Michael T. Parker
How Judge Parker decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In consent Social Security appeals, the judge affirms the agency when substantial evidence in the administrative record supports the ALJ's five-step disability analysis, even where the claimant identifies factual disagreements -- the bar is substantial evidence, not re-weighing the record.
“the Court finds that the Commissioner's decision should be AFFIRMED.”
On summary judgment in a prisoner exposure-to-secondhand-smoke suit, corroborating affidavits describing sustained, severe exposure (specific quantities of daily smoking, repeated ignored complaints) were enough to defeat summary judgment on both prongs of the constitutional test, while a claim with no comparable personal-involvement evidence against supervisors was dismissed.
“The plaintiffs' evidence is enough to create a genuine issue of material fact.”
Procedural preferences
Where a Social Security remand is requested by the agency or by stipulation rather than contested to a merits ruling, the judge grants it promptly and remands for further administrative proceedings rather than deciding the merits himself.
“REMAND ORDER granting 11 Motion to Remand to Commissioner of Social Security”
In prisoner civil-rights cases the judge routinely orders an omnibus/Spears-style hearing to screen and clarify a pro se plaintiff's claims before allowing the case to proceed to discovery and dispositive motions.
“Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker: Omnibus Hearing held on 1/24/2019. ... The court screened plaintiff's claims.”
Cautions
A prisoner's failure to exhaust administrative remedies before adding a new defendant is fatal to the claim against that defendant, even if the plaintiff later completed the grievance process, because exhaustion must precede suit.
“The addition of Walton as a defendant was premature inasmuch as Adams had not exhausted his administrative remedies, and Walton shall be dismissed without prejudice.”
A Section 1983 claim against a supervisor fails without evidence of the supervisor's own personal involvement or a policymaker-level policy causally tied to the violation -- respondeat superior is not enough.
“Section 1983 does not create supervisory or respondeat superior liability.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Plaintiff's claims against Defendant Christian Davis in his official capacity, to the extent there are any, are dismissed with prejudice. Further, Plaintiffs claims against Defendant Joel Thames in his individual and official capacities are dismissed with prejudice.”
“Defendants' unopposed Motion for Summary Judgment on All State Law Claims [69] should be granted.”
“the defendants Jacqueline Banks, Sandra Jackson, Lawrence Walton, and Bryan Shuckrow's motion for summary judgment (docket entry 114) is granted in part and denied in part as follows: GRANTED as to defendant Walton, and GRANTED as to the denial of medical care claim against defendants Banks and Jackson; DENIED as to the remaining claims against defendants Banks, Jackson and Shuckrow.”
“the plaintiff Latrell Adams' motion for summary judgment (docket entry 119) is DENIED”
“the Magistrate Judge issued his Report and Recommendation [docket entry no. 40] that Shelton's petition be dismissed with prejudice... IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Report and Recommendation [docket entry no. 40] of the Magistrate Judge is ADOPTED.”
“Opinion and Order: the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security Administration is Affirmed. ... FINAL JUDGMENT: action is dismissed with prejudice.”
“OPINION AND ORDER granting 15 Motion to Affirm. Ordered that the Commissioner's final decision is affirmed. Ordered that this case is dismissed with prejudice.”
“the Court finds that the Commissioner's decision should be AFFIRMED.”
“OPINION AND ORDER granting in part and denying in part 14 Motion for Summary Judgment; granting in part and denying in part 16 Motion to Affirm. Ordered that this case is remanded to the Commissioner for further administrative proceedings consistent with this Order. All other relief requested by Plaintiff is denied.”
“OPINION and ORDER. Ordered that the Commissioner's final decision is AFFIRMED. Ordered that this case is dismissed with prejudice.”
“REMAND ORDER granting 11 Motion to Remand to Commissioner of Social Security”
“Opinion and Order re 1 Complaint: Commissioner's final decision is Affirmed. This action is Dismissed with prejudice.”
“the Court finds that the Commissioner's final decision should be AFFIRMED and this action should be DISMISSED... FINAL JUDGMENT: Ordered that this case is dismissed with prejudice.”
“ORDER denying 15 Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker on October 1, 2018.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Judge Parker's docket, centered in the Hattiesburg division with some Natchez and Gulfport matters referred or consented to him, is dominated by three areas: a large consent-jurisdiction Social Security disability docket under 28 U.S.C. 636(c); pro se prisoner civil-rights suits, many screened at an omnibus hearing before merits litigation; and criminal-magistrate duties such as initial appearances, detention and removal hearings, and search-warrant and sealing orders. Knight v. State of Mississippi, filed May 18, 2026, remained pending as of July 2026.
Put Judge Parker's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Parker actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Parker's own signed orders and cites them.