Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg
How Judge Schnackenberg rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Schnackenberg no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Schnackenberg decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
Schnackenberg would not allow summary judgment to displace a jury trial while genuine factual disputes remained.
“It cannot be invoked to deprive litigants of their right to trial by jury if there remain genuine issues of material fact to be tried.”
He recognized unique circumstances when a litigant relied on a district court's express extension for filing a new-trial motion.
“We feel that there are ‘unique circumstances’ present in the case at bar which warrant the result which we reach herein.”
Cautions
He cautioned trial judges that extensive witness questioning can compromise the appearance of impartiality before jurors.
“he would ordinarily do well to forego such intrusion upon the functions of counsel, thus maintaining the court’s position of impartiality, in the eyes of the ever-observant jurors.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The judgments from which the appeals were taken are affirmed.”
“We affirm the judgment of the district court;”
“For these reasons we affirm the order from which this appeal was taken.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Circuit judges do not carry a single assigned trial caseload.
A historical record
Judge Schnackenberg 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.