James Larry Edmondson

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit circuit Retired 2012 · served 1986–2012 Appointed by Ronald Reagan (Republican) 25 signed orders read

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

How Judge Edmondson decides

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

What persuades

Does not extend the Heck bar where a former prisoner’s damages action cannot imply the invalidity of the conviction or sentence.

“But we do not understand Heck’s rule to extend to a case like this one”

Exercises restraint before recognizing new causes of action under unsettled international law.

“In a case like this one, judicial restraint is demanded.”

Procedural preferences

Accounts for public harm when reviewing the practical consequences of injunctive relief.

“does not make the injunction any less an abuse of discretion.”

Declines discretionary pendent appellate jurisdiction over fact-bound attacks on an interlocutory qualified-immunity ruling.

“We question that we have the right in this case to exercise discretionary pendent jurisdiction”

Cautions

Rejects qualified immunity where no reasonable officer could view the force or failure to intervene as objectively reasonable.

“no reasonable officer would believe that either the amount of force used in these circumstances or the failure to intervene was objectively reasonable.”

Requires evidence of both an emergency medical condition and the hospital’s knowledge for the stabilization claim presented.

“Plaintiff failed to provide evidence either that Smith was in an emergency medical condition when discharged or that Humana knew of the emergency condition.”

Signed rulings

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

Morrow v. Federal Bureau of Prisons
· 2010-07-06
Appeal (appellant) Granted

“VACATED AND REMANDED.”

Jimenez-Galicia v. U.S. Attorney General
· 2012-08-13
Petition for review (noncitizen petitioner) Moot / procedural

“PETITION DISMISSED.”

Duke v. Allen
· 2011-05-26
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

Franqui v. Florida
· 2011-04-22
Appeal (appellant) Granted

“VACATED AND REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.”

Mamani v. Berzain
· 2011-08-29
Appeal (appellant) Granted

“REVERSED and REMANDED with instructions to dismiss.”

Webster v. Fulton County
· 2002-02-28
Appeal (appellant) Granted in part

“AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part, and REMANDED”

Burnette v. Taylor
· 2008-07-10
Appeal (appellant) Granted

“REVERSED and REMANDED.”

Chrysler International Corp. v. Chemaly
· 2002-02-01
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

Miccosukee Tribe of Indians v. South Florida Water Management District
· 2002-02-01
Appeal (appellant) Granted in part

“AFFIRMED in part, VACATED in part, and REMANDED.”

Pace v. Capobianco
· 2002-03-01
Appeal (appellant) Granted

“REVERSED and REMANDED”

Grech v. Clayton County
· 2002-03-01
Appeal (appellant) Granted

“REVERSED and REMANDED”

Rodriguez v. City of Winter Park
· 2002-01-30
Appeal (appellant) Granted

“REVERSED and REMANDED”

A historical record

Judge Edmondson 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.