What the district court does depends on how you frame the prayer for relief.  Under the statute, the DC judge can treat the naturalization application de novo.  That is what you want to ask for first.  Alternatively, you can ask the judge to remand with an instruction to adjudicate the petition within a set period of time of your choosing.  Upon filing, the AUSA will call you and try to get you to agree to remand. Don't do it unless you have in writing an agreement that the DC judge will supervise the settlement order unless and until it is adjudicated by CIS. Make sure your client has a spotless record before you file in D.C.  CIS and the AUSA will get entrenched and will look for reasons to deny so as to moot the petition.