Dustin B. Pead
How Judge Pead decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
Standard 10th-Circuit firm-waiver procedure on referral R&Rs: notifies pro se litigants that failing to file a timely objection waives appellate review, and recommends dismissal without prejudice when a litigant fails to comply with court orders.
“Chief Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead issued a Report and Recommendation that the court dismiss the plaintiff's action without prejudice for failure to comply with the court's orders. Judge Pead notified the plaintiff that a failure to file a timely objection to the recommendation could waive any objections to it.”
Cautions
On Social Security appeals in this sample, Pead's R&Rs recommended affirming the Commissioner (claimant loses) in both instances; both were adopted de novo. Illustrative only (N=2), not a base rate.
“recommending that the court affirm the Commissioner's decision in this case”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Magistrate Judge Pead's Report and Recommendation ... recommending that the court affirm the ALJ's initial decision and the Commissioner's final decision denying Pacheco's application for disability insurance benefits and social security income. ... adopts the Report and Recommendation in its entirety. The ALJ's initial decision and the Commissioner's final decision are AFFIRMED.”
“United States Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead issued a Report & Recommendation (R&R) recommending that the court affirm the Commissioner's decision in this case. ... The court has reviewed the matter and the R&R de novo ... the court adopts the R&R (ECF No. 16) in its entirety. The decision of the Commissioner is affirmed.”
“The Report and Recommendation issued by United States Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead on June 13, 2022 recommends that the district judge dismiss Plaintiff's action without prejudice. ... the Report and Recommendation is ADOPTED. The action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.”
“United States Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead issued a Report and Recommendation (R&R) recommending that the court deny Plaintiff David Sutherland Libuser's Motion to Proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) and order Mr. Libuser to pay the full filing fee ... the court adopts the R&R (ECF No. 7) in its entirety. ... The Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is DENIED.”
“Chief Magistrate Judge Dustin B. Pead issued a Report and Recommendation that the court dismiss the plaintiff's action without prejudice for failure to comply with the court's orders. ... the court ... ADOPTS IN FULL the Report and Recommendation. ... The court DISMISSES this action without prejudice.”
“the State Defendants' motion to dismiss is GRANTED (ECF No. 33). Plaintiff's Complaint is dismissed with prejudice.”
“The court GRANTS the motion to compel arbitration brought by American Express National Bank and American Express Company.”
“The court GRANTS the motion to dismiss the claims against Anre Williams, Jennifer Fell, and Mia Figueroa for lack of personal jurisdiction.”
“it recommends granting Defendants' motions to dismiss, as Plaintiffs have not alleged any error in the tribal criminal action.”
“denies Plaintiff's Motion for Temporary Restraining Order [ECF No. 3].”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Review of Agency Action is DENIED, and the Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED.”
“Plaintiff's Objections are OVERRULED, the Report and Recommendation is ADOPTED in its entirety, and Plaintiff's Motion is DENIED.”
“Plaintiff's Motion is DENIED and the Report and Recommendation is ADOPTED in full.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Longtime District of Utah magistrate (since August 2012; Chief Magistrate Judge until ~January 2026), sitting in both Salt Lake City and the Southern Region (St. George). Two streams: (1) directly-assigned / 636(c) CONSENT civil matters he decides himself, prominently Social Security disability appeals (often resolved after telephonic oral argument); and (2) 636(b) referral matters on which he issues Reports and Recommendations reviewed by the district judges. Composition only; not a grant rate.
Put Judge Pead's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Pead actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Pead's own signed orders and cites them.