William H. Baughman, Jr.
How Judge Baughman rules, drawn from 5 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Baughman no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Baughman
William H. Baughman Jr. served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Ohio beginning in February 2000 and retired in July 2022. A graduate of Saint Vincent College and Notre Dame Law School, he clerked for two judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He died in July 2024.
How Judge Baughman decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
On Social Security appeals Baughman recommends a sentence-four remand where the parties jointly stipulate to it, vacating the Commissioner's decision rather than reaching a contested merits ruling.
“The Court hereby ADOPTS the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Baughman. (Docket #16.) The Joint Stipulation to Remand (Docket #15) is hereby GRANTED. The Commissioner's decision is hereby VACATED and the case is hereby REMANDED pursuant to the fourth sentence of 42 U.S.C. 405(g)”
Cautions
A 28 U.S.C. 2241 habeas petition invoking the section 2255(e) savings clause does not survive before him where the earlier 2255 was merely dismissed as untimely; he recommends dismissal.
“the Court adopts the Report and Recommendation, and dismisses the petition for habeas corpus docketed at ECF No. 1.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Court hereby ADOPTS the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Baughman. (Docket #16.) The Joint Stipulation to Remand (Docket #15) is hereby GRANTED. The Commissioner's decision is hereby VACATED and the case is hereby REMANDED pursuant to the fourth sentence of 42 U.S.C. 405(g)”
“the Motion to Dismiss filed by filed by Plaintiff (Docket #124) is GRANTED. Plaintiffs claims against Defendant Lightning Demolition and Excavating are hereby DISMISSED on the basis that said Defendant has disclaimed any right, title, or interest in the subject property.”
“the Court adopts the Report and Recommendation, and dismisses the petition for habeas corpus docketed at ECF No. 1.”
Supervised-release violation proceeding. Baughman's recommendation (October 12, 2016) found four Grade-A violations (changed residence, failed to report, failed substance-abuse treatment, new law violation); no objections were filed; District Judge Gwin adopted it and imposed 24 months in custody (12 concurrent / 12 consecutive to a state sentence). This sentencing-adjacent finding did not resolve a litigated motion. The adoption order states: 'No objections having been filed the Court adopted the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation and found that the following terms of supervision had been violated.'
Felony change-of-plea recommendation (fentanyl conspiracy, 21 U.S.C. 846/841). Baughman received the defendant's guilty plea by referral and recommended the court accept it; no objections were filed; District Judge Lioi adopted it on de novo review and approved the plea (defendant adjudged guilty). This ministerial plea-acceptance proceeding did not resolve a litigated motion. The adoption order states: 'the Magistrate Judge's R&R is ADOPTED.... Accordingly, the defendant's plea of guilty is APPROVED.'
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The sampled Cleveland docket is dominated by Social Security disability appeals Judge Baughman decided with the parties' consent, alongside prisoner habeas and commercial-contract matters. The sample draws from cases filed from 1997 through 1999. His other work included referred recommendations, felony plea proceedings, and supervised-release matters.
Pending matters in the official report
Judge Baughman was last listed in the Civil Justice Reform Act report as of September 30, 2025.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 3 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| 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.
A historical record
Judge Baughman no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.