Quick facts
Court U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Position circuit
Status Retired 1983
Served 1958–1983
Appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican)
Commissioned 1958-08-21
Education DePaul University College of Law, LL.B., 1917
Signed orders read 25
Last updated 2026-07-13
Motion outcomes
AppealN = 25
counts only
6 1 18
Counted from classified signed orders. A “1 of 1” is one ruling, not a tendency.
About this data
A free Ezel research resource. This profile is built from public records: the judge's own signed orders, public docket records, and published biographies. It is not legal advice and is not affiliated with the court.
How Judge Knoch decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Knoch treated an indictment that omitted the statutory interstate-commerce nexus as fatally defective and directed dismissal.
“the indictment is fatally defective in that it merely charges that appellant, who had previously been convicted of a felony, possessed firearms, with no allegations of any nexus with interstate commerce.”
He applied the statutory limit making supported administrative fact findings conclusive on judicial review.
“The findings of the Secretary as to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence are conclusive.”
He left witness credibility to the jury and would not substitute appellate judgment on that issue.
“questions of credibility present issues for determination by the jury. This Court will not substitute its judgment for theirs on those issues.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
United States v. Martin Dwayne Hessler
469 F.2d 1294 (7th Cir. 1972) · 1972-11-06
Appeal (criminal defendant/appellant)
Denied
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”
United States v. Carl P. Fiorito
465 F.2d 431 (7th Cir. 1972) · 1972-07-21
Appeal (criminal defendant/appellant)
Granted
“Judgment vacated and cause remanded for dismissal of the indictment.”
Union Industrielle et Maritime v. Nimpex International, Inc.
459 F.2d 926 (7th Cir. 1972) · 1972-04-21
Appeal (commercial parties/cross-appellants)
Granted in part
“Affirmed in part; reversed in part and remanded with directions.”
United States v. Warren M. Anderson
425 F.2d 330 (7th Cir. 1970) · 1970-05-15
Appeal (criminal defendant/appellant)
Denied
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”
United States v. Thomas William Hale
397 F.2d 427 (7th Cir. 1968) · 1968-06-10
Appeal (criminal defendant/appellant)
Denied
“The Judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”
Konstantinos Lena v. Immigration and Naturalization Service
379 F.2d 536 (7th Cir. 1967) · 1967-06-09
Appeal (noncitizen/petitioner)
Denied
“Petition dismissed.”
United States v. Joseph Cosentino
372 F.2d 61 (7th Cir. 1967) · 1967-03-02
Appeal (criminal defendant/appellant)
Denied
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”
Polichronis Sfikas v. Immigration and Naturalization Service
371 F.2d 415 (7th Cir. 1967) · 1967-02-03
Appeal (noncitizen/petitioner)
Granted
“Reversed and remanded.”
William A. Scheuber and Hildegard Scheuber v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue
371 F.2d 996 (7th Cir. 1967) · 1967-02-02
Appeal (taxpayers/petitioners)
Granted
“The judgment of the Tax Court is reversed.”
William H. Husted v. S. B. Fuller, Fuller Products Company and Boyer International Laboratories, Inc.
361 F.2d 187 (7th Cir. 1966) · 1966-05-26
Appeal (contract plaintiff/appellant)
Denied
“The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.”
United States ex rel. Andrew J. DeVoney v. Frank J. Pate, Warden
359 F.2d 828 (7th Cir. 1966) · 1966-04-22
Appeal (habeas petitioner/appellant)
Denied
“The decision of the District Court that petitioner has failed to state a claim on which writ of habeas corpus can be granted is affirmed.”
James Caveny v. State of Illinois
359 F.2d 787 (7th Cir. 1966) · 1966-04-22
Appeal (detainee/appellant)
Denied
“The decision of the District Court is 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 Knoch 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.