Alfred T. Goodwin
How Judge Goodwin rules, drawn from 32 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Goodwin no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Goodwin
Alfred Theodore Goodwin was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Appointed by President Richard M. Nixon, Judge Goodwin received a commission on November 30, 1971. Judge Goodwin previously served on the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, commissioned there on December 11, 1969. Judge Goodwin assumed senior status on January 31, 1991 and served until death on December 27, 2022.
How Judge Goodwin decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A discrimination plaintiff opposing summary judgment must offer specific, significantly probative evidence that the employer's stated reason is pretextual; personal confidence in one's qualifications and a bare attack on witness credibility do not create a factual dispute.
“The plaintiff must also offer specific and significantly probative evidence that the employer's alleged purpose is a pretext for discrimination.”
California's common-law right of publicity protects against commercial appropriation of identity beyond literal use of a person's name or likeness. The method used matters only to whether the defendant actually evoked and appropriated that identity.
“The right of publicity does not require that appropriations of identity be accomplished through particular means to be actionable.”
Procedural preferences
Equitable surcharge for an inaccurate ERISA summary requires unjust enrichment or actual harm caused by the breach. Loss of the statutory right to an accurate summary, without reliance or a changed position, is not itself compensable harm.
“Appellants argue that the ‘harm’ of being deprived of their statutory right to an accurate SPD is a compensable harm, but we disagree.”
Cautions
Officers relying on a houseguest's consent must ask enough questions to support a reasonable belief that the guest shares use, access, or control over the specific private areas searched. Near-total ignorance does not establish apparent authority.
“The ‘police are not allowed to proceed on the theory that ignorance is bliss.’”
An agency decision must identify and substantively analyze the statutory ground on which it rests. Without that explanation, an appellate court cannot supply a different rationale or conduct meaningful review.
“we have no ability to conduct a meaningful review of its decision.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Petition denied.”
“The writ is denied. ... We agree with the Fifth Circuit that a § 17 case is essentially a suit in equity and not an action at law within the meaning of the Seventh Amendment. ... The petition is dismissed.”
“Judgment for Petitioner.”
“We affirm the imposition of sanctions but remand for the trial court to reconsider the amount awarded.”
“As a consequence, this petition was untimely filed and we lack subject matter jurisdiction over the action.”
“AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, and REMANDED.”
“Therefore, we reverse the decision of the BIA and remand for further proceedings.”
A historical record
Judge Goodwin 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.