Haddon Lee Sarokin
How Judge Sarokin rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Sarokin no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Sarokin decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Walter, Sarokin required the public employer to show how the employee's political activity conflicted with the job rather than rely on the position's label alone.
“The exceptions to that rule should arise only when the employer clearly demonstrates that the political candidacy or advocacy of the employee is irreconcilable with continued employment.”
In Merli, Sarokin allowed a fee request to proceed because its omissions did not prevent the government from understanding the request or estimating its exposure.
“The defects in the application before this court are not significant enough to warrant denial of the application, and the government has not been harmed by them.”
Procedural preferences
In McClendon, Sarokin declined to send statutory employment claims to arbitration where the agreement empowered the arbitrator to interpret only the collective-bargaining agreement.
“a court cannot expand an arbitration provision narrowly drawn by the parties.”
In Wood, Sarokin refused to bar a federal discrimination claim based on an administrative process that gave the claimant no evidentiary hearing.
“Absent a full and fair hearing on the merits, no claimant should be denied access to the federal courts to pursue a claim of discrimination.”
Cautions
In Stuart, Sarokin treated summary judgment as an important safeguard where a defamation claim challenged disclosed critical opinion rather than false factual assertions.
“The cases cited above indicate that summary judgment is the preferable means of dealing with first amendment cases such as this.”
In Bonnie S., Sarokin required attention to a possible conflict between institutionalized plaintiffs and their guardians before consent restrictions could impede the suit.
“there must first be a showing that the interests of ward and guardian are in conflict.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the foregoing reasons, the default will be vacated because of the deficiencies in the service of process.”
“For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff’s application for a preliminary injunction is granted and defendants are directed to issue the necessary certificate of occupancy to plaintiff.”
“For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff’s demand for a trial by jury will not be stricken.”
“Summary judgment is hereby granted in favor of the defendants and accordingly, the complaint filed herein is dismissed as to any and all causes of action which existed as of the date of the release.”
“The defendant’s motion for summary judgment is denied.”
“Since those factual issues cannot be resolved absent a plenary trial, the motion of defendant for summary judgment is denied.”
“Because the court concludes that the deficiencies in the application are minor, and the government has not been harmed thereby, the court will grant the application for fees, but reserve the determination of the amount.”
“Therefore, defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted, without costs.”
“For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is granted and a hearing will be held consistent with this Opinion.”
“ORDERED that plaintiffs motion is granted;”
“The motion of defendants for summary judgment is granted and that of plaintiffs is denied.”
“Defendants’ motion to dismiss for failure to submit to arbitration is denied.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 364 days (N = 5).
The fixed five-matter sample included trademark, employment civil-rights, other civil-rights, copyright, and contract cases. All five were terminated, but the small late-tenure sample is not a distribution of Sarokin's full caseload.
A historical record
Judge Sarokin 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.