Jeffrey T. Gilbert
How Judge Gilbert decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
On consent Social Security review he both remands and affirms on the merits (here 2 and 2). A remand turns on a concrete analytical defect — an RFC/vocational hypothetical that fails to capture a credited limitation (e.g. moderate concentration/persistence/pace), or an unsupported treatment of a treating-physician opinion. Tie the challenge to a specific, credited limitation the ALJ left out, not a general re-weighing.
“This matter is remanded to the Social Security Administration for further proceedings consistent with this Memorandum Opinion and Order.”
Procedural preferences
On referred discovery he enforces procedural regularity and proportionality strictly: he denied a motion to compel a non-party's Rule 30(b)(6) deposition because the proper vehicle was a subpoena, the request was untimely under the scheduling order, and it was not proportional at that stage. Use the correct procedural vehicle and move within the schedule.
“For all these reasons, Bojangles' Restaurants, Inc. and Bojangles OPCO, LLC's Motion to Compel 30(b)(6) Deposition of Cheney ... is denied.”
On objections to discovery he overrules blanket/boilerplate objections: he granted a motion to compel 'in large part' after finding most of the responding party's blanket objections improper. Particularize objections or expect to be overruled.
“Defendants' Second Motion to Compel Discovery Responses [55] is granted in large part and denied in some part.”
Cautions
He resists using privilege/protective-order tools to block otherwise-relevant discovery without a strong showing: he denied a motion to modify a protective order to add a prosecution bar (good cause not shown), and denied a motion for a protective order asserting an 'accounting privilege' (no accountant-client privilege in a federal-question case). Privilege and protective-order arguments need a real legal basis, not a label.
“For the reasons discussed in this Order, Plaintiff's Motion for Protective Order ... [199] is denied.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Accordingly, the Motion to Modify the Default Protective Order is denied.”
“Defendants' Second Motion to Compel Discovery Responses [55] is granted in large part and denied in some part.”
“Claimant's Motion for Summary Judgment is granted... The decision of the Commissioner is reversed, and the case is remanded...”
“This matter is remanded to the Social Security Administration for further proceedings consistent with this Memorandum Opinion and Order.”
“For all these reasons, Bojangles' Restaurants, Inc. and Bojangles OPCO, LLC's Motion to Compel 30(b)(6) Deposition of Cheney ... is denied.”
“Claimant's Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 15] is denied and the Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 19] is granted.”
“For the reasons discussed in this Order, Plaintiff's Motion for Protective Order ... [199] is denied.”
“Claimant's Brief in Support of Reversing the Decision of the Commissioner of Social Security ... is denied, and the Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment ... is granted.”
“Claimant's Motion to Reverse the Decision of the Commissioner of Social Security seeking remand [ECF No. 18] is granted, and the Commissioner's Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 26] is denied. This matter is remanded to the Social Security Administration for proceedings consistent with this Memorandum Opinion and Order.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
A substantial share of Judge Gilbert's reviewed dispositive work consists of Social Security appeals that the parties consented to have him decide under 28 U.S.C. 636(c), including final judgments on cross-motions for summary judgment. He also handles referred civil discovery in cases assigned to district judges, including motions to compel and disputes over protective orders in patent and antitrust matters.
Put Judge Gilbert's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Gilbert actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Gilbert's own signed orders and cites them.