Frederick Moore Vinson
How Judge Vinson rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Vinson no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Vinson
Frederick Moore Vinson was a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Judge Vinson received a commission on December 15, 1937. Judge Vinson resigned on May 28, 1943.
How Judge Vinson decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Vinson applied substantial-evidence review by asking whether the record supported the agency rather than which side had more evidence.
“the question is not for whom the evidence preponderates, but whether there is evidence present in the record sufficient to justify the Commissioner’s findings.”
He reversed a directed verdict when the ownership presumption and remaining evidence still permitted a jury finding.
“The directed verdict for defendant, then, was improper.”
Procedural preferences
Vinson treated a tax filing received by an authorized agency agent during regular office hours as timely.
“The petition was received by this agent within his regular office hours. That constitutes timely filing.”
In Denholm and McKay’s tax appeal, he affirmed dismissal of a petition for a writ of prohibition because statutory review of the Board’s decision offered an adequate remedy.
“But the statutory appeal is certainly adequate as the law knows the term.”
Cautions
Vinson refused to use equity to divide gains from an illegal arrangement between participants who were both at fault.
“this appears to be a clear case where a court should not umpire a division of the spoils.”
In an adoption appeal, he centered the inquiry on the child's interests while respecting the trial court's factfinding role.
“The adoption of a child is the issue; her best interest, the stake.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Not applicable to this circuit-court record.
A historical record
Judge Vinson 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.