George Weston Anderson

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit circuit Deceased · served 1918–1938 Appointed by Woodrow Wilson (Democratic) 25 signed orders read

Judge Anderson no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

How Judge Anderson decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

Treats practical control and business powers as more important than limited day-to-day activity when classifying a trust for tax purposes.

“With such hroad powers of doing business, the facts that the trustees have made few changes in the original investments”

Defers to concurrent trial-level factual findings unless the record shows plain error.

“a finding of fact, concurred in both by the master who heard and saw tho witnesses and by the District Court, should not be disturbed by this court, unless plainly wrong”

Procedural preferences

Requires a jurisdictional defect in the administrative process before a court retries the underlying immigration facts.

“the court was without jurisdiction to try that issue of fact, unless and until it had first determined that there was some defect in the proceedings”

Allows curative pleading amendments when the original allegation states the same general ground of complaint.

“The amendment was nothing but in the nature of a bill of particulars. It did not set up new and independent acts.”

Cautions

Leaves contributory negligence to the jury when reasonable inferences can differ.

“We .think this was plainly a question for the jury.”

Rejects an appellate theory that contradicts a claimant's sustained record of gainful employment.

“To sustain a verdict of total and permanent disability in the light of the foregoing facts would be to hold that partial disability is the legal equivalent of total and permanent disability.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Plews v. Burrage
· 1921-07-26
Appeal (contract-claim plaintiff) Granted

“The judgment of the District Court is reversed, with costs to plaintiff in error, and the case is remanded to that court for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.”

Damon ex rel. Lew Goon Wong v. Johnson
· 1926-05-29
Appeal (admission applicant) Denied

“The order of the District Court dismissing the writ is affirmed.”

Damon v. Johnson
· 1925-02-17
Appeal (admission applicant) Moot / procedural

“It must be transferred to the Supreme Court under Act of September 14, 1922. Judicial Code, § 238a (Comp. St. Ann. Supp. 1923, § 1215a). It is so ordered.”

Alexander v. Mare
· 1925-06-12
Appeal (government officials) Denied

“In each case the decree of the District Court is affirmed.”

Plazuela Sugar Co. v. Alvarez
· 1924-02-05
Appeal (sugar-company appellant) Denied

“The decree of the Supreme Court of Porto Rico is affirmed, with costs to the appellee in this court.”

Napolitano v. United States
· 1925-02-17
Appeal (criminal-defendant appellant) Denied

“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”

Kilmer v. Keith
· 1921-04-26
Appeal (bankruptcy claimant) Denied

“The decree, of the District Court is affirmed, with costs to the ap-pellee.”

Gilbert v. Wright & Gowen Co.
· 1923-02-13
Appeal (vessel-owner appellant) Granted in part

“The decree of the District Court is amended, so as to include a provision that the draft shall be duly canceled and so incorporated among the court’s papers as to remove any possibility of its hereafter being a basis of an action in personam, and, so amended,- is affirmed, with costs to the appellee.”

United States v. Boston Sand & Gravel Co.
· 1928-01-17
Appeal (government appellant) Denied

“The decree of the District Court is affirmed.”

Johnson v. Chin Ah Yeit ex rel. Chin Guey Guan
· 1926-10-26
Appeal (immigration commissioner) Granted

“The order of the District Court, discharging Chin Guey Guan from custody, is set aside, the writ is discharged, and he is remanded to the custody of the appellant, the Commissioner of Immigration.”

Chin Shue Teung v. Tillinghast
· 1929-05-31
Appeal (admission applicant) Denied

“The decree of the District Court is affirmed.”

Arias v. Usera
· 1930-02-17
Appeal (corporate-officer appellants) Moot / procedural

“In each case the appeal is dismissed for want of jurisdiction, no costs.”

A historical record

Judge Anderson 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.