Richard Wilde Walker Jr.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit circuit Deceased · served 1914–1936 Appointed by Woodrow Wilson (Democratic) 25 signed orders read

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

How Judge Walker decides

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

What persuades

He treated a defense theory supported by testimony as requiring a clear jury instruction rather than instructions framed only around the prosecution's evidence.

“The appellants were entitled to have clearly stated to the jury the theory of defense based on their testimony which negatived the truth of the incriminating evidence introduced by the prosecution.”

Procedural preferences

He enforced the historical term rule for preserving trial objections and struck a bill of exceptions approved only after the trial court's term ended.

“the court had lost jurisdiction of the cause prior to the signing of the bill of exceptions, with the result that the bill of exceptions is' subject to be stricken.”

Cautions

He declined to impose shareholder liability for a stock transfer that the alleged shareholder had not authorized, accepted, or ratified.

“Johnson was not subjected to liability by a transaction which he did not, expressly or imnliedly, authorize, consent to, or acquiesce in.”

Signed rulings

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

Leroy v. Government of Canal Zone
· 1936-02-19
Appeal (appellant) Granted

“The judgment is reversed.”

Newcomb v. York Ice Machinery Corp.
· 1934-01-04
Appeal (appellants) Denied

“The record shows no reversible error. The decree is Affirmed.”

Abbott v. United States
· 1933-04-11
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“The judgment is affirmed.”

Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Williams
· 1936-03-11
Petition for review (petitioner) Denied

“The petition is denied.”

Scardina v. United States
· 1935-12-17
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“The judgment is affirmed.”

Wynne v. Commissioner
· 1935-04-24
Petition for review (petitioners) Denied

“No ruling complained of was erroneous. The petition is denied.”

Grosjean v. Musser
· 1935-01-10
Appeal (appellants) Granted

“The decree is reversed.”

Martin v. Government of Canal Zone
· 1936-02-19
Appeal (appellants) Granted

“The judgment is reversed.”

Buckman v. Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Co.
· 1933-03-13
Appeal (appellants) Denied

“The. decree is affirmed.”

Porter v. Cooke
· 1933-03-04
Appeal (appellants) Granted

“The decree is reversed, and the cause, is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.”

United States v. One Chevrolet Truck
· 1935-11-05
Appeal (appellant) Granted

“The judgment is reversed.”

Seals v. United States
· 1934-04-24
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“The record shows no reversible error. The judgment is affirmed.”

A historical record

Judge Walker 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.