Emmet G. Sullivan
Written decisions in the mandamus and agency-delay group that Judge Emmet G. Sullivan signed, every one listed below, and the agency-delay suits that name the judge.
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.
Read these counts as a record of past decisions, not a rate at which this judge rules for either side and not a prediction. Each decision turned on its own facts, its posture and what the parties asked for; the suits that reach a written decision are the contested minority. Read the decisions before drawing anything from them.
How the decisions came out
This page counts 6 of the group's written decisions, from 6 cases; the newest of them was decided May 7, 2026. The line at the top counts the whole group.
6written decisions
6cases they come from
2decisions weigh the TRAC factors
21.2median 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
21.2 months at the median; half fall between 19.1 and 37.5. 6 cases state it.
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
30.9 months at the median; half fall between 24.8 and 45. 6 decisions state it.
What the suits asked for, by case
- Decide the application3
- Finish 221(g) processing1
- Naturalization hearing or remand (1447(b))1
- Some other action1
Decisions by year
TRAC rulings
Decisions in which the judge weighed the TRAC factors, newest first, with how the judge found each factor. Factors the decision did not reach are left blank.
| Decision | Decided | 1. Rule of reason | 2. Congressional timetable | 3. Human health and welfare | 4. Competing priorities | 5. Interests prejudiced | 6. No impropriety needed | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISMAEL v. LEBAILLY | May 7, 2026 | favors the government | neutral | favors the applicant | favors the government | favors the applicant | neutral | Dismissed |
| Liu v. Novak | August 30, 2007 | favors the applicant | neutral | favors the applicant | favors the applicant | favors the applicant | Granted in the applicant's favor |
Every decision, by case
All 6 of the judge's decisions in the group, in 6 cases, newest first. Each case's latest decision comes first and is the one the counts above count; the case's other orders follow it. Download every decision as a spreadsheet (CSV).
| Decision | Decided | Agency | Form | Disposition | Prevailing party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISMAEL v. LEBAILLY | May 7, 2026 | Department of State | 221(g), DS-260 | Dismissed | Government |
| An v. Mayorkas | February 22, 2022 | USCIS | I-526 | Denied in the applicant's favor | Applicant |
| Sabra v. Pompeo | April 2, 2020 | Department of State | Dismissed in part; some claims go on | Each side in part | |
| Zhang v. Uscis | July 26, 2017 | USCIS | N-400 | Remanded to the agency | Government |
| Chauhan v. Napolitano | October 25, 2010 | USCIS | I-485 | Transferred to another court | Neither side |
| Liu v. Novak | August 30, 2007 | USCIS | I-485 | Granted in the applicant's favor | Applicant |
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, among the dockets that name this judge. Check a delay counts fewer: a court's suits of the last three years against the form's agency.
30suits in the docket record
23have ended
7still pending
124median 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.16
- TransferredMoved to another district court.3
- Dismissed on jurisdiction or the meritsDismissed for want of jurisdiction or on the TRAC factors, or judgment for the government.1
- 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.1
- Judgment for the plaintiffA consent, default or other judgment for the plaintiff.1
- Remanded to the agencySent back to the agency, usually a naturalization case under section 1447(b).1
Days from the suit's filing to its end
124 days at the median; half fall between 69 and 301. 23 dockets state it.
Days from the suit's filing to its end, when it ended once the agency acted
132 days at the median; half fall between 70.5 and 274.5. 16 dockets state it.
8 of these suits have a written decision in the group.