Albert Vickers Bryan

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit circuit Deceased · served 1961–1972 Appointed by John F. Kennedy (Democratic) 25 signed orders read

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

How Judge Bryan decides

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

What persuades

Requires agency proof to outweigh a legitimate explanation before sustaining a finding of discriminatory motive.

“the Board has failed to carry its obligation of proving that Black Hawk was prompted by a discriminatory purpose in discharging the 17 employees.”

Reads warrant affidavits practically and credits information whose surrounding details independently support its reliability.

“It bears characteristics of its truth. It proves its own integrity, aside from the agent’s appraisal.”

Procedural preferences

Requires trial courts to view evidence favorably to the nonmovant and leave genuinely conflicting proof to the jury.

“The Court is required to view the testimony in the light most favorable to the plaintiff and where there is conflicting evidence a directed verdict cannot stand.”

Requires an explicit voluntariness finding before a confession may be admitted after a separate hearing.

“If, however, he is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of its voluntariness, he should explicitly make and include in the record a finding of that fact.”

Cautions

Does not treat a premises owner as an insurer when no defect or reasonably foreseeable danger is shown.

“He does not insure their safety.”

Signed rulings

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

Marine Midland Trust Co. v. United States
· 1962-02-21
Appeal (ship-mortgagee-appellant) Granted in part

“Affirmed in part and vacated in part,”

United States v. Smith
· 1962-05-11
Appeal (criminal-defendant-appellant) Granted

“Reversed and remanded.”

Fitzgerald v. Weatherly
· 1963-05-01
Appeal (truck-driver-appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Goldman v. Virginia-Carolina Wholesale Co.
· 1963-05-08
Appeal (trucking-company-appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

United States v. Charles Smith Jr.
· 1963-05-21
Appeal (criminal-defendant-appellant) Granted

“Reversed and final judgment.”

Wood v. Vaughan
· 1963-06-12
Appeal (civil-rights-plaintiffs-appellants) Granted

“Remanded.”

McEachern v. United States
· 1963-07-25
Appeal (removed-hearing-examiner-appellant) Granted in part

“Affirmed in part; vacated in part; and remanded.”

Young v. Boles
· 1965-03-05
Appeal (habeas-petitioner-appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

United States v. Inman
· 1965-11-18
Appeal (criminal-defendant-appellant) Granted

“Reversed and remanded.”

Giddens v. Isbrandtsen Co.
· 1966-01-03
Appeal (injured-worker-appellant) Granted

“Reversed and remanded.”

Humphries v. McCrory Stores Corp.
· 1966-03-30
Appeal (store-appellant) Granted

“Reversed, and dismissed.”

Hawks v. Peyton
· 1966-12-01
Appeal (state-appellant) Granted

“Reversed and petition dismissed.”

A historical record

Judge Bryan 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.