Thérèse Wiley Dancks
Judge Dancks no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Dancks decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Social Security disability appeals, recommends sentence-four remand where the ALJ fails to adequately explain a step-three Listing conclusion, leaving the reviewing court unable to conduct meaningful review.
“ORDERS that Plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. No. 14) is GRANTED ... this matter is REMANDED, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)”
Procedural preferences
On PLRA exhaustion, where a material fact dispute exists on the availability of grievance remedies, denies summary judgment on that branch and sends the availability question to a hearing rather than granting judgment.
“ORDERED that Defendants' motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 46) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART”
On statutory screening of pro se complaints, recommends dismissal without prejudice and with leave to amend for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction where no federal right is identified.
“Chief United States Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks' Report-Recommendation recommending that Plaintiff's Complaint be sua sponte dismissed without prejudice and with leave to amend for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. ... the Report-Recommendation is accepted and adopted in its entirety”
Cautions
Affirms the Commissioner where substantial evidence supports the RFC; objections that merely reiterate prior arguments draw only clear-error review and rarely disturb the recommendation.
“ORDERS that Defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. No. 14) is GRANTED ... the Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“ORDERS that Plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. No. 12) is DENIED”
“ORDERS that Defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. No. 14) is GRANTED ... the Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED”
“Chief United States Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks' Report-Recommendation recommending that Plaintiff's Complaint be sua sponte dismissed without prejudice and with leave to amend for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. ... the Report-Recommendation is accepted and adopted in its entirety”
“ORDERS that Plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. No. 14) is GRANTED ... this matter is REMANDED, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g)”
“ORDERS that Defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. No. 16) is DENIED”
“ORDERED that Magistrate Judge Dancks' Report-Recommendation (Dkt. No. 26) is ACCEPTED and ADOPTED in its entirety ... Defendants' motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 22) is GRANTED”
“ORDERED that Defendants' motion to dismiss (Dkt. No. 24) is DENIED”
“ORDERED that Defendants' motion for summary judgment (Dkt. No. 46) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART”
“the motion for summary judgment and partial motion to dismiss, Dkt. No. 25, is DENIED”
“RECOMMENDED that the Commissioner's decision denying Plaintiff benefits be AFFIRMED.”
“RECOMMENDED that the Commissioner's decision be REVERSED and REMANDED to the Commissioner of Social Security pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further administrative proceedings.”
“RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. No. 11) be GRANTED, Defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. No. 17) be DENIED, and the Commissioner's determination be REVERSED and REMANDED.”
“Commissioner's decision is REVERSED on consent under sentence four of 42 U.S. C.§ 405(g) and REMANDED to the Commissioner for further proceedings.”
“ORDERED that Plaintiff's letter motion, Dkt. Nos. 218, 224, is denied.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Dancks's sampled civil docket is dominated by Social Security disability appeals, alongside a substantial criminal-duty workload involving warrants, complaints, and misdemeanor matters. The duration figures cover fourteen terminated Social Security cases filed from January through May 2020 and measure filing to termination, not the time taken to decide a motion.
A historical record
Judge Dancks 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.