William Edward Doyle

How Judge Doyle rules, drawn from 28 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

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

Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Position
circuit
Status
Deceased
Served
1971–1984
Appointed by
Richard Nixon (Republican)
Commissioned
1971-04-26
Education
University of Colorado, A.B., 1940; George Washington University Law School, LL.B., 1937
Signed orders read
28

How Judge Doyle decides

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

What persuades

Federal jurisdiction over tribal property claims was assessed in light of the close relationship between the tribe, its members, and the tribe's own property interests rather than narrow fee-title concepts.

“We must, therefore, reject the notion that common law doctrines, including concepts of fee titles, are to rule the rights which are here involved.”

An agency could not defend an arbitrary denial on the theory that an adverse rule would discourage future judicial challenges.

“Judicial decisions are not made so as to discourage assertion of rights in court.”

Procedural preferences

The court remanded for factual findings when the record lacked the dates needed to resolve whether a limitations period was tolled.

“The cause must, therefore, be remanded to the trial court for determination and findings on this issue.”

Collateral estoppel prevented retrial of the defendant's identity after that essential issue had already been resolved in an earlier proceeding.

“it is not possible to hold him responsible under that charge in view of the fact that the issue has been determined previously.”

Cautions

Will reverse a criminal conviction for ineffective assistance of counsel where defense counsel failed to conduct a pretrial factual investigation, treating reasonable diligence and skill as the governing test.

“Reasonable diligence and skill is the test!”

Constitutional privacy protections did not reach a private credit-reporting company merely because its operations were regulated by law.

“Such a constitutional right exists only against the acts of a federal or state government”

Signed rulings

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

Little v. Texaco, Inc.
· 1972-02-22
Appeal (plaintiff-appellant) Denied

“Its judgment is affirmed.”

Moore v. Anderson
· 1973-03-16
Appeal (petitioner-appellant) Denied

“The judgment of the district court is affirmed.”

United States v. Bertram
· 1973-04-27
Appeal (defendant-appellant) Denied

“The judgment is affirmed.”

Basso v. Utah Power and Light Co.
· 1974-04-10
Appeal (defendant-appellant) Moot / procedural

“Accordingly, the case is remanded to the District Court with directions to vacate judgment and assess costs and attorneys' fees against the defendant.”

Sanchez v. Trans World Airlines, Inc.
· 1974-06-21
Appeal (plaintiff-appellant) Granted

“The judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in accordance with the views expressed herein.”

Suggs v. Daggett
· 1975-07-30
Appeal (respondent-appellant) Granted

“The judgment of the district court is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with the views expressed herein.”

Climax Molybdenum Co. v. National Labor Relations Board
· 1976-07-26
Appeal (defendant-appellant) Denied

“The judgment of the district court is affirmed.”

Mayes v. Honn
· 1976-10-07
Appeal (plaintiff-appellant) Denied

“we conclude that the judgment should be and is hereby affirmed.”

AMF Head Division of AMF, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board
· 1977-10-20
Appeal (appellant-agency) Granted

“The judgment of the district court must be and the same is hereby reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with the views expressed herein.”

Enfield v. Kleppe
· 1977-12-16
Appeal (defendant-appellant) Granted

“The judgment of the district court must be reversed and the cause must be remanded with directions to the trial court to deny relief to the plaintiff-appellee and to enter judgment for the defendant.”

Pueblo of Isleta ex rel. Lucero v. Universal Constructors, Inc.
· 1978-01-17
Appeal (plaintiff-appellant) Granted

“Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with the views expressed herein.”

United States v. Wagstaff
· 1978-03-20
Appeal (appellant-United-States) Granted

“The judgment of the district court is, therefore, reversed and the cause is remanded with directions to the court to reinstate the indictment and proceed with the trial.”

A historical record

Judge Doyle 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.