James E. Grimes Jr.
How Judge Grimes decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Social Security review, he distinguishes a medical opinion from each limitation stated within it. He does not require an administrative law judge to separately evaluate every discrete limitation, and he treats material internal inconsistencies across opinions covering the same period as relevant to supportability.
“the ALJ wasn’t required to articulate her evaluation of each discrete finding in Ogren’s two opinions.”
A subject-matter specialist on Social Security review (he was an SSA Administrative Law Judge 2016-2022). He applies deferential substantial-evidence review but takes the ALJ's own words at face value and holds the Commissioner to her step-five burden of proving a significant number of jobs the claimant can actually perform. In Myers he remanded because one cited DOT occupation required exposure to moving mechanical parts that the RFC forbade, and the ALJ misread the vocational expert's total-jobs estimate.
“the ALJ found that Myers cannot be exposed to moving machinery ... and the striping machine tender job requires exposure to moving mechanical parts. So Myers has shown that the ALJ's finding -- that Myers can perform this job -- is not supported by substantial evidence.”
He enforces the Earley v. Comm'r rule against res-judicata 'binding' of a prior RFC: where a new application covers a distinct time period, the ALJ errs by treating a prior ALJ's RFC as a mandatory starting point rather than a non-binding consideration. He refuses to let the Commissioner explain away an ALJ's express statement that he was 'bound' by the earlier finding.
“Under Earley, 'each application is entitled to review.' ... Yet the ALJ in this case announced from the start that under Drummond, he was 'bound' by the previous RFC determination. That was error.”
Procedural preferences
Sits as judge of record on 28 U.S.C. 636(c) consent and enters final judgment himself; a Social Security case referred to him for an R&R can convert to a consent final once the parties consent under Rule 73. His R&Rs carry the standard 14-day objections notice and the warning that failure to object may forfeit the right to appeal the district court's order.
“Any objections to this Report and Recommendation must be filed with the Clerk of Court within 14 days ... Failure to file objections within the specified time may forfeit the right to appeal the District Court's order.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“[The parties] consented to my jurisdiction in this case. Doc. 12. Following review, and for the reasons stated below, I affirm the Commissioner's decision. ... Conclusion. For the reasons explained above, I affirm the Commissioner's decision. Dated: October 30, 2023 /s/ James E. Grimes Jr.”
“Following review, and for the reasons stated below, I recommend the District Court affirm the Commissioner's decision. ... Conclusion. For the reasons explained above, I recommend that the Court affirm the Commissioner's decision. Dated: October 10, 2023 /s/ James E. Grimes Jr.”
“This matter comes before the Court upon the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes. (ECF #11) ... Magistrate Judge Grimes recommends that the Commissioner's final decision be affirmed. (ECF #11) No objection to the Report and Recommendation has been filed.”
“Conclusion. For the reasons explained above, I recommend that the Court remand the Commissioner's decision. Dated: January 21, 2025 /s/ James E. Grimes Jr.”
“Conclusion. For the reasons explained above, I recommend that the District Court reverse the Commissioner's decision and remand for further proceedings consistent with this Report and Recommendation. Dated: February 6, 2023 /s/ James E. Grimes Jr.”
“Conclusion. For the reasons explained above, I recommend that the Commissioner's decision be affirmed. Dated: September 11, 2023 /s/ James E. Grimes Jr.”
“Conclusion. For the reasons explained above, I recommend that the Commissioner's decision be affirmed. Dated: September 19, 2023 /s/ James E. Grimes Jr.”
“Conclusion. For the reasons explained above, I recommend that the Court affirm the Commissioner's decision. Dated: March 28, 2023 /s/ James E. Grimes Jr.”
“Conclusion. For the reasons explained above, I recommend that the Court affirm the Commissioner's decision.”
“This matter is before the Court upon the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes, Jr. (Doc. No. 10), recommending that the decision of the Commissioner be reversed and remanded for further proceedings. ... For the following reasons, the Report and Recommendation (Doc. No. 10) is ADOPTED. The decision of the Commissioner is VACATED and the case is REMANDED for further consideration consistent with the Report & Recommendation.”
“This matter is before the Court upon the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes, Jr. (Doc. No. 11), recommending that the decision of the Commissioner be vacated and remanded. No objections have been filed. For the following reasons, the Report and Recommendation is ADOPTED. The decision of the Commissioner is VACATED and the case is REMANDED for further consideration consistent with the Report & Recommendation.”
“This matter is before the Court upon the Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge James E. Grimes, Jr. (Doc. No. 11), recommending that the decision of the Commissioner be affirmed. No objections have been filed. For the following reasons, the Report and Recommendation is ADOPTED and the decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reviewed matters show three principal parts of Judge Grimes's work in the Cleveland-based Eastern Division: referred civil matters, predominantly Social Security appeals; consent civil cases in which he enters final judgment under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c); and duty-magistrate criminal matters, including complaints and search or seizure warrants. Judges Nugent, Pearson, Knepp, Adams, and Boyko appear among the district judges who referred matters to him or reviewed his recommendations.
Put Judge Grimes's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Grimes actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Grimes's own signed orders and cites them.