Albert Vickers Bryan
How Judge Bryan rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Bryan no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Bryan
Albert Vickers Bryan was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Appointed by President John F. Kennedy, Judge Bryan received a commission on August 15, 1961. Judge Bryan previously served on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, commissioned there on June 5, 1947. Judge Bryan assumed senior status on May 3, 1972 and served until death on March 13, 1984.
How Judge Bryan decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Black Hawk’s labor-law petition, he declined to enforce the Board’s discriminatory-layoff finding because its evidence did not overcome the company’s explanation for reducing warehouse work.
“the Board has failed to carry its obligation of proving that Black Hawk was prompted by a discriminatory purpose in discharging the 17 employees.”
In United States v. Roman, he credited details in the warrant affidavit that supported the information’s reliability apart from the agent’s own assessment.
“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.
“Affirmed in part and vacated in part,”
“Affirmed in part; vacated in part; and remanded.”
A historical record
Judge Bryan 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.