Mandamus decisions / District of Maryland

Etape v. Napolitano

District of MarylandDeborah K. ChasanowDecided September 15, 2009

Read the decisionOriginal on CourtListener

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.

What the decision decided

Each value cites the passage it was read from. Values read by a model were checked against that passage; values read by rule come from fixed text patterns. Read the decision before relying on either.

Agency USCIS Read by a model
While his complaint in this court was pending, USCIS denied Plaintiff's naturalization application on the ground that he lacked good moral character, as required to become a United States citizen under 8 U.S.C. § 1427(a).
Form or filing N-400 (naturalization) Read by a model
He filed an application for naturalization
What the suit asked for Naturalization hearing or remand (1447(b)) Read by a model
On May 23, 2005, Plaintiff filed a complaint in this court, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1447(b), contending that more than 120 days had elapsed since his examination and that USCIS had not yet rendered a decision on his naturalization application.
Kind of order A ruling on a motion or the petition Read by a model
Defendant's motion for summary judgment and motion to seal will be granted, and Plaintiff's motion to strike will be denied.
Motion decided Summary judgment Read by a model
Defendant's motion for summary judgment (Paper 88)
Whose motion The government's motion Read by a model
(1) Defendant's motion for summary judgment (Paper 88)
Disposition Granted in the government's favor The principal motion was granted in full: summary judgment for either side, an injunction or TRO, a writ or order to act, fees. A motion to dismiss granted in full counts as Dismissed; a transfer is listed apart. Read by a model
For the following reasons, Defendant's motion for summary judgment and motion to seal will be granted, and Plaintiff's motion to strike will be denied.
Prevailing party Government Read by a model
For the following reasons, Defendant's motion for summary judgment and motion to seal will be granted, and Plaintiff's motion to strike will be denied.
The delay claim Relief denied Read by a model
Defendant's motion for summary judgment and motion to seal will be granted, and Plaintiff's motion to strike will be denied. As a result, Plaintiff's petition for naturalization will be denied.
Months pending 25.7 months from the application to the suit; 77.5 months from the application to the court's decision A section 1447(b) suit: these months run from the naturalization application. The statute's 120 days run from the interview, which they do not measure. Read by a model
He filed an application for naturalization with the Washington, D.C., District Office of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service, United States Department of Homeland Security ("USCIS"), on April 2, 2003.
Months since the naturalization interview 72.2 months from the interview (2003-09-09) Read by a model
Plaintiff appeared for his initial interview at the USCIS District Office in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 9, 2003.
TRAC factors The court did not weigh the TRAC factors Read by a model
Threshold rulings None Read by a model

Other orders in this case

The group holds 2 decisions from this suit, oldest first. Outcome counts on these pages count the case once, by its latest decision, this one. How decisions are grouped into cases.

DecisionDecidedJudgeDisposition
Etape v. Chertoff August 15, 2006 Chasanow Dismissed as moot
Etape v. NapolitanoThis decisionThe case's latest decision: its outcome is the one counted September 15, 2009 Deborah K. Chasanow Granted in the government's favor

How the case ended

This decision is not linked to a docket in the docket record yet, so how the case ended is not shown.

Supreme Court and Fourth Circuit authority

District decisions bind no one. On the questions this decision raises, the Supreme Court decisions and the circuit's published decisions listed here bind this court; a circuit disposition marked nonprecedential was not published as precedent and is persuasive only. ImmCite status as read November 3, 2026. Check the current status before relying on one.