William Morris Sparks
How Judge Sparks rules, drawn from 29 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Sparks no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Sparks
William Morris Sparks was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Appointed by President Herbert Hoover, Judge Sparks received a commission on October 31, 1929. Judge Sparks assumed senior status on November 13, 1948 and served until death on January 7, 1950.
How Judge Sparks decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
Sparks treated review of a denied new-trial motion as exceptional and looked for an abuse of the trial judge's discretion.
“the granting or refusing of a new trial is a matter resting in the sound discretion of the trial judge, and that his action thereon is not reviewable upon appeal, save in the most exceptional circumstances.”
At the pleading stage, he required dismissal orders to rest on defects that actually prevented the complaint from stating a claim.
“the orders of the District Court sustaining appellee’s motions-to dismiss were not warranted by the reasons therein asserted, nor are the orders- *605 dismissing the actions supported by other grounds advanced in this court.”
Cautions
In a prolonged reorganization, Sparks approved measures preventing repetitive litigation from disrupting orderly proceedings.
“We find no error in its action to block further vexatious litigation arising out of the proceedings.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“We therefore have no jurisdiction to consider the appeal, and it must be, and is hereby, dismissed.”
“Judgments affirmed on the authority of United States v. 7 Barrels.”
“Judgment affirmed, for reasons stated in Munkwitz v. United States, supra.”
“Hence the decisions of the Tax Court which denied the credits' claimed by petitioners must be, and they are, hereby reversed on the authority of the Sabine case, and the two causes are remanded to the Tax Court for further proceedings in conformity therewith.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Circuit judges do not carry a single assigned trial caseload.
A historical record
Judge Sparks no longer hears cases. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.