Jerre Stockton Williams

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit circuit Deceased · served 1980–1993 Appointed by Jimmy Carter (Democratic) 25 signed orders read

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

How Judge Williams decides

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

What persuades

Treats a prior adjudicated agency finding as binding when the same claimant later relies on it for eligibility.

“The Board cannot now abandon its prior determination as to this claimant to defeat his retirement claim. The issue has been adjudicated.”

Treats judicial neutrality as a structural requirement when a judge previously appeared as a prosecutor in the same case.

“The separation between the roles of prosecutor and judge must be certain and inflexible.”

Procedural preferences

Uses summary judgment when no material fact requires a jury's resolution.

“The function of a jury is to try the material facts; where no such facts are in dispute, there is no occasion for jury trial.”

Defers to trial judges' voir dire management absent an abuse of discretion.

“Only if there is an abuse of discretion in making these critical decisions can an appellate court upset the judge’s conclusion as to prospective jurors being adequately free of prejudice.”

Cautions

Reserves plain-error relief for exceptional circumstances rather than ordinary unpreserved objections.

“Plain error is not a “run of the mill remedy”.”

Requires a single identifiable fund before interpleader can be used to consolidate competing claims.

“Interpleader actions require a single, identifiable fund.”

Signed rulings

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

Jones v. Orleans Parish School Board
· 1982-10-04
Appeal (former teacher plaintiff appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

United States v. Dunn
· 1983-05-31
Appeal (criminal defendant appellant) Moot / procedural

“MOTION TO DISMISS APPEAL GRANTED.”

Rojas v. Richardson
· 1983-08-29
Appeal (injured ranchhand plaintiff appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

Castillo v. Railroad Retirement Board
· 1984-02-27
Appeal (retirement claimant petitioner) Granted

“REVERSED.”

Bradshaw v. McCotter
· 1986-04-04
Appeal (state corrections director appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

Garcia-Hernandez v. Immigration and Naturalization Service
· 1987-06-18
Appeal (noncitizen petitioner) Denied

“Petitioner’s appeal from the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals must be dismissed.”

Pacific Lining Co. v. Algernon-Blair Construction Co.
· 1987-06-22
Appeal (general contractors and sureties appellants) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

United States v. Doggett
· 1987-07-01
Appeal (criminal defendant appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

United States v. Daniel
· 1987-10-06
Appeal (criminal defendant appellant) Granted

“REMANDED FOR EVIDENTIARY HEARING.”

Travelers Indemnity Co. v. Atlantic Express Line
· 1988-02-08
Appeal (foreign insurer appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

Plaisance v. Phelps
· 1988-05-16
Appeal (state-prisoner plaintiff appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

White v. City of Belzoni
· 1988-08-24
Appeal (city appellant) Moot / procedural

“APPEAL DISMISSED AS MOOT.”

A historical record

Judge Williams 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.