Ellsworth Alfred Van Graafeiland
How Judge Graafeiland rules, drawn from 30 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Graafeiland no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Graafeiland
Ellsworth Alfred Van Graafeiland was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Appointed by President Gerald Ford, Judge Van Graafeiland received a commission on December 21, 1974. Judge Van Graafeiland assumed senior status on May 11, 1985 and served until death on November 20, 2004.
How Judge Graafeiland decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Read Title VII and the Constitution to bar non-remedial racial quotas, treating preferential treatment based solely on race, imposed where no discrimination in the challenged practice was shown, as forbidden reverse discrimination.
“the non-remedial distortion of a seniority system through preferential treatment based solely upon race is a form of reverse discrimination specifically proscribed by Congress.”
Procedural preferences
Applied settled New York long-arm doctrine to a novel internet dispute rather than stretch it, holding that a defendant who built an out-of-state website committed no tortious act within New York.
“attempting to apply established trademark law in the fast-developing world of the internet is somewhat like trying to board a moving bus”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“We believe that the District Court erred in injecting into this plan a requirement for conformity to a racial quota formula, and we therefore reverse.”
“The judgment appealed from is affirmed. Mandate shall issue forthwith.”
“Concluding that the grant of summary judgment was proper, we affirm.”
“That portion of the order and judgment which dismisses the complaint against Steinhoff and the unknown parole officers, FBI agents, detectives, and police officers is vacated.”
“On December 9, 1982, the district court granted Burlington’s motion for summary judgment, and this appeal followed. We affirm.”
“Since we already have rejected appellant’s other claims of error, the judgment of conviction is affirmed.”
A historical record
Judge Graafeiland no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.