Robert Wodrow Archbald
Judge Archbald no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Archbald decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Treats a Commission dismissal as a reviewable order when its substance and effect make the challenged practice operative.
“The action of the commission, if to be given any force, having thus the effect of an adverse decision with respect to the question involved, must be regarded, even though negative in character, as an order within the meaning of the statute, which the courts may enjoin or set aside if legal or equitable grounds for doing so are found to exist.”
Invalidates agency action grounded in a legal misunderstanding that restricts otherwise available reparation.
“In the present instance the order of the Commission, limiting the reparation allowed to shipments after the complaint was filed, is the result of a clear misapprehension of the law, which renders it invalid.”
Procedural preferences
Respects agency fact selection while requiring substantial support for rate reductions.
“Not only is the Commission vested with a discretion which cannot be disturbed, and which we intend unqualifiedly to respect, but it is entitled to select the testimony which it will believe and rely upon, according as it addresses itself to the discriminating judgment-of the Commission. But it is not within the *565authority of the Commission to reduce the rates in this or any other case not merely against the weight of the evidence produced to sustain them, but without anything substantial to warrant the conclusion reached or the reasons assigned therefor.”
Determines lateral-branch status from the relationship between roads rather than the needs of particular shippers or territories.
“A road is or is not a lateral branch railroad, according to the relation which it bears to the line with which a switch connection is asked. And this relation is one, of road to road, and not of shippers or territory.”
Cautions
Uses whether traffic will move at a rate as evidence, but not the sole measure, of the service's value.
“whether traffic will move at a given rate is always some, evidence as to whether the rate responds to the value of the service performed.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The petition will be dismissed on the merits, with costs.”
“The demurrer will be overruled, and the respondents directed to answer over.”
“And the petitioner is therefore entitled to a decree annulling the order.”
“A preliminary injunction was therefore properly ordered, and the motion to dismiss will be overruled.”
“The petition will therefore be dismissed, with costs.”
A historical record
Judge Archbald 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.