Courts / Fourth Circuit
Western District of Virginia
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 9 of the group's written decisions, from 9 cases; the newest of them was decided August 11, 2026. The line at the top counts the whole group.
9written decisions
9cases they come from
1decisions weigh the TRAC factors
16.4median months from the application to the suit
Each case counts once in these outcome counts, by its latest decision here. 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
16.4 months at the median; half fall between 11.4 and 25.5. 8 cases state it.
Months from the application to the court's decision
20.4 months at the median; half fall between 12.7 and 26.5. 8 decisions state it.
Leaves out the 1 decision holding that the agency had acted: its months to the decision are not a delay.
What the suits asked for, by case
- Decide the application3
- Finish 221(g) processing5
- Some other action1
Decisions by year
Download these 9 decisions as a spreadsheet (CSV).
Examples
The newest case with each of the most common dispositions, by its latest decision.
W.D. Va., March 31, 2026. Dismissed; prevailing party: government.
W.D. Va., June 23, 2026. Denied; prevailing party: applicant.
W.D. Va., September 13, 2021. Dismissed in part; some claims go on; prevailing party: each side in part.
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.
67suits in the docket record
57have ended
10still pending
120median 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.47
- Dismissed on jurisdiction or the meritsDismissed for want of jurisdiction or on the TRAC factors, or judgment for the government.4
- 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.4
- Remanded to the agencySent back to the agency, usually a naturalization case under section 1447(b).2
Days from the suit's filing to its end
120 days at the median; half fall between 59 and 216. 57 dockets state it.
Days from the suit's filing to its end, when it ended once the agency acted
112 days at the median; half fall between 57 and 177.5. 47 dockets state it.
8 of these suits have a written decision in the group.
Download the 67 suits in the docket record as a spreadsheet (CSV).