Courts / Fourth Circuit
Middle District of North Carolina
Written decisions in the mandamus and agency-delay group from this court, and the agency-delay suits filed there.
2,914 written decisions from 2,661 cases in the whole mandamus and agency-delay group, the group's newest decided October 30, 2026. Updated November 3, 2026 at 1:24 a.m. CT; the Passim connector counts the live collection, which can differ by the day's additions and retirements (which total to quote). Coverage: of the 1,606 public decisions since January 1, 2025 that a CourtListener and GovInfo search for mandamus and agency delay finds, Passim holds 1,371 (85%), measured November 3, 2026. Some of what that search finds are not mandamus decisions. Tell us about a decision we're missing.
These are counts of past written decisions and dockets, not predictions of how any case will be decided. A distribution appears only when at least 5 decisions (or 5 dockets) are behind it; smaller groups are listed, not summarized. How it's counted.
How the decisions came out
This page counts 10 of the group's written decisions, from 8 cases; the newest of them was decided June 5, 2026. The line at the top counts the whole group.
10written decisions
8cases they come from
2decisions weigh the TRAC factors
–median months from the application to the suit
Each case counts once in these outcome counts, by its latest decision here: the 2 other orders in those cases are listed with their case, not counted again. A motion to dismiss denied and a later judgment for the government count as the judgment. How decisions are grouped into cases.
Disposition, by case
Months from the application to the suit
Fewer than five cases state it (3); no distribution is shown.
1 of these is a section 1447(b) naturalization suit, whose months run from the application; the statute's 120 days run from the interview, which these figures do not measure.
Months from the application to the court's decision
17.3 months at the median; half fall between 14.9 and 24.7. 6 decisions state it.
Leaves out the 3 decisions holding that the agency had acted: their months to the decision are not a delay.
What the suits asked for, by case
- Decide the application2
- Finish 221(g) processing2
- Naturalization hearing or remand (1447(b))1
- Some other action1
- Not recorded2
Decisions by year
Download these 10 decisions as a spreadsheet (CSV).
Examples
The newest case with each of the most common dispositions, by its latest decision.
M.D.N.C., November 20, 2025. Dismissed; prevailing party: government.
M.D.N.C., July 22, 2021. Dismissed in part; some claims go on; prevailing party: each side in part.
M.D.N.C., June 5, 2026. Dismissed as moot; prevailing party: neither side.
How agency-delay suits ended
Most suits end without a written decision: the agency acts and the parties dismiss. These counts come from the docket record (the federal courts' Integrated Database and CourtListener) and count every mandamus, APA and section 1447(b) suit against any immigration agency, whatever year it was filed. Check a delay counts fewer: a court's suits of the last three years against the form's agency.
160suits in the docket record
152have ended
8still pending
111median days from the suit's filing to its end
How the ended suits ended
- Ended once the agency actedThe plaintiff dismissed, the parties stipulated to dismissal, or the court dismissed as moot: how suits end once the agency decides. The docket rarely says why, or whether the agency approved or denied.126
- Dismissed on jurisdiction or the meritsDismissed for want of jurisdiction or on the TRAC factors, or judgment for the government.9
- Dismissed, ground not recordedThe court dismissed and the record gives no ground: it can be a dismissal as moot after the agency acted, for want of prosecution, or a loss.6
- Ended, outcome not recordedThe record shows the suit ended but not how.4
- Judgment for the plaintiffA consent, default or other judgment for the plaintiff.3
- Remanded to the agencySent back to the agency, usually a naturalization case under section 1447(b).2
- TransferredMoved to another district court.2
Days from the suit's filing to its end
111 days at the median; half fall between 71 and 170.2. 152 dockets state it.
Days from the suit's filing to its end, when it ended once the agency acted
102.5 days at the median; half fall between 69 and 141.8. 126 dockets state it.
14 of these suits have a written decision in the group.
Download the 160 suits in the docket record as a spreadsheet (CSV).