Edwin Ruthven Holmes
Judge Holmes no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Holmes decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Holmes left proximate-cause questions to the jury when the verdict rested on substantial evidence.
“Upon the facts in evidence, we think the question of proximate cause was for the jury, and that we are not warranted in disturbing their verdicts.”
He treated a guilty plea as an admission of the facts charged when rejecting a later collateral challenge.
“By his plea of guilty, appellant admitted the facts alleged in the information.”
Procedural preferences
Holmes generally declined to correct unpreserved trial errors absent exceptional circumstances affecting the integrity of the proceedings.
“It is only where exceptional circumstances are present, such as obvious reversible errors, or errors that affect the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings, that this court of its own motion may set aside the verdict of the jury for an error or errors not brought to the attention of the trial court.”
He dismissed an appeal filed before the district court's amendment period and related proceedings had run their course.
“Accordingly, the appeal was prematurely filed and should be dismissed for that reason.”
Cautions
Holmes rejected collateral relief when the record showed counsel and no constitutional or jurisdictional defect in the sentence.
“there is nothing to indicate that he was denied any constitutional right or that the sentence imposed upon him was invalid or subject to collateral attack for any valid reason.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the judgment here appealed from is reversed, and the cause is remanded to the District Court for further proceedings not inconsistent therewith.”
“As so construed, the judgment appealed from is affirmed.”
“the decision of the Tax Court is affirmed.”
“the order of the Board of Tax Appeals is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with said opinion.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Not applicable to this circuit-court record.
A historical record
Judge Holmes 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.