Thomas Goode Jones
Judge Jones no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Jones decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He required clear proof of present possession before using turnover and contempt powers against a bankrupt.
“The order must not be made, unless upon clear and convincing' proof that the bankrupt has the goods or the property in his possession at the time of the making ,of the order and has the ability to comply with it.”
He treated federal constitutional protections as limiting a state's attempt to revoke vested corporate rights.
“The prerogative must be exercised in subordination to the Constitution of the United States”
He held that labor-contract enforcement could not impose class-based coercion amounting to peonage.
“It establishes a system of peonage, and uses the arm of the law to keep persons in ‘a condition of peonage,’”
Procedural preferences
He favored prompt bankruptcy administration and would not allow a creditor to challenge an adjudication months after failing to use the prescribed procedure.
“A litigant cannot put a court in error in that way.”
He distinguished a bare exemption waiver from a perfected judgment lien and protected exempt property until the creditor completed the required steps.
“The court must therefore set apart the exemptions to the bankrupt”
He resolved doubtful public-franchise grants against the private grantee rather than infer an extension from indirect language.
“the doubt must be resolved in favor of the city”
Cautions
He enforced bankruptcy orders firmly against lenders who attempted to evade them through private settlements.
“Its disobedience was willful.”
He expected shareholder plaintiffs to act promptly when they knew or could have discovered the challenged corporate transactions.
“Equity will not allow the former owner, though defrauded in the sale, to lay quietly by, indefinitely”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“There must be a decree discharging the temporary restraining order, denying a preliminary injunction, and dismissing the .bill.”
“The defendant, in deference to the opinion of the court, having pleaded.guilty, is sentenced to pay a fine of $1.”
“doth order and decree that the order made by the referee in this cause on the 25th of January, 1911, requiring the bankrupt to pay over (p his trustee in bankruptcy the sum of $19,772.96 in goods, wares, and merchandise, or in money, be reversed and held for naught”
“the rule upon the bankrupt to show cause why he should not be punished for a failure to comply with the order he discharged.”
“the court has no hesitation in granting their joint request.”
“it will therefore make an order providing for the cancellation of the injunction bonds, the - dismissal of the suits at the complainants’ cost, without prejudice”
“The order of the referee disallowing this claim must he affirmed.”
“The court must therefore set apart the exemptions to the bankrupt, and deny the motion of the creditors to have the property turned over to them.”
“For all these reasons the petition must be dismissed.”
“Let the libel be dismissed.”
“a court which is mindful of its obligation to the Constitution and the sacredness of its oath of office must decline to give the statute any effect and treat it as a nullity.”
Jones gave a written response concerning peonage investigations but entered no disposition against a named party. He concluded that the challenged labor statute “is plainly violative of the thirteenth amendment to the Constitution, and the statute passed, in pursuance thereof, against peonage.”
“a perpetual injunction issue against the enforcement of the statutes complained of”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The located writings span bankruptcy, railroad regulation, corporate and shareholder litigation, injunctions, federal crimes, contempt, peonage, and food regulation. They do not establish the distribution of Jones's full caseload.
A historical record
Judge Jones no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.