Grady J. Leupold
How Judge Leupold rules, drawn from 28 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Leupold
Grady J. Leupold has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Washington since April 2023. He earned a law degree from the University of Florida in 2000. Before joining the bench, he served as an assistant United States attorney in Washington and Texas.
Judge Leupold's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Leupold, as published on the court's website (checked October 9, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Discovery
To request a telephone discovery motion, make reasonable efforts to have all parties contact the court.
“The moving party must make reasonable efforts to have all parties to the discovery dispute participate in contacting the Court to request a telephonic motion.”
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 9, 2026).
- Amended Procedures for the Filing, Service, and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- Materials Related to Cooperation ↗
- Exhibit Retention Procedures ↗
- Availability and Redaction Policies for Electronically Filed Transcripts ↗
- Social Security Cases ↗
- Immigration Habeas Petitions Under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 ↗
- Amended Provisions for Electronic Case Filing ↗
How Judge Leupold decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Rillera’s Social Security appeal, Leupold found that the administrative law judge had selected normal examination findings without addressing abnormal findings that supported a medical opinion.
“The ALJ erred by pointing only to the normal mental status examination results without making findings regarding the extent to which the abnormal findings in the examination support the opinion.”
In Pullen’s Social Security appeal, Leupold found that a calm presentation during a medical visit did not inherently contradict shortness of breath with exertion or fatigue requiring naps.
“Appearing alert and focused without respiratory distress during a medical appointment does not inherently preclude a person from experiencing shortness of breath during exertion or fatigue requiring lengthy naps during the day.”
Procedural preferences
In Sykes’s Social Security appeal, Leupold found that the administrative decision mixed substance-use and other impairments before making the required initial disability finding.
“The ALJ’s decision impermissibly commingles Plaintiff’s physical health issues with his DAA without making the required initial finding of disability.”
In Amanda L. M.’s Social Security appeal, Leupold held that the step-two error was harmful because the resulting work-capacity assessment did not appear to include the rejected mental impairments.
“the RFC does not appear to have incorporated these rejected impairments, and therefore, the error is not harmless.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Court ORDERS that this matter be REVERSED and REMANDED pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) to the Commissioner for further consideration consistent with this order. The Clerk is directed to enter judgment for Plaintiff and close the case.”
“ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Grady J Leupold. The Commissioner's final decision is AFFIRMED, and this case is DISMISSED. ... JUDGMENT BY COURT in favor of Commissioner of Social Security and against Robert Smith.”
“After considering and reviewing the record, the Court concludes the Administrative Law Judge (‘ALJ’) did not err in finding Plaintiff not disabled. The Court accordingly AFFIRMS the Commissioner’s final decision in this matter.”
“After considering and reviewing the record, the Court concludes: (1) the Administrative Law Judge (‘ALJ’) harmfully erred when he failed to properly consider the opinion of Abebe Belete, PMHNP (‘NP’); and (2) a remand for further proceedings is appropriate. The Court accordingly REVERSES the Commissioner’s final decision and REMANDS the case for further proceedings.”
“After considering and reviewing the record, the Court concludes that (1) the Administrative Law Judge (‘ALJ’) harmfully erred by rejecting the opinion of Dr. Jan Kouzes; and (2) an award for benefits is appropriate. The Court accordingly REVERSES the Commissioner’s final decision and REMANDS the case for calculation of an award of benefits.”
“After considering and reviewing the record, the Court concludes the Administrative Law Judge (‘ALJ’) did not err in finding Plaintiff not disabled. The Court accordingly AFFIRMS the Commissioner’s final decision in this matter.”
“On June 14, 2023, the Court determined the ALJ did not err in finding Plaintiff not disabled and affirmed Defendant’s decision to deny Plaintiff’s application for Supplemental Security Income benefits.”
“After considering and reviewing the ALJ’s decision, the administrative record (AR), and all memoranda of record, the Court concludes that the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) erred in failing to consider Plaintiff’s chronic pain disorder and degenerative disc disease. Accordingly, this matter is REVERSED and REMANDED for further administrative proceedings.”
“After considering and reviewing the record, the Court concludes the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) erred in evaluating Plaintiff’s subjective testimony. The Court accordingly REVERSES and REMANDS this matter for further administrative proceedings.”
“After considering and reviewing the record, the Court concludes the Administrative Law Judge (‘ALJ’) erred in discounting Plaintiff’s subjective symptom testimony. The Court accordingly REVERSES and REMANDS this matter for further proceedings.”
“ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Grady J Leupold. The Commissioner's final decision is REVERSED and this case is REMANDED for further administrative proceedings.”
“ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Grady J Leupold. The Commissioner's final decision is REVERSED and this case is REMANDED for further administrative proceedings.”
Pending matters in the official report
Reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts under the Civil Justice Reform Act, as of March 31, 2026.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2024 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2023 | 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.
How long civil cases take in this court
For the whole of U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (Tacoma), not for Judge Leupold: median time from filing to disposition of the civil cases the court closed in the 12 months ending September 30, 2025, as reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
| Cases | Median time | |
|---|---|---|
| All civil cases closed | 2,877 | 6 months |
| Closed with no court action | 684 | 3.4 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 2,159 | 6.7 months |
| Closed during or after pretrial | 10 | 27.7 months |
| Closed during trial | 24 | 25.2 months |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 2,877 | 6 months |
| Sep 2024 | 2,639 | 6.5 months |
| Sep 2023 | 2,594 | 6.4 months |
| Sep 2022 | 2,303 | 7.3 months |
| Sep 2021 | 2,703 | 8.7 months |
| Sep 2020 | 2,340 | 7.2 months |
| Sep 2019 | 2,536 | 7.6 months |
The table leaves out prisoner petitions, land condemnations, deportation reviews, recovery of overpayments and enforcement of judgments, and reports no median for fewer than 10 cases. A district that closed a large multidistrict litigation in the period shows very large counts and long medians for that year. Source: Table C-5, U.S. District Courts (spreadsheet).
Draft for Judge Leupold with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Leupold, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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