James C. England
How Judge England rules, drawn from 23 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge England
James C. England has served as a United States magistrate judge in the Western District of Missouri since 1976, according to the court’s biography. He earned a law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1972 and previously served as an assistant United States attorney in the district.
Judge England's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge England, as published on the court's website (checked October 11, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Trial
The court urges attorneys to arrange a test of courtroom equipment before trial.
“Prior to trial, we urge all attorneys to schedule an appointment to test equipment.”
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).
How Judge England decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In an FMLA summary-judgment dispute, evidence about the employers’ size and the employee’s reliance left material factual issues for trial.
“Based on the record before it, the Court finds that plaintiff has raised a genuine factual dispute on this issue, which is integral to her case.”
In a disability appeal, he rejected an agency defense of an ALJ decision where the decision appeared to rely on a nonmedical single decision maker as a medical consultant.
“The Court finds this argument to be unconvincing.”
Procedural preferences
For a criminal indictment with surplus sentencing allegations, the recommendation favored striking the surplusage while retaining the charge.
“Because the remaining language is sufficient to charge the offense presented, dismissal of the indictment is not the proper remedy.”
Cautions
In a Social Security limitations dispute, he found diligence alone insufficient for equitable tolling on the stated facts.
“Even assuming in this case that plaintiff has demonstrated diligence, as she contends, she has failed to demonstrate an extraordinary circumstance that would justify tolling the applicable statutory period.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“ORDERED that defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment be, and it is hereby, denied.”
“RECOMMENDED that defendant’s Motion to Dismiss or Strike Indictment be granted in part and that the additional sentencing allegations be stricken as surplusage.”
“RECOMMENDED that defendant’s Motion to Suppress be denied.”
“RECOMMENDED that defendant’s Motion to Dismiss be denied.”
“ORDERED that Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint be, and it is hereby, granted.”
The court reversed and remanded because the ALJ may have relied on a single decision maker as a medical consultant.
“granted. It is further ORDERED that, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), this matter be remanded to the Commissioner for the calculation and award of benefits.”
“RECOMMENDED that defendant Cantrell’s Supplemental Motion to Suppress be denied.”
“RECOMMENDED that defendant’s Motion to Suppress Evidence and Statements be denied.”
“RECOMMENDED that defendant’s Motion to Suppress Evidence should be denied.”
“RECOMMENDED that defendant’s Motion to Suppress Evidence be denied.”
“RECOMMENDED that defendant’s Motion to Suppress be denied.”
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 | 0 |
| Sep 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2020 | 0 | 0 |
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 Western District of Missouri, not for Judge England: 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 | 1,429 | 6.7 months |
| Closed with no court action | 520 | 5.7 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 876 | 7.2 months |
| Closed during or after pretrial | 19 | 49.3 months |
| Closed during trial | 14 | 22.7 months |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 1,429 | 6.7 months |
| Sep 2024 | 1,461 | 6.9 months |
| Sep 2023 | 1,502 | 6.2 months |
| Sep 2022 | 1,738 | 7.3 months |
| Sep 2021 | 1,341 | 8.2 months |
| Sep 2020 | 1,312 | 6.9 months |
| Sep 2019 | 1,485 | 7 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).
Draft for Judge England with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge England, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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