Miguel A. Torres
How Judge Torres 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, Judge Torres consistently accepts that an ALJ may interpret 'objective medical evidence' (exam findings, imaging results described in ordinary terms) without a supporting medical opinion, but draws a firm line against an ALJ interpreting 'raw medical data' on their own.
“Objective medical evidence, which ALJs are permitted to interpret, is described as medical evidence 'where the extent of functional loss and its effects on job performance would be apparent even to a lay person.'”
Procedural preferences
On multi-claim, multi-defendant civil-rights motions to dismiss, he issues one Report and Recommendation covering every defendant and every cause of action, resolving each claim independently rather than treating the case as a single grant/deny unit.
“The Court will RECOMMEND Defendants Martinez and Chacon's Motions to Dismiss Plaintiff's claims of excessive force be DENIED. The Court will further RECOMMEND Defendant Arias's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's claim of excessive force be GRANTED.”
Cautions
He will overturn an ALJ's step-four finding that a claimant can return to past work when the ALJ relied solely on generic vocational-expert testimony without addressing whether the claimant actually held the job long enough to have learned it -- a duration-requirement gap the ALJ must close explicitly.
“The ALJ's sole reliance on the vocational expert's testimony is not substantial evidence that Plaintiff's past work as an administrative assistant is past relevant work.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The decision of the Commissioner will be REVERSED and REMANDED pursuant to the fourth sentence of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further administrative proceedings.”
“The Court RECOMMENDS that Defendants' Motions to Dismiss (ECF Nos. 26, 27, 32) be DENIED to the extent that it seeks dismissal of Plaintiff's claims of excessive force against Defendant Martinez and Defendant Chacon. The Court RECOMMENDS that Defendants' Motions to Dismiss be GRANTED to the extent that it seeks dismissal of claims for unlawful search and seizure and unlawful/false arrest claims against Defendants Martinez, Arias, and Chacon; dismissal of a claim of excessive force against Defendant Arias; and dismissal of claims of a false police report and judicial deception against Defendants Martinez, Arias, and Chacon.”
“the Court RECOMMENDS that Plaintiff's Motion is DENIED, and that the decision of the Commissioner be AFFIRMED pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
“the Court ORDERS that the Commissioner's decision be AFFIRMED pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
“the Court recommends AFFIRMING the case.”
“the Court RECOMMENDS that the decision of the Commissioner be AFFIRMED pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).”
Section 1915(e)(2) in-forma-pauperis prescreening recommendation to dismiss a pro se collateral attack on a state eviction judgment under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, and to deny a motion to appoint counsel as moot; the district judge modified the recommended dismissal from with prejudice to without prejudice. An administrative screening order, not a party-motion ruling.
Recommendation to deny a pro se plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis after finding his reported income and $20,000 in savings did not show undue hardship for the filing fee. An administrative screening recommendation, not a party-motion ruling.
“It is therefore ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner be, and it is hereby, AFFIRMED.”
“For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the decision of the Commissioner denying benefits will be AFFIRMED.”
“It is HEREBY ORDERED that "Plaintiff's First Motion for Leave to File Supplemental Complaint" (ECF No. 10), construed as a motion for leave to amend, is GRANTED.”
“Therefore, it is unnecessary for the Court to assess the merits of Plaintiff's claims pursuant to Rule 12(b)(3) and 12(b)(6) and recommends that Defendant's Motion be GRANTED IN PART with respect to compelling arbitration.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Judge Torres's caseload is dominated by criminal-duty matters, including border-crossing complaints, pretrial detention hearings, and prisoner or treaty-transfer proceedings. His smaller civil docket consists largely of Social Security disability appeals, many handled by consent under 28 U.S.C. 636(c), along with occasional consumer-protection and federal labor-enforcement cases.
Put Judge Torres's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Torres actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Torres's own signed orders and cites them.