Clifton Mathews
Judge Mathews no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Mathews decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Mathews reversed a conspiracy conviction when the evidence showed only that the defendant performed services used by conspirators, not that he knowingly joined them.
“The evidence did not, as against appellant, warrant submission of the case to the jury, nor does it support the jury’s verdict.”
He accepted a tax-court factual finding when substantial evidence supported it and it was not clearly erroneous.
“This finding was supported by substantial evidence and was not clearly erroneous. We therefore accept it as correct.”
Procedural preferences
Mathews required a written motion before summary judgment could be entered.
“Oral motions for summary judgments in Federal courts are not authorized or provided for in Rule 56 or elsewhere.”
He declined to penalize a litigant for a clerk's failure to issue summons when the delay was not attributable to the plaintiff.
“However, the clerk’s failure to comply with Rule 4(a) was not attributable to appellant, did not deprive the District Court of jurisdiction and did not warrant dismissal of the action.”
Cautions
Mathews treated an appeal from a later nonfinal decree as ineffective when the earlier final order had not been appealed.
“The “decree” of February 21, 1945, was not a final decision and was not appealable.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Judgment reversed and case remanded for further proceedings.”
“The judgment is vacated and the case is remanded to the District Court with directions to determine the question of validity of the claims here involved, determine the question of their infringement, make findings of fact and state conclusions of law, as required by Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and thereupon enter such judgment as may be proper.”
“Appeal dismissed without prejudice; mandate to issue forthwith.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Not applicable to this circuit-court record.
A historical record
Judge Mathews 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.