Sharon Lovelace Blackburn
Judge Blackburn no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Blackburn decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
She required evidence of actual workplace disruption before an employer’s interests could outweigh protected employee speech.
“The Commission, however, has not explained how or if his speech actually disrupted, or had the potential to disrupt, Greene County’s functions.”
She awarded disability benefits when the credited symptom evidence and vocational testimony left no doubt about disability.
“the court finds ‘the evidence establishes disability without any doubt.’”
She treated open and unequivocal possession as constructive notice sufficient to defeat a bankruptcy trustee’s avoidance claim.
“the trustee is not entitled to avoid the transfer pursuant to § 544(a)(3)”
Procedural preferences
She used severance to remand a statutorily nonremovable claim without remanding diverse claims that could remain in federal court.
“L.G. Sourcing’s Motion to Sever and for Partial Remand, (doc. 3), is due to be granted”
She permitted discovery of a Social Security application where it bore on disability, onset, and claimed lost wages.
“The court agrees with defendant that plaintiffs social security application is relevant and therefore discoverable.”
Cautions
A complaint against a furnisher of credit information needed facts showing notice from a consumer reporting agency, not merely a consumer dispute.
“their Amended Complaint fails to state a cause of action for which relief may be granted”
She found manifest necessity for a mistrial only after considering the defendant’s condition, juror availability, and witness availability together.
“the court finds that a mistrial in this case is a manifest necessity.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the decision of the Commissioner is due to be reversed and this cause remanded for an award of benefits claimed.”
“For the reasons stated below, the court will declare a mistrial and sees no bar to reprosecution in this case.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss does not prove, or even directly allege, the elements necessary to impose sanctions on plaintiff for spoliation. Therefore, the Motion is due to be denied.”
“Plaintiffs Motion to Strike the Affidavit of John Machnicki, CFEI, (doc. 32), and defendant’s Motion to Strike Affidavit of George E. (Ted) Page, BSEE, (doc. 35), are DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
“Drummond’s Motion to Intervene, (doc. 39), currently pending before the court, will be granted.”
“defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment, (doc. 9), is GRANTED. This action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“the court finds that the Motion to Dismiss, (doc. 18), is due to be granted.”
“defendant’s Amended Motion to Dismiss, (doc. 6), is due to be denied and plaintiffs’ Motion to Strike, (doe. 13), is moot.”
“TVA’s Motion to Dismiss, (doc. 13), is due to be granted.”
“the petition for writ of habeas corpus in the above-styled cause is hereby DENIED and DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“An Order granting in part and denying the United States's Motion for Preliminary Injunction, (doc. 2), and enjoining enforcement of Sections 11(a), 13, 16 and 17, will be entered contemporaneously with this Memorandum Opinion.”
“the Commission’s Motion for Summary Judgment, (doc. 16), is due to be denied.”
“For the reasons discussed, the court finds that L.G. Sourcing’s Motion to Sever and for Partial Remand, (doc. 3), is due to be granted, and Formosa’s Motion to Remand, (doc. 8), is due to be denied.”
“the court ORDERS that Plaintiffs Motion to Quash Defendant’s Subpoenas, (doc. 12), is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART as set forth in this Memorandum Opinion.”
“The Motion to Compel, (doc. 16), is GRANTED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 426.5 days (N = 20).
The 20 located assigned cases were all later terminated and included employment, prisoner, benefits, contract, insurance, statutory, product-liability, student-loan, and motor-vehicle matters. This archival slice does not establish the distribution of Blackburn’s full caseload.
A historical record
Judge Blackburn no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.