Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit circuit Retired 1968 · served 1954–1968 Appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican) 25 signed orders read

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.

Charles Leroy Melquist v. Frank J. Pate, Warden
398 F.2d 818 (7th Cir. 1968) · 1968-07-24
Appeal (habeas petitioner/appellant) Denied

“Order affirmed.”

Peter W. Jeute v. Leonard Pecos Jarnowski
393 F.2d 513 (7th Cir. 1968) · 1968-03-13
Appeal (plaintiff/appellant) Granted

“Reversed and remanded.”

Lorraine V. Ramsey, Personal Representative of the Estate of William T. Ramsey, Deceased v. Complete Auto Transit, Inc.
393 F.2d 41 (7th Cir. 1968) · 1968-03-04
Appeal (defendants/appellants) Denied

“The judgments from which the appeals were taken are affirmed.”

James Weaver v. Frank J. Pate, Warden
390 F.2d 145 (7th Cir. 1968) · 1968-02-15
Appeal (prisoner/appellant) Granted

“Reversed and remanded with directions.”

Standard Financial Corp. v. Automatic Foods Corp.
382 F.2d 1 (7th Cir. 1967) · 1967-08-09
Appeal (corporate officers/appellants) Denied

“We affirm the judgment of the district court;”

Nancy Clark v. The Kroger Company
382 F.2d 562 (7th Cir. 1967) · 1967-07-27
Appeal (retailer/appellant) Denied

“Judgment affirmed.”

Russell Eady, a Minor, by Lillian Becker, His Mother and Next Friend, and Lillian Becker v. Otto R. Foerder
381 F.2d 980 (7th Cir. 1967) · 1967-07-13
Appeal (defendant/appellant) Denied

“Order affirmed and cause remanded.”

Robert Dewey Hilbrich v. United States
371 F.2d 826 (7th Cir. 1967) · 1967-01-24
Appeal (post-conviction petitioner/appellant) Denied

“For these reasons we affirm the order from which this appeal was taken.”

Harold Z. Kaplan v. Lehman Brothers
371 F.2d 409 (7th Cir. 1967) · 1967-01-04
Appeal (investors/appellants) Denied

“Judgment affirmed.”

Arthur J. Herman v. O. E. Satter, M.D., and Prairie Du Chien General Hospital
368 F.2d 333 (7th Cir. 1966) · 1966-10-14
Appeal (medical-malpractice plaintiff/appellant) Denied

“Judgment affirmed.”

John M. Minneci v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
368 F.2d 161 (7th Cir. 1966) · 1966-10-12
Appeal (taxpayer/petitioner) Denied

“Order affirmed.”

Loren Specialty Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. The Clark Manufacturing Company
360 F.2d 913 (7th Cir. 1966) · 1966-05-02
Appeal (manufacturer/appellant) Denied

“Order affirmed.”

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.