Howell Edmunds Jackson

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit circuit Deceased · served 1886–1895 Appointed by Grover Cleveland (Democratic) 13 signed orders read

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

How Judge Jackson decides

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

What persuades

Requires reliable, tangible apportionment when a patent covers only an improvement rather than the entire machine.

“The patentee,’ he says, ‘must in every case give evidence tending to separate or apportion the defendant’s profits and the patentee’s damages between the patented feature and the unpatented features, and such evidence must be reliable and tangible, and not conjectural or speculative”

Places the burden on a claimed statutory lienholder to prove every fact necessary for priority over existing mortgages.

“In this contest for priority we consider it well settled that the burden of proof is upon the claimants to establish whatever is necessary to confer a preference on their part.”

Procedural preferences

Requires a lower court executing a Supreme Court mandate to follow it without adding relief that the mandate did not award.

“Its duty and function arc ministerial, rather than judicial, in such cases, inasmuch as it is executing the judgment or decree of a higher court, instead of its own judgment or decree.”

Uses the balance of inconvenience and probable right when reviewing preliminary injunctive protection.

“appellees have exhibited such probable right, and probable danger to that right, as entitled them to the interposition of the injunctive powers of the lower court for its protection pendente lito”

Cautions

Rejects hypothetical expert opinions when their assumed facts lack support in the weight of the proof.

“the opinion of witnesses, based upon hypothetical statements, not supported by the weight of proof, amounts to practically nothing.”

Allows amendment when jurisdiction depends on the citizenship of an association's members rather than an unsupported corporate characterization.

“with leave to plaintiff to further amend its petition so as to show the citizenship of its members, if it is an association or limited partnership and not a corporation”

Signed rulings

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

Mosher v. Joyce
· 1892-07-28
Appeal (patent owner appellant) Denied

“the decree below Avas therefore correct, and should be affirmed, with costs of appeal, and it is accordingly so ordered and adjudged.”

Green v. Chicago, S. & C. R. Co.
· 1892-01-13
Appeal (receiver appellant) Granted

“was erroneous, and should he reversed, and it is accordingly so ordered and adjudged, with costs.”

Foos Manuf'g Co. v. Springfield Engine & Thresher Co.
· 1891-10-06
Appeal (patent owner appellant) Denied

“The decree of the court below, dismissing the bill, is accordingly affirmed, with costs.”

Blount v. Societe Anonyme Du Filtre Chamberland Systeme Pasteur
· 1892-11-01
Appeal (patent defendant appellant) Moot / procedural

“said appeal should be dismissed at appellant’s cost.”

Crystal Spring Distillery Co. v. Cox
· 1892-01-16
Appeal (distillery plaintiff in error) Denied

“The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed, with costs.”

Louisville Public Warehouse Co. v. Collector of Customs
· 1892-01-16
Appeal (warehouse company plaintiff in error) Denied

“affirm the judgment below, with costs.”

Tod v. Kentucky Union Ry. Co.
· 1892-10-04
Appeal (railroad lien claimants appellant) Denied

“the judgments of the lower court thereon are affirmed.”

John Shillito Co. v. McClung
· 1892-09-17
Appeal (assignee plaintiff in error) Denied

“the same is accordingly affirmed, with costs.”

Park Bros. & Co. v. Kelly Axe Manuf'g Co.
· 1892-01-29
Appeal (seller plaintiff in error) Granted

“the cause will be remanded to the circuit court for the district of Kentucky for further proceedings therein in conformity with this opinion”

Fox v. Perkins
· 1892-10-05
Appeal (patent owner appellant) Denied

“the judgment of the lower court should be, and the same is., affirmed.”

Mitchell Transp. Co. v. Chisholm
· 1892-10-03
Appeal (vessel owners appellant) Granted

“The decree of the district court condemning the Folsom and Mitchell is erroneous, and is accordingly reversed”

Treusch v. Ottenburg
· 1893-02-06
Appeal (commercial defendants in error) Denied

“the writ of error should be dismissed, with costs, and it is accordingly so ordered.”

A historical record

Judge Jackson 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.