Louie Willard Strum
Judge Strum no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Strum decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In FELA cases he measured the employer's equipment duty by reasonable safety, not perfection, declining to require the latest appliances.
“The employer is not required to furnish the employee the latest, best, or most perfect appliances with which to work, nor to discard standard appliances already in use upon the discovery of later improvements, provided those in use are reasonably safe and suitable.”
For Fair Labor Standards Act coverage he held that a manufacturer produces goods for commerce without actual knowledge that the product will move interstate.
“Actual knowledge that his product will so move is not essential.”
Procedural preferences
On a motion to withdraw a guilty plea, Strum required the movant to show fraud, imposition, or a misapprehension of legal rights, not mere surprise at the sentence.
“To constitute a sufficient reason for withdrawal of the plea, however, the circumstances must amount to a fraud or imposition upon the defendant, or a misapprehension of his legal rights.”
Cautions
He treated naturalization as a privilege, not a right, placing the burden on the petitioner to establish every statutory qualification.
“Citizenship by naturalization is not demandable as of right. It is a privilege gained by those who meet the qualifications imposed by Congress.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“decision as to Penny Freeman is affirmed.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Not applicable to this circuit-court record.
A historical record
Judge Strum 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.