Susan L. Collins
Judge Collins no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Collins decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
In Social Security appeals, Judge Collins enforces the local court's briefing schedule closely, routinely granting unopposed extension requests but warning parties in later orders that 'no further extension will be granted' or that further requests will be 'looked upon with disfavor' -- a signal that counsel should treat a second extension as effectively their last.
“The Social Security Reply Brief of the Plaintiff is due by 8/26/2016. No further extension will be granted.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED. The Clerk is directed to enter a judgment in favor of the Commissioner and against Holsinger.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED, and the case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings in accordance with this Opinion and Order.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED, and the case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings in accordance with this Opinion and Order.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED, and the case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings in accordance with this Opinion and Order.”
“The decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is AFFIRMED. The clerk is directed to enter judgment in favor of the defendant and against the plaintiff.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED, and the case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings in accordance with this Opinion and Order.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED. The Clerk is directed to enter a judgment in favor of the Commissioner and against Grant.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED, and the case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings in accordance with this Opinion and Order.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED and the case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further administrative proceedings as set forth in the Order. Judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiff Lonnie McGraw, Jr.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED. The Clerk is directed to enter a judgment in favor of the Commissioner and against Woods.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED. The Clerk is directed to enter a judgment in favor of the Commissioner and against Annis.”
“The decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED. The Clerk is directed to enter a judgment in favor of the Commissioner and against Martin.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 248 days (N = 26).
The sampled 2016, 2018, and 2021 filing cohorts consist entirely of Social Security disability appeals under Titles II and XVI and therefore represent only her consent docket. Her broader work includes employment, civil-rights, contract, and diversity cases; Report and Recommendation assignments in cases before district judges; and preliminary criminal duties such as initial appearances, detention hearings, arraignments, and guilty-plea colloquies, which are not separately represented.
A historical record
Judge Collins 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.