Elizabeth A. Stafford
How Judge Stafford rules, drawn from 34 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Stafford
Elizabeth A. Stafford has served as a United States magistrate judge for the Eastern District of Michigan since November 2014. She sits in Detroit and previously served as an assistant United States attorney in the district.
Judge Stafford's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Stafford, as published on the court's website (checked October 8, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Motions
All briefs must contain an index of exhibits, and the Court suggests a table of contents for briefs over ten pages.
“All briefs must contain an index of exhibits, and the Court suggests a table of contents for briefs over ten pages.”
Sealing
The movant must comply with Rule 5.3(b)(3)(v) and (vi) for filing redacted and unredacted versions of the designated materials.
“The movant must comply with Rule 5.3(b)(3)(v) and (vi) for filing redacted and unredacted versions of the designated materials.”
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 8, 2026).
- Procedures for Access, Service, and Management of Sealed Documents ↗
- Procedures for the Filing, Service and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- Standing Order for Discovery and Inspection and Fixing Motion Cut-Off Date in Criminal Cases ↗
- Pro Se Filings (Revised & Amended) ↗
- Filing a New Civil Case or Civil Initiating Papers Under Seal ↗
How Judge Stafford decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Lopez, she permitted an amended complaint that replaced confusing, conclusory rhetoric with understandable factual allegations. She excluded portions that did not advance claims or improperly sought discovery within the pleading; the motion was granted only in part.
“Instead, the amended complaint sets out Lopez’s claims in an understandable way.”
Procedural preferences
In Akrawi v. FCA US LLC, she granted FCA's motion to quash discovery served before the parties' Rule 26(f) conference because no exception authorized the early requests.
“None of the exceptions to this rule apply. FCA’s motion to quash is thus GRANTED.”
In Bouie v. Alzayadi, Stafford found the responding party's discovery objections improper because he purported to answer without waiving them and had not clearly stated whether responsive material was withheld.
“His without-waiving objections were improper.”
Cautions
In Strong v. General Motors Flint Assembly, she struck amended complaints filed after the Rule 15(a)(1) deadline without leave and instructed the plaintiff to move for permission under Rule 15(a)(2).
“If Strong wishes to amend her complaint, she must move for leave to do so under Rule 15(a)(2).”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Court RECOMMENDS that the Commissioner’s motion, ECF No. 17, be GRANTED; that Carter’s motion, ECF No. 16, be DENIED; and that the ALJ’s decision be AFFIRMED.”
Heeding an unmet briefing deadline and an unanswered show-cause order, she recommended dismissal with prejudice for failure to prosecute. The plaintiff had filed no dispositive motion, and this court-initiated action is retained for context without a classified party-motion outcome.
“Both parties consented to conduct all proceedings before this Court [R. 21]. For the reasons stated on the record during the hearing on December 10, 2015, and as described below, the Court GRANTS Rowe’s motion for remand [R. 15] and DENIES the Commissioner’s motion for summary judgment [R. 17].”
“The Court finds that the administrative law judge’s (ALJ) decision is supported by substantial evidence, and thus: DENIES Mitchell’s motion, ECF No. 15; GRANTS the Commissioner’s motion, ECF No. 16; and AFFIRMS the ALJ’s decision under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
“ORDER Denying Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 16), Granting Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 18), And Affirming the Decision of The Commissioner.”
“After review of the record, the Court ORDERS that: Plaintiff’s motion (ECF No. 8) is DENIED; the Commissioner’s motion (ECF No. 10) is GRANTED; and the ALJ’s decision is AFFIRMED under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
“After review of the record, the Court ORDERS that: Plaintiff’s motion (ECF No. 11) is DENIED; the Commissioner’s motion (ECF No. 13) is GRANTED; and the ALJ’s decision is AFFIRMED under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
“After review of the record, the Court ORDERS that: Plaintiff’s motion (ECF No. 9) is DENIED; the Commissioner’s motion (ECF No. 12) is GRANTED; and the ALJ’s decision is AFFIRMED under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
“The parties’ Stipulation to Remand to the Commissioner is granted, and this case is remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
“The parties’ Stipulation to Remand to the Commissioner is granted, and this case is remanded to the Commissioner for further proceedings under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
“After review of the record, the Court ORDERS that: Caldwell’s motion (ECF No. 16) is DENIED; the Commissioner’s motion (ECF No. 18) is GRANTED; and the ALJ’s decision is AFFIRMED under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
“After review of the record, the Court ORDERS that: Plaintiff’s motion (ECF No. 13) is DENIED; the Commissioner’s motion (ECF No. 17) is GRANTED; and the ALJ’s decision is AFFIRMED under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reviewed referral matters provide descriptive caseload context rather than a complete count of Judge Stafford's work.
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 | 2 |
| Sep 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| Mar 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2022 | 0 | 1 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 3 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 2 |
| Mar 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 2020 | 0 | 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.
How long civil cases take in this court
For the whole of U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, not for Judge Stafford: 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 | 2,926 | 8.3 months |
| Closed with no court action | 410 | 2.9 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 1,246 | 4.1 months |
| Closed during or after pretrial | 1,252 | 15.3 months |
| Closed during trial | 18 | 35.8 months |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 2,926 | 8.3 months |
| Sep 2024 | 2,615 | 7.9 months |
| Sep 2023 | 2,616 | 8.5 months |
| Sep 2022 | 2,541 | 9.2 months |
| Sep 2021 | 2,405 | 10.2 months |
| Sep 2020 | 2,677 | 9 months |
| Sep 2019 | 3,237 | 8.6 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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