Thomas M. Parker

United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio magistrate Retired 2024 · served 2016–2024 5 signed orders read

Judge Parker no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

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 Social Security appeals he applies the substantial-evidence standard, recommending that the Commissioner's decision be affirmed where the ALJ applied the proper legal standards and the findings are supported by substantial evidence.

“Because the Administrative Law Judge (‘ALJ’) applied proper legal standards and reached a decision supported by substantial evidence, I recommend that the Commissioner's final decision denying Marrero's application for DIB be AFFIRMED.”

Cautions

He rejects generalized separation-of-powers challenges to the structure of the Social Security Administration where the claimant shows no particularized injury, finding no standing to use such a theory as a basis for remand.

“Because Fauvie has not suffered a particularized injury stemming from the asserted separation of powers violation, she lacks standing to use the allegedly unconstitutional limitation on the president's power to remove the Commissioner as a basis for remand. Further, because the ALJ applied proper legal standards and reached a decision supported by substantial evidence, I recommend that the Commissioner's final decision denying Fauvie's application for SSI be affirmed.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Watkins v. Commissioner of Social Security
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Granted

“On November 22, 2017, Judge Parker issued a Report and Recommendation recommending that the final decision of the Commissioner be vacated and Watkins's case remanded because the ALJ 'did not correctly apply the applicable legal standards.' ... the Court ADOPTS Magistrate Judge Parker's Report and Recommendation ... The Court VACATES the final decision of the Commissioner and REMANDS this case”

Parsell v. Commissioner of Social Security
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“Judge Parker recommends I affirm the final decision of Defendant Commissioner of Social Security ... Therefore, Parsell's objections are overruled, and Judge Parker's R & R is adopted, in full.”

Weiss v. Warden I. Healy
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“Judge Parker submitted an R&R on March 15, 2024, recommending that the court grant Respondent's Motion, deny the petition for a writ of habeas corpus, and dismiss the action for lack of jurisdiction. ... the court hereby grants Respondent's Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 11), denies the petition for a writ of habeas corpus (ECF No. 1), and dismisses the action for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.”

Irvine v. Phillips, Warden
Habeas petition (petitioner) Denied

“On April 25, 2022, Magistrate Judge Thomas M. Parker recommended the Court deny Petitioner Davon Irvine's writ of habeas corpus. ... the Court hereby OVERRULES Irvine's objection, ADOPTS the R&R, and DENIES Irvine's petition for habeas review.”

Luksic v. Commissioner of Social Security
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“Memorandum Opinion and Order: The Commissioner's final decision denying claimant Jared Via's application for disability insurance benefits is AFFIRMED. ... Magistrate Judge Thomas M. Parker on 3/22/2024.”

Malone v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“This matter comes before the Court upon Plaintiff's Objections (ECF DKT #22) to the Report and Recommendation (ECF DKT #21) of Magistrate Judge Thomas M. Parker, who recommends that the Court affirm the Commissioner's decision denying Plaintiff's Claim for Disability Insurance Benefits (‘DIB’) and Supplemental Security Income (‘SSI’) ... the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation (ECF DKT #21) is ADOPTED and the Commissioner's denial of Plaintiff's Claim is AFFIRMED.”

Glenn v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“This matter comes before the Court upon Plaintiff's Objections (ECF DKT #16) to the Report and Recommendation (ECF DKT #15) of Magistrate Judge Thomas M. Parker, who recommends that the Court affirm the Commissioner's decision denying Plaintiff's Claim for Supplemental Security Income (‘SSI’). For the following reasons, the Court ADOPTS Magistrate Judge Parker's Report and Recommendation and AFFIRMS the Commissioner's denial of Plaintiff's Claims.”

Smith v. Berryhill
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“This matter comes before the Court upon Plaintiff's Objections (ECF #18) to the Report and Recommendation (ECF #17) of Magistrate Judge Thomas M. Parker, who recommends that the Court affirm the Commissioner's decision denying Plaintiff's claim for Supplemental Security Income (‘SSI’) ... the Court ADOPTS the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation and AFFIRMS the Commissioner's denial of Plaintiff's Claim.”

Marrero v. Commissioner of Social Security
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“Because the Administrative Law Judge (‘ALJ’) applied proper legal standards and reached a decision supported by substantial evidence, I recommend that the Commissioner's final decision denying Marrero's application for DIB be AFFIRMED.”

Galley v. Commissioner of Social Security
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Granted

“On March 29, 2021, the magistrate judge submitted a Report and Recommendation (ECF No. 18) recommending that the Court vacate the Commissioner's decision and remand the case to the Commissioner. ... the Report and Recommendation of the magistrate judge is hereby adopted. The Court vacates the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security and remands this case to the Commissioner for rehearing and a new decision.”

Kinnebrew v. Saul
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“The Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation that the Court vacate the Commissioner's decision and remand the case for reconsideration. The Commissioner makes two objections to this recommendation. For the reasons that follow, the Court SUSTAINS the Commissioner's Objections (ECF No. 17), DECLINES TO ADOPT the Report and Recommendation (ECF No. 16), and AFFIRMS the Commissioner's decision denying Ms. Kinnebrew's application for benefits.”

Fauvie v. Commissioner of Social Security
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“Because Fauvie has not suffered a particularized injury stemming from the asserted separation of powers violation, she lacks standing to use the allegedly unconstitutional limitation on the president's power to remove the Commissioner as a basis for remand. Further, because the ALJ applied proper legal standards and reached a decision supported by substantial evidence, I recommend that the Commissioner's final decision denying Fauvie's application for SSI be affirmed.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 178 days (N = 14).

A 2023 sample of Judge Parker's direct and consent docket is dominated by Social Security appeals in which he entered final judgment under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). It also includes wage-and-hour, family-leave, employment civil-rights, consumer, and criminal magistrate matters. His referred recommendations in criminal and habeas cases appear under the assigned district judge rather than as directly assigned cases.

A historical record

Judge Parker 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.