Stephanie A. Gallagher
How Judge Gallagher rules, drawn from 33 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Gallagher
Stephanie Agli Gallagher is a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Appointed by President Donald J. Trump, Judge Gallagher received a commission on September 13, 2019.
Judge Gallagher's practices and standing orders
The court's website lists no individual practices or standing orders of Judge Gallagher's own (checked October 9, 2026), so the court's local rules and general orders are the place to look (court page ↗).
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 9, 2026).
- Order 2026-05: Redacted Filings in FRCP 5.2(c) Cases ↗
- Order 2026-03: Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Court Filings ↗
- Order 2025-05: Procedures for the Filing of Sealed Documents ↗
- Amended Order 2021-13: Removal Actions ↗
- Amended Order 2022-04: Social Security Cases ↗
- Second Amended Order 2021-02: Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- Order 2020-01: Discovery in Criminal Cases ↗
- Order 2018-07: Amicus Briefs ↗
- Order 2018-08: Service of Rule 68 Offers of Judgment ↗
- Second Amended Order 2025-01: Petitions for Writs of Habeas Corpus—Alien Detainee ↗
- Order 2024-01: Deficiency Notices ↗
How Judge Gallagher decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
In Gray Construction v. Medline Industries, Gallagher denied a dismissal motion filed long after the extended dispositive-motion deadline because the movant showed no good cause to change the schedule.
“GTA's Motion to Dismiss, ECF 307, is DENIED as untimely filed in contravention of this Court's scheduling order.”
In Edmondson v. Eagle National Bank, Gallagher granted leave to amend after an appellate remand because the litigation had seen little activity, the request preceded the agreed deadline, and the record showed no bad faith or prejudice.
“Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Amend, ECF 48, is GRANTED.”
Cautions
She grants a motion to dismiss Title VII religious-accommodation and ADA claims arising from a COVID-19 vaccine-mandate exemption denial where the complaint does not plausibly plead the required elements.
“Defendant's Motion to Dismiss, ECF 17, will be GRANTED.”
In Friend v. AstraZeneca, Gallagher denied a motion to alter or amend the dismissal judgment because the movant identified no clear error or new ground for relief.
“Friend's Motion to Alter or Amend, ECF 36, is DENIED.”
Litigation-related conduct does not support a retaliation claim where the pleaded facts show reasonable defensive measures rather than action calculated to harm the plaintiff; after three pleading attempts, she dismissed those claims with prejudice.
“Because Plaintiff has now had three opportunities to plead these claims, and the lack of additional facts included in her most recent attempt indicates that it is unlikely she possesses facts that could sufficiently plead them, the claims will be dismissed with prejudice.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Defendant's Motion to Dismiss, ECF 17, will be GRANTED.”
“Friend's Motion to Alter or Amend, ECF 36, is DENIED.”
“this case will be reopened and Plaintiff's motion to amend will be granted, without prejudice to Opposing Defendants' ability to renew their substantive arguments in a motion to dismiss.”
“GTA's Motion to Dismiss, ECF 307, is DENIED as untimely filed in contravention of this Court's scheduling order.”
“Plaintiffs' Motion for Leave to File an Amended Complaint, ECF 108, ... will be DENIED.”
“Defendant's Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Jurisdiction, ECF 111, will be DENIED.”
“Fidelity's Motion for Acceptance of Untimely Opt Outs, ECF 106, will be GRANTED, to the extent that a Court-approved corrective notice will be sent promptly to the Disputed Class Members”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File First Amended Complaint, ECF 32, will be GRANTED, permitting the First Amended Complaint to be docketed.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Amend, ECF 48, is GRANTED.”
“Plaintiff's Petition for Writ of Mandamus, ECF No. 1, is DENIED ... Plaintiff's Petition is therefore moot.”
“Defendant's Motion to Dismiss, ECF 12, is DENIED as moot; and this case is DISMISSED with prejudice.”
“United's Motion to Dismiss, ECF 13, is granted and Plaintiff's claims are dismissed without prejudice.”
“Defendants' unopposed Motion to Dismiss, ECF 17, is granted. This case will be closed.”
“Plaintiff's Rule 60(b)(6) Motion for Relief from Judgment, ECF 161, is DENIED.”
“AmEx's motion to compel arbitration, ECF 34, will be GRANTED. This case will be stayed and administratively closed”
“Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and injunctive relief, ECF 14, will be DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 225 days (N = 9).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 44 days (N = 3).
The reviewed 2020 filings show a broad civil mix, including removed consumer and contract disputes, Social Security appeals, employee-benefits matters, prisoner civil-rights and post-conviction cases, immigration mandamus, and criminal matters. Gallagher sits in Baltimore. Her later docket includes prominent administrative-law cases involving mifepristone and federal education policy.
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 | 6 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 0 | 6 |
| Sep 2025 | 0 | 13 |
| Mar 2025 | 0 | 12 |
| Sep 2024 | 0 | 13 |
| Mar 2024 | 0 | 15 |
| Sep 2023 | 0 | 14 |
| Mar 2023 | 0 | 81 |
| Sep 2022 | 0 | 9 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 9 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 11 |
| Mar 2021 | 0 | 6 |
| Sep 2020 | 0 | 5 |
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.
How long civil cases take in this court
For the whole of United States District Court for the District of Maryland, not for Judge Gallagher: median time from filing to disposition of the civil cases the court closed in the 12 months ending September 30, 2025, as reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
| Cases | Median time | |
|---|---|---|
| All civil cases closed | 3,191 | 6.7 months |
| Closed with no court action | 151 | 5.7 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 2,564 | 5.9 months |
| Closed during or after pretrial | 457 | 13.6 months |
| Closed during trial | 19 | 33.9 months |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 3,191 | 6.7 months |
| Sep 2024 | 3,119 | 7.5 months |
| Sep 2023 | 3,370 | 9 months |
| Sep 2022 | 3,053 | 9.5 months |
| Sep 2021 | 2,629 | 8.9 months |
| Sep 2020 | 2,469 | 9 months |
| Sep 2019 | 2,709 | 7.9 months |
The table leaves out prisoner petitions, land condemnations, deportation reviews, recovery of overpayments and enforcement of judgments, and reports no median for fewer than 10 cases. A district that closed a large multidistrict litigation in the period shows very large counts and long medians for that year. Source: Table C-5, U.S. District Courts (spreadsheet).
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