2018
Written decisions in the mandamus and agency-delay group decided in 2018, and agency-delay suits filed in 2018.
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 42 of the group's written decisions, from 42 cases; the newest of them was decided December 7, 2018. The line at the top counts the whole group.
42written decisions
42cases they come from
3decisions weigh the TRAC factors
30.8median 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
30.8 months at the median; half fall between 14.4 and 48. 11 cases state it.
3 of these are section 1447(b) naturalization suits, 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
21.3 months at the median; half fall between 14.5 and 48. 23 decisions state it.
Leaves out the 4 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 application12
- Schedule an interview1
- Decide the asylum application1
- Naturalization hearing or remand (1447(b))3
- Issue a work permit1
- Some other action12
- Not recorded12
Agency, by case
Form or filing, by case
Courts with the most decisions
- District of Columbia10
- Eastern District of New York4
- Northern District of California3
- Northern District of Illinois3
- District of Massachusetts3
- Southern District of California2
- Southern District of Illinois2
- Southern District of New York2
- Eastern District of Pennsylvania2
- Eastern District of California1
- District of New Mexico1
- District of Utah1
Download these 42 decisions as a spreadsheet (CSV).
Examples
The newest case with each of the most common dispositions, by its latest decision.
D. Utah, December 7, 2018. Dismissed; prevailing party: government.
S.D. Ill., November 30, 2018. Granted; prevailing party: applicant.
N.D. Cal., September 14, 2018. 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 filed in 2018. Check a delay counts fewer: a court's suits of the last three years against the form's agency.
1,736suits in the docket record
1,733have ended
3still pending
109median 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.933
- 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.271
- Dismissed on jurisdiction or the meritsDismissed for want of jurisdiction or on the TRAC factors, or judgment for the government.267
- Ended, outcome not recordedThe record shows the suit ended but not how.112
- Remanded to the agencySent back to the agency, usually a naturalization case under section 1447(b).60
- Judgment for the plaintiffA consent, default or other judgment for the plaintiff.54
- TransferredMoved to another district court.36
Days from the suit's filing to its end
109 days at the median; half fall between 68 and 195. 1,733 dockets state it.
Days from the suit's filing to its end, when it ended once the agency acted
101 days at the median; half fall between 63 and 166. 933 dockets state it.
115 of these suits have a written decision in the group.