Reuben J. Sheperd
How Judge Sheperd rules, drawn from 12 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Sheperd decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Recommends granting Rule 56(a) summary judgment for defendants in prisoner civil-rights suits where they are entitled to judgment on all claims; adopted in full.
“Magistrate Judge Sheperd correctly determined that, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a), Defendants are entitled to judgment as to all of Mr. Daniels' claims. The Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Defendants, CoreCivic, Inc., Shannon Swanson, M.D., and Warden Douglas Fender (Docket #46) is hereby GRANTED.”
In Social Security appeals, recommends vacating and remanding where substantial evidence does not support the ALJ's step-five determination.
“The Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Sheperd is, therefore, ADOPTED. The decision of the Commissioner denying Plaintiff's application for DIB is VACATED and the case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with the Report & Recommendation.”
At Step Two of Social Security review, he treats vocationally specific limits on focus, concentration, pace, and complex decision-making as medical-opinion evidence that must be evaluated, even when a separate statement about ultimate disability would be reserved to the agency. In Sack, he recommended remand because the adjudicator ended the analysis without evaluating those functional restrictions.
“The failure to evaluate the medical opinion of Dr. Klimowicz, however, cannot so easily be excused. Dr. Klimowicz very specifically indicated that Sack lacked the capacity to perform activities requiring focus, concentration, pace and complex-decision making capacity necessary for a ‘high-level’ occupation such as her most recent job.”
Procedural preferences
Most rulings issue as Reports and Recommendations adopted without objection; the district judge reviews for clear error and adopts in entirety.
“the Court ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge's R&R, incorporates it fully herein by reference, and AFFIRMS the final decision of the Commissioner.”
Cautions
In Social Security appeals will recommend affirming the Commissioner where the ALJ's findings and RFC are supported by substantial evidence: the claimant loses.
“The Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Sheperd is, therefore, ADOPTED, and the decision of the Commissioner denying Plaintiff's application for disability insurance benefits is AFFIRMED.”
He accepts an administrative law judge's translation of vague clinical language into concrete vocational limits when the decision explains the evidentiary bridge. A claimant must identify a supported competing restriction; the adjudicator need not rule out every hypothetical greater off-task or standing limitation that no medical source proposed.
“Here, the ALJ clearly evaluated the evidence in the record, and utilized it to convert the vague findings in the consultative examiner’s opinion into a vocationally relevant RFC.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Magistrate Judge Sheperd correctly determined that, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a), Defendants are entitled to judgment as to all of Mr. Daniels' claims. The Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Defendants, CoreCivic, Inc., Shannon Swanson, M.D., and Warden Douglas Fender (Docket #46) is hereby GRANTED.”
“The Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Sheperd is, therefore, ADOPTED, and the decision of the Commissioner denying Plaintiff's application for disability insurance benefits is AFFIRMED.”
“the Court ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge's R&R, incorporates it fully herein by reference, and AFFIRMS the final decision of the Commissioner.”
“This Court, having reviewed the Report and Recommendation and finding no clear error, accepts the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation. The Court hereby denies the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus for the reasons stated by the Magistrate Judge”
“The Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Sheperd is, therefore, ADOPTED. The decision of the Commissioner denying Plaintiff's application for DIB is VACATED and the case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with the Report & Recommendation.”
Procedural in-forma-pauperis screening (Toledo). Sheperd's recommendation (February 4, 2026) recommended denying the plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis; no objections were filed; District Judge Helmick adopted it in its entirety and denied the motion. This procedural ruling did not resolve the merits of a litigated motion. The adoption order states: 'I... adopt Judge Sheperd's R & R in its entirety as the final Order of this Court. Accordingly, Plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis is denied.'
“Because the ALJ failed to apply proper legal standards when finding that Sack had no severe medically determinable impairments at Step Two of the sequential evaluation, I recommend the Commissioner’s final decision denying Sack’s application for DIB be remanded.”
“Because the ALJ applied proper legal standards when evaluating the opinion of PA Bonsky, I recommend affirming the Commissioner’s final decision denying Spradlin’s application for DIB.”
“Because the ALJ applied proper legal standards and supported her decision with substantial evidence, I recommend the Commissioner’s final decision denying Gaines’ application for SSI be affirmed.”
“I therefore recommend the District Court dismiss Webster’s habeas corpus petition as untimely.”
“Because the ALJ applied proper legal standards and reached a decision supported by substantial evidence, I recommend the Commissioner’s final decision denying Adkins’ applications for DIB and SSI be affirmed.”
“Because the ALJ applied proper legal standards and reached a decision supported by substantial evidence, I recommend that the Commissioner’s final decision denying McKinney’s application for DIB be affirmed.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
- Judge Sheperd's directly assigned work in the Cleveland-based Eastern Division is dominated by duty-magistrate criminal matters, including complaints and arrest or search warrants, together with civil-forfeiture seizures.
- His referred civil work includes many Social Security appeals, as well as habeas petitions, prisoner civil-rights matters, and initial review of filings by litigants proceeding without prepayment of fees.
- Judges Barker, Fleming, Helmick, and Nugent appear among the referring district judges.
- Because he joined the bench in 2024, the reviewed record covers only the early years of his tenure.
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