Alexander C. Ekstrom
How Judge Ekstrom rules, drawn from 6 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
How Judge Ekstrom 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, an ALJ's failure to adequately address treating-source or claimant-credibility evidence supporting disability, where the government does not contest the recommendation, is enough for a recommended reversal and calculation of benefits rather than a mere remand for further proceedings.
“The Commissioner's decision is REVERSED and this matter is REMANDED for the calculation and award of benefits.”
Procedural preferences
Takes felony guilty pleas by consent under a written waiver of the right to plead before the district judge, then promptly files a Report and Recommendation the same day as the colloquy.
“Defendant executed a written waiver of the right to enter his plea of guilty before the presiding United States District Judge and a written consent to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge.”
Cautions
Readily grants unopposed defense motions to ease pretrial-release conditions (e.g. home detention to curfew) when both the prosecution and Probation/Pretrial Services do not object.
“The United States Attorney's Office and the United States Probation/Pretrial Services Office have no objection to Defendant's request.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 11, is GRANTED. The Commissioner's decision is REVERSED and this matter is REMANDED for the calculation and award of benefits.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, ECF No. 15, is GRANTED. The Commissioner's decision is REVERSED and this matter is REMANDED for 1) an immediate calculation of benefits for the childhood disability claim; and 2) further proceedings as of age 18.”
“United States Magistrate Judge Alexander C. Ekstrom filed a Report and Recommendation on May 9, 2025, ECF No. 280, finding that Defendant is fully competent and capable of entering an informed plea ... and is supported by an independent basis in fact establishing each of the essential elements of the crime. The Court adopts the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation, ECF No. 280, and accepts Defendant's plea of guilty.”
“Defendant's Motion to Modify Conditions of Release (ECF No. 37) is GRANTED.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Modify Conditions of Release (ECF No. 59) is GRANTED.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Modify Conditions of Release (ECF No. 164) is GRANTED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The docket is heavily weighted toward consented Social Security disability appeals resolved on cross-motions for summary judgment (frequently ending in a sentence-four remand rather than an outright affirmance), supplemented by a general civil docket of insurance, personal-injury, and removal/remand matters and a separate stream of magistrate criminal duty-calendar matters; several sampled Social Security cases were originally filed before other judges and only reassigned to him later.
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