Billy Roy Wilson
Judge Wilson no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Wilson decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He enforced noncompetition clauses only to the extent their written terms were reasonably tailored to a legitimate business interest.
“if it misses by an inch, it misses by a mile.”
He resisted expanding statutory text to cover a procedural dismissal Congress had not listed.
“reading failure to exhaust administrative remedies into the text of § 1915(g) is, in my view, classic judicial legislation rather than statutory interpretation.”
He tailored potentially prejudicial evidence to the narrow point for which it was legitimately relevant.
“this melon should be sliced as thinly as possible”
Procedural preferences
On remand, he resolved factual disputes and legal ambiguity in favor of the state forum.
“All doubts should be resolved in favor of remand.”
He respected jury damage awards unless they were so excessive as to show passion, prejudice, or improper influence.
“The question is whether the award is so large, and so out of line, that it ‘shocks the conscience’ of the Court or that it shows the jurors were improperly motivated.”
He valued concise, pointed briefing on difficult evidentiary questions.
“a trenchant memorandum, I note with pleasure”
Cautions
He awarded fees when counsel ignored repeated scheduling efforts and treated discovery obligations casually.
“studied neglect, and, apparently, had a cavalier attitude about the discovery process.”
A party seeking to alter an environmental remedy received no relief on propositions unsupported by authority.
“They provide me no authority for this proposition.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Court, therefore, affirms the Bankruptcy Court’s conclusion that Appellant’s motion to convert should be denied.”
“Thus, Defendant Thompson’s objection to the use of Rule 1.8 for the purpose mentioned above is overruled.”
“Accordingly, defendant’s motion for a new trial is denied.”
“Accordingly, the Motion for Remittitur is denied.”
“On February 28, 2003, I granted summary judgment in this case for the Plaintiff and entered judgment consistent with that order.”
“That Motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.”
“All further development on the Landers Island is enjoined pending the completion of the permitting process.”
“Based on the evidence and law, the Temporary Restraining Order is DISSOLVED and the Motion for a Preliminary Injunction is DENIED.”
“Neither Mr. Chamberlain, nor his firm, Bond and Chamberlain, are proper parties to his action, so they are dismissed from the action.”
“Therefore, the complaint is DISMISSED without prejudice. This dismissal shall not count as a ‘strike’ under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).”
“So, a limited reference to Defendant’s earlier SEC problem will be permitted over objection. Still, in my judgment, this melon should be sliced as thinly as possible”
“Accordingly, Third Party Plaintiff Todd Smith’s Motion for Attorney’s Fees and Expenses is GRANTED in the amount of $907.50.”
“Based on the findings of fact and conclusions of law above, Plaintiffs’ Motion to Remand is DENIED.”
“Plaintiffs’ Petition to Quiet Title in them is DENIED.”
“The United States as Counter Claimant, has good and clear title to the property interests retained in the Patent of 1965.”
“Cross Defendant, Minnesota Life Insurance Company’s Motion to Dismiss the Claims of Plaintiff and Cross Plaintiff, Floyd Knighton (Doc. No. 45) is DENIED.”
“Defendant’s Motion to Strike Expert Testimony Re: Legal Conclusions of Drs. *1045Gueriguian and Sackett (Doc. No. 576) is DENIED (exceptions saved).”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 16 days (N = 17).
Median motion-to-ruling time: 8 days (N = 5).
The nineteen most recent in-service assignments were dominated by short prisoner civil-rights matters, with one freedom-of-information case and several matters lacking a nature-of-suit label. This is a recent assignment slice rather than a complete tenure-wide census.
A historical record
Judge Wilson 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.