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John D. Early

United States District Court for the Central District of California magistrate 12 signed orders read

How Judge Early decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Procedural preferences

Runs a tightly managed Social Security joint-submission calendar and will issue an order to show cause re sanctions when parties miss the joint-submission deadline.

“ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE POTENTIAL SANCTIONS FOR FAILURE TO TIMELY FILE JOINT SUBMISSION by Magistrate Judge John D. Early. The parties are ordered to show cause in writing by August 7, 2020, why sanctions should not be imposed for the failure to comply with the Order.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Maria Sanchez Magallanes v. Andrew Saul
2:19-cv-08600 · 2020-09-08
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Granted

“Pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security and remanding this matter for further administrative proceedings consistent with this Order.”

Deborah Kaye Banks v. Andrew Saul
2:20-cv-01703 · 2020-11-25
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered affirming the decision of the Commissioner and dismissing this action with prejudice.”

Bertha Elizarraras v. Nancy A. Berryhill
2:19-cv-05133 · 2020
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Granted

“IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered reversing the decision”

Kyoko Marie Hawkins v. Leland Dudek
5:25-cv-01003 · 2026-01-20
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered affirming the decision”

Kelli C. Shultz v. Kilolo Kijakazi
2:22-cv-03626 · 2023
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered affirming the decision”

Marvin Hernandez v. Commissioner of Social Security
2:22-cv-07961 · 2023
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered affirming the decision”

Judy Fulton v. Andrew Saul
5:19-cv-02225 · 2020
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered affirming the decision”

Susana Hernandez-Rios v. Andrew Saul
2:19-cv-09338 · 2020
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered affirming the decision”

Ruby Villanera v. Nancy A. Berryhill
8:19-cv-00871 · 2020
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“IT THEREFORE IS ORDERED that Judgment be entered affirming the decision”

Ramiro Lopez Mancillas v. Leland Dudek
2:25-cv-04023 · 2026-01-13
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Denied

“affirmed and this matter is dismissed with prejudice.”

Matthew William Jones v. Frank Bisignano
5:25-cv-03244 · 2026-04-15
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Granted

“decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is reversed and this matter is remanded”

Miriam Sievers v. Frank Bisignano
8:25-cv-01948 · 2026-06-29
Social security appeal (plaintiff) Granted

“decision of the Commissioner of Social Security is reversed”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 308 days (N = 2).

Median motion-to-ruling time: 23 days (N = 1).

Early's consent docket is dominated by Social Security disability appeals in which he serves as the deciding judge under 28 U.S.C. 636(c). He also handles referrals in complex civil matters and a share of the district's 2026 immigration-detention habeas caseload.

Put Judge Early's record to work

Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Early actually rules, not a generic AI guess.

Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Early's own signed orders and cites them.