand this case. This case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. The Clerk is DIRECTED to terminate the case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 10/4/2016.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: The Court REMANDS this case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. The Clerk is DIRECTED to terminate this case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 11/22/2016.”
“OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING 35 MOTION (First) for Attorney Fees Pursuant to EAJA by Plaintiff James K Green ... Defendant Commissioner of Social Security ORDERED to pay to Plaintiff James K Green $10,032.00 for attorney's fees ... Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 4/19/17.”
“OPINION AND ORDER DENYING 15 MOTION for Reversal or Remand filed by Daniel Joseph Anderson. The Commissioner of Social Security's decision pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) is AFFIRMED. Clerk DIRECTED to term this case and enter judgment in favor of the Commissioner of Social Security. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 10/20/16.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: The decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is REVERSED pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and this case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion and Order. Clerk DIRECTED to term this case and enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff Kathaleen Lehman and against Defendant Commissioner of Social Security. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 1/31/17.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: The Administrative Law Judge's finding that Plaintiff Adam J Stewart's disability ended on November 15, 2011, pursuant to Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), is AFFIRMED. Clerk DIRECTED to enter judgment in favor of Defendant Commissioner of Social Security and against Plaintiff Adam J Stewart. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 3/31/17.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: Court CONCLUDES that the Administrative Law Judge's Step Two analysis was not supported with substantial evidence. This case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion and Order. Clerk DIRECTED to terminate this case in favor of Plaintiff Nancy Singleton. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 4/4/17.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: DENIES 16 Plummer's motion for remand. This Court AFFIRMS the Commissioner's decision pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The Clerk is instructed to term the case and enter judgment in favor of the Commissioner. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 10/4/2017.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: The Court AFFIRMS the Commissioner's decision pursuant to sentence four of 42 USC § 405(g). The Clerk is instructed to term the case and enter judgment in favor of the Commissioner. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 12/13/2017.”
“OPINION AND ORDER: Court REVERSES the decision of the Commissioner, and REMANDS this matter to the Social Security Administration for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion and Order. The Clerk is DIRECTED to terminate the case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 3/30/2018.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median motion-to-ruling time: 366 days (N = 16).
Pending matters in the official report
Reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts under the Civil Justice Reform Act, as of March 31, 2026.
| Motions pending more than six months | 0 |
| Bench trials submitted more than six months | 0 |
| Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Social Security appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Civil cases pending more than three years | 0 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2024 | 0 | 3 |
| Sep 2023 | 5 | 6 |
| Mar 2023 | 3 | 3 |
| Sep 2022 | 2 | 4 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 5 |
| Sep 2021 | 3 | 3 |
| Mar 2021 | 4 | 1 |
| Sep 2020 | 2 | 1 |
A snapshot on that date: matters listed may since have been decided or reassigned. A motion referred to a magistrate judge is counted for both judges. Motions in multidistrict litigation, section 2255 cases and Social Security appeals are not counted, and a very large three-year count is generally a multidistrict docket. Source: Appendix A of the report (PDF); about the report.
A historical record
Judge Gotsch no longer sits on this court. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.