Terry I. Adelman
Judge Adelman no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Adelman decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In the Social Security appeals sampled, remands most often turn on the residual-functional-capacity determination -- an ALJ's RFC finding that does not account for a claimant's full set of severe and non-severe impairments, or that fails to address medication side effects, draws a reversal (Lowry, Cowan).
“In determining plaintiff's RFC upon remand, the Commissioner is reminded that consideration must be given to the limitations and restrictions imposed by all of the plaintiff's medically determinable impairments, both severe and non-severe, as well as limitations imposed by medication side effects.”
Procedural preferences
Where the Commissioner's own brief concedes error and moves to reverse and remand, the motion is granted without extended analysis (Reed 2007, Perine 2005).
“MEMORANDUM AND ORDER granting 9 Motion to Remand Case to Agency is reversed and remanded to the Commissioner”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED, and this case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings.”
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner is REVERSED, and this cause is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings.”
“MEMORANDUM AND ORDER granting 9 Motion to Remand Case to Agency is reversed and remanded to the Commissioner”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The analyzed sample focuses on Social Security appeals. Adelman's docket also included a large volume of habeas corpus petitions, prisoner civil-rights cases, and general consent civil matters (insurance, ERISA, employment discrimination, contract) typical of a long-serving magistrate judge's referred-and-consent docket. Many of those cases resolve by dismissal or settlement without a written dispositive-motion ruling, and the broader docket was not surveyed exhaustively.
A historical record
Judge Adelman 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.