Morris Sheppard Arnold
Judge Arnold no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Arnold decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He treated the statutory removal clock as running from the initial pleading when that pleading already presented a removable federal question.
“The court holds, therefore, that removal was untimely.”
He required a concrete connection between a permit condition and the incremental burden caused by the proposed land use before allowing the city to demand an easement.
“The City having failed to carry its burden, an injunction will issue ordering the City to issue the requested permit unconditionally.”
Procedural preferences
In review of agency action, he confined the court to the record that was before the agency rather than accepting new evidentiary submissions.
“The district court’s review is limited to the record before the agency.”
He applied statutory text as written even when the result appeared to leave a gap that only Congress could repair.
“The court’s duty is to do as Congress presently directs.”
Cautions
He viewed proximate cause as ordinarily unsuitable for summary judgment where reasonable people could differ on the causal sequence.
“This is a heavy burden and defendant has not met it.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The court holds, therefore, that removal was untimely. The case is, accordingly, remanded to the Circuit Court of Sebastian County, Arkansas.”
“The court therefore grants the EPA’s motion for summary judgment as to the plaintiffs’ federal claim for damages and dismisses that claim with prejudice.”
“Plaintiffs’ motion for an injunction will therefore be denied.”
“plaintiffs’ failure to appeal the Oden decision in 1988 must bring to an end the action concerning Oden, for plaintiffs have failed to preserve the right to contest the Oden decision on the merits in this court.”
“For the reasons stated above, the court will: 1. Deny the motion to discharge garnishment as to the proceeds from the sale of defendant’s dome-in-frame, cut glass pitcher, and floor lamp, for a total of $26,-585.00 less commission; and 2. Grant the motion as to the proceeds from all other property sold in the 1990 auction.”
“For the reasons adumbrated, the court declines to vacate the judgments.”
“Accordingly, defendant’s motion for summary judgment will be denied.”
“The motion for summary judgment of the defendant United States will be granted.”
“In sum, the court will dismiss plaintiffs Robinson-Patman Act claim with prejudice, and its other claims without prejudice.”
“Accordingly, judgment will be entered for the government in the amount of $12,-011.10 plus interest as provided by law.”
“The motion will be granted as to the federal claim and denied as to the state claim.”
“The motion will be denied.”
“defendant Wood’s request for these witness statements and testimony is denied.”
“Accordingly, the court will adopt the magistrate’s findings and recommendations and enter summary judgment for plaintiff.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 885 days (N = 5).
The first twenty exact-name results include personal-injury and tort matters, employment and other civil-rights cases, prisoner petitions, federal benefits, contracts, securities, real property, government collection, and insurance disputes. This historical enumeration is not a career-wide caseload estimate.
A historical record
Judge Arnold 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.