Leon Clarence McCord
Judge McCord no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge McCord decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
McCord treated substantial evidence supporting detailed trial findings as sufficient to sustain the judgment.
“While much of the evidence in the record is in dispute, there was substantial evidence to support the findings, conclusions, and judgment.”
He treated proof of a reasonably safe premises and causal connection as jury questions when the record supported those inferences.
“The evidence further established a sufficient causal connection between the defendant’s negligence and the explosion, in the absence of evidence showing other causes, to warrant the finding of the jury”
Procedural preferences
McCord ordinarily required trial errors to be raised before the trial judge, while retaining limited review for exceptional plain error.
“It is the rule in federal courts that alleged trial errors should be specifically called to the attention of the trial judge so that he might have opportunity to rectify the mistake if he has made one.”
He treated timely filing of the notice as essential to perfecting an appeal.
“The timely filing of the notice of appeal is a vital step in the perfection of an appeal.”
Cautions
McCord allocated most appellate costs against a party whose oversized record pursued mostly unsuccessful issues.
“A very simple and brief record would have been sufficient to present that item.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The petition is denied and the decision of the Board of Tax Appeals is affirmed.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Not applicable to this circuit-court record.
A historical record
Judge McCord 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.