Charles Henry Robb

U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit circuit Retired 1937 · served 1906–1937 Appointed by Theodore Roosevelt (Republican) 25 signed orders read

Judge Robb no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

How Judge Robb decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

In trademark registration, Robb emphasized preventing marketplace confusion and protecting purchasers.

“The purpose of the act was to prevent, and not to promote, confusion; to protect, and not to deceive, the public.”

In patent review, he required a genuine inventive step before granting a monopoly.

“nevertheless courts will not grant a monopoly unless convinced that invention is involved.”

Procedural preferences

Robb declined appellate review when the record was incomplete.

“The record being thus incomplete, there is nothing for us to review, and we therefore must dismiss the appeal, with costs.”

He required the record to show an abuse of discretion before disturbing a trial court's refusal to reopen a judgment.

“There being nothing in the record showing an abuse of discretion by the trial court in overruling appellant’s motion, the judgment is affirmed with costs.”

Cautions

Robb required challenges to an existing trademark registration to use the statutory adversarial procedure rather than an ex parte route.

“The statute having pointed out the procedure to be followed when the registration of a trademark is to be challenged, the statutory remedy must be pursued.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

In re S. C. Herbst Importing Co.
· 1908-02-04
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

In re Droop
· 1908-02-04
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

King v. Curtin
· 1908-03-31
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

In re Milans
· 1908-04-20
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Washington National Building & Loan Ass'n v. Conley
· 1908-06-02
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Washington National Building & Loan Ass'n v. Hill
· 1908-06-02
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Washington National Building & Loan Ass'n v. Nichols
· 1908-06-02
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Cosey v. Smith
· 1908-12-01
Appeal (appellant) Moot / procedural

“Dismissed.”

In re Herbst
· 1908-12-22
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

J. A. Scriven Co. v. Ferguson McKinney Dry Goods Co.
· 1909-01-05
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Hallowell v. Darling
· 1909-01-05
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Rolfe v. Leeper
· 1909-03-02
Appeal (appellant) Denied

“Affirmed.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

Not applicable to this circuit-court record.

A historical record

Judge Robb 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.