Arthur Carter Denison

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit circuit Deceased · served 1911–1942 Appointed by William Howard Taft (Republican) 25 signed orders read

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

How Judge Denison decides

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

What persuades

Respects the jury's role where substantial evidence supports competing factual conclusions.

“We cannot say that there was nothing, substantial for the jury, on these issues.”

Reads statutory and stipulated language according to its text absent a sufficient reason to depart from it.

“we find no sufficient justification for not interpreting the statute and the stipulation as they read.”

Procedural preferences

Adheres to a prior appellate ruling unless a very clear case justifies revisiting it.

“that power may not rightly he exercised except in a very clear case”

Avoids deciding beyond what is necessary on a preliminary-injunction record.

“Further than that we do not think it best to go upon this preliminary record.”

Cautions

Will not allow a party to relitigate a contract issue already established by a prior judgment.

“The company could not' litigate that question over again, in the present case”

Construes a patent claim consistently with the feature the applicant relied on to obtain the patent.

“Miehelin practically asks us to eliminate “spring” from “spring clamps,” yet it was by reliance upon this character in these clamps that he obtained his patent.”

Signed rulings

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

Rabyor v. Franklin Mortg. Co.
· 1924-11-03
Petition for review (mortgage claimant petitioner) Denied

“The petition to revise is dismissed, and the order under review is affirmed.”

Wilkin v. Heywood-Wakefield Co.
· 1925-06-30
Appeal (bankruptcy trustee appellant) Denied

“The order of the District Court, which directed the trustee to pay over this amount, is affirmed.”

Gentile Bros. v. Rose
· 1925-06-30
Appeal (buyer plaintiff in error) Denied

“The judgment is affirmed.”

De Ran v. Killits
· 1925-11-10
Mandamus petition (petitioner) Moot / procedural

“The writ of mandamus, asked upon the theory of a statutory disqualifying affidavit or application under sections 20 and 21 of the Judicial Code (Comp. St. §§ 987, 988), must be dismissed.”

Walker v. United States
· 1926-07-10
Appeal (criminal defendant appellant) Denied

“Finding no prejudicial error, the judgment is affirmed.”

Hayes Wheel Co. v. Michelin
· 1926-07-12
Appeal (accused infringer appellant) Granted

“The decree must be reversed, and the ease remanded, with instructions to dismiss the bill.”

Masonic Country Club of Western Michigan v. Holden
· 1927-04-06
Appeal (country club plaintiff in error) Granted

“the judgment must be reversed, and the ease remanded for a new trial.”

Sugarine Co. v. Werthan Bag Co.
· 1927-06-10
Appeal (buyer plaintiff in error) Denied

“The judgment is affirmed.”

Martin v. United States
· 1927-07-05
Appeal (criminal defendant appellant) Denied

“the judgment is affirmed.”

Clift v. United States
· 1927-11-18
Appeal (criminal defendants plaintiffs in error) Denied

“Judgment affirmed.”

Crummies Creek Coal Co. v. Carrs Fork Coal Co.
· 1930-06-28
Appeal (coal company appellant) Denied

“The decree is affirmed.”

Williams v. Order of Commercial Travelers of America
· 1930-06-13
Appeal (insured's beneficiary appellant) Denied

“The judgment is affirmed.”

A historical record

Judge Denison 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.