Craig M. Straw
How Judge Straw 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, grants the claimant's request for review, vacates the Commissioner's decision, and remands where the ALJ erred (e.g., failing to consider impairments at step two).
“For the reasons discussed above, Plaintiff's request for review (Doc. 15) is GRANTED. The final decision of the Commissioner to deny Plaintiff benefits is VACATED, and the case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further consideration consistent with this opinion.”
Procedural preferences
On a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, grants dismissal without prejudice and sets a firm window to amend the deficient count.
“Defendant's motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) is hereby GRANTED. Count I of Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed without prejudice. Plaintiff has sixty (60) days to amend Count I ... limited to Plaintiff's § 8371 statutory bad faith claim. Count II and III of Plaintiff's complaint are dismissed with prejudice.”
Cautions
Recommends denying the request for review and entering judgment for the Commissioner where the ALJ's decision is supported.
“Magistrate Judge Craig M. Straw has issued a report and recommendation ('R&R') that Plaintiff's request for review be denied, and judgment be entered for the Commissioner ... the R&R will be approved and adopted in its entirety ... 2. Plaintiff's Request for Relief [Doc. No. 12] is DENIED. 3. Judgment is entered in favor of Defendant.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the reasons discussed above, Plaintiff's request for review (Doc. 15) is GRANTED. The final decision of the Commissioner to deny Plaintiff benefits is VACATED, and the case is REMANDED to the Commissioner for further consideration consistent with this opinion.”
“the ALJ erred when she failed to consider Plaintiff's mental impairments at step two ... For these reasons, Plaintiff's request for review (Doc. 1) is GRANTED and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
“Defendant's motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) is hereby GRANTED. Count I of Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed without prejudice. Plaintiff has sixty (60) days to amend Count I ... limited to Plaintiff's § 8371 statutory bad faith claim. Count II and III of Plaintiff's complaint are dismissed with prejudice.”
“the Report and Recommendation ('R&R') of United States Magistrate Judge Craig M. Straw, ECF No. 19; and in the absence of objections ... 1. The Report and Recommendation, ECF No. 19, is APPROVED and ADOPTED. 2. The final decision of the Commissioner denying benefits prior to April 1, 2022, is hereby VACATED, and the case is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with the R&R.”
“the Report and Recommendation filed by United States Magistrate Judge Craig M. Straw (ECF No. 13), and no objections to the Report and Recommendation having been filed ... 1. The Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Craig M. Straw is APPROVED and ADOPTED; 2. The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE; and 3. No certificate of appealability shall issue.”
“Magistrate Judge Craig M. Straw has issued a report and recommendation ('R&R') that Plaintiff's request for review be denied, and judgment be entered for the Commissioner ... the R&R will be approved and adopted in its entirety ... 2. Plaintiff's Request for Relief [Doc. No. 12] is DENIED. 3. Judgment is entered in favor of Defendant.”
Put Judge Straw's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Straw actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Straw's own signed orders and cites them.