William Lockhart Garwood

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit circuit Deceased · served 1981–2011 Appointed by Ronald Reagan (Republican) 25 signed orders read

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

How Judge Garwood decides

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

What persuades

Requires proof that the taxpayer had a right to seized property before sustaining a levy.

“Because the government did not show that the liable taxpayer had a right to the property levied against, we reverse and render judgment in favor of Capitol.”

Reads mandatory statutory language according to the conviction for which the prisoner is currently confined.

“We hold it is not within § 4042(b).”

Procedural preferences

Treats confusing instructions and an ambiguous verdict as grounds for a new trial.

“Because of the insufficient, confusing, and misleading charge, and the ambiguous jury verdict it produced, the judgment for Pryor cannot stand.”

Declines merits review when no appealable order is before the court.

“This court is without jurisdiction because there is no appealable order properly before us.”

Cautions

Gives weight to a trial court's reasoned Fourth Amendment analysis when the record supports it.

“For the same reasons stated in the district court’s well-reasoned opinion, we find the vehicle stop did not violate the Fourth Amendment, and we accordingly affirm the denial of the motion to suppress.”

Rejects a claim when the party bearing the burden offers no supporting evidence.

“She failed to produce any evidence that she could satisfy this requirement.”

Signed rulings

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

Philip Landry v. Judge J. Robert Hoepfner and William Guste, Jr., Attorney General, State of Louisiana
· 1988-03-17
Appeal (state habeas petitioner appellant) Denied

“We accordingly affirm the district court’s dismissal of appellant’s petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 attacking his Louisiana DWI conviction.”

Charles Kramer v. Robert H. Butler, Sr., Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary, and William J. Guste, Jr., Attorney General, State of Louisiana
· 1988-05-26
Appeal (state habeas petitioner appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

Overton v. City of Austin
· 1984-12-03
Appeal (voting-rights plaintiffs and city appellants) Moot / procedural

“We hold that there is no appealable final or interlocutory order, and dismiss the appeals.”

United States v. Ella Louise Forbes and Lillie Mae Berry
· 1987-04-29
Appeal (criminal defendants appellants) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

Bodie C. Pryor v. Gulf Oil Corporation
· 1983-05-19
Appeal (employer appellant) Granted

“REVERSED AND REMANDED.”

Ruth Bauer v. The State of Texas, the Presiding Judge of Probate Court Number 3 of Harris County, Texas
· 2003-08-18
Appeal (civil-rights plaintiff appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

Richard Paul Henrikson v. Bob Guzik
· 2001-04-24
Appeal (federal prisoner appellant) Granted

“REVERSED.”

United States v. Manuel Contreras-Trevino
· 2006-05-09
Appeal (criminal defendant appellant) Denied

“The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.”

Bullock v. AIU Insurance
· 2007-10-04
Appeal (workers' compensation claimant appellant) Moot / procedural

“QUESTION CERTIFIED TO THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI.”

United States v. Moreno-Vargas
· 2002-12-18
Appeal (criminal defendant appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

Theodros v. Gonzales
· 2007-06-25
Petition for review (noncitizen petitioner) Denied

“DENIED.”

United States v. Burke
· 2005-12-02
Appeal (criminal defendant appellant) Denied

“AFFIRMED.”

A historical record

Judge Garwood 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.