Wayne G. Borah

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit circuit Deceased · served 1949–1966 Appointed by Harry S. Truman (Democratic) 25 signed orders read

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

How Judge Borah decides

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

What persuades

Borah treated record-wide substantial evidence as sufficient to sustain the labor board's factual finding.

“Accordingly, we conclude that there is substantial evidence in the record, considered as a whole, to support the finding of the Board”

He required reversal when an erroneous evidentiary ruling could not affirmatively be shown harmless on the whole record.

“we cannot say from a review of the whole record that lack of prejudice affirmatively appears.”

Procedural preferences

Borah treated the absence of a probable-cause certificate as jurisdictionally fatal to a state-prisoner habeas appeal.

“In the absence of a certificate of probable cause, the order of the district court is not reviewable by this court.”

He required courts to award the relief supported by the proven facts even when a party framed a different legal theory.

“it is the duty of the court to grant the relief to which tile plaintiff is entitled, irrespective of the prayer for relief”

Cautions

Borah would not relax the jury-trial guarantee to make a perjury conviction easier to sustain.

“Heinous as the crime of perjury is under'our law, it is entitled to no relaxation of the constitutional guaranty of the citizen in order to punish it.”

Signed rulings

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

W. C. Hewitt v. National Surety Corporation
· 1955-11-09
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Humble Oil & Refining Company v. Federal Power Commission
· 1957-06-29
Petition for review (petitioner) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Continental Oil Company v. Federal Power Commission
· 1956-06-30
Petition for review (petitioner) Moot / procedural

“the petition for review herein is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.”

Gulf Oil Corporation and Gulf Refining Company v. Federal Power Commission
· 1956-08-21
Petition for review (petitioners) Moot / procedural

“Dismissed.”

Bourne v. Jones
· 1953-11-30
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Robert L. Lee v. Porcelain Patch & Glaze Corporation
· 1957-02-05
Appeal (appellant) Moot / procedural

“Appeal dismissed”

R. O. Plank v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co
· 1953-01-14
Appeal (appellant) Granted

“Reversed and Remanded.”

Amalgamated Association of Street, Electric Railway & Motor Coach Employees of America, Division No. 1127, Etc. v. Southern Bus Lines, Inc
· 1951-05-10
Appeal (appellant) Moot / procedural

“the judgment of the District Court is vacated and set aside and the case is remanded to that court with instructions to dismiss for want of jurisdiction.”

H. E. Bedenbaugh v. National Surety Corporation
· 1955-11-09
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Thomas H. Brooks and August J. Maureau, Jr. v. United States
· 1957-01-31
Appeal (appellants) Granted

“Reversed and remanded.”

Harris v. Ellis
· 1953-05-29
Habeas petition (petitioner) Moot / procedural

“the appeal is dismissed for want of jurisdiction.”

United States v. Gallops. Gallops v. United States
· 1953-09-09
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“The judgment of the District Court is Affirmed.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

Not applicable to this circuit-court record.

A historical record

Judge Borah 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.