Albert Alphonso Ridge
How Judge Ridge rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Ridge no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Ridge
Albert Alphonso Ridge was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Appointed by President John F. Kennedy, Judge Ridge received a commission on June 15, 1961. Judge Ridge previously served on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, commissioned there on April 7, 1945. Judge Ridge assumed senior status on April 16, 1965 and served until death on March 2, 1967.
How Judge Ridge decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He required administrative findings to rest on evidence and treated supported findings as conclusive in the absence of fraud.
“The findings of the (Railroad Retirement) Board as to the facts, if supported by evidence and in the absence of fraud, shall be conclusive.”
He presumed regularity in bankruptcy proceedings when the appellant failed to supply a record permitting meaningful factual review.
“In reviewing the orders of the Referee in Bankruptcy, all presumptions with respect to the regularity of the proceedings before the Referee are to be indulged in favor of his order.”
Procedural preferences
He favored developing a pro se habeas claim through amendment, a response, and discovery before dismissing it solely for pleading deficiencies.
“it would have been the better course for the District Court to have issued a show cause order to respondent; required petitioner to amend his complaint; invited recourse to discovery procedure under the Federal Rules, 28 U.S.C.A.; and take such action as it might deem proper to ascertain the specific facts surrounding the specific condition of which petitioner here complains”
He regarded appointment of a special master as exceptional and evaluated claimed procedural unfairness on the full record.
“The sense of Rule 53(b), F.R.Civ.P., 28 U.S.C.A., is that the appointment of a Special Master ‘shall be the exception and not the rule.’”
Cautions
He distinguished competency to stand trial from the separate question whether the defendant was legally responsible when the offense occurred.
“A finding by a trial judge that a defendant is mentally competent to stand trial ‘shall in no way prejudice the accused in a plea of insanity as a defense to the crime charged,’”
He would notice plain sentencing error despite seriously deficient appellate briefing when ignoring it would produce a miscarriage of justice.
“since we are constrained to notice ‘plain error’ appearing on the face of the record, that cannot be done without miscarriage of justice ensuing.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The decision of the Tax Court is sustained for the reasons stated in our opinion in Cockrell v. Commissioner, supra.”
“Remanded for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.”
“The order appealed from is affirmed.”
“The decision of the Tax Court is affirmed.”
“The judgment of the District Court is reversed”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Not applicable to this circuit-court record.
A historical record
Judge Ridge 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.