Martin Ferdinand Morris
Judge Morris no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Morris decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Morris held parties to the specific amount and character of damages pleaded rather than allowing a general damages clause to enlarge the claim.
“They cannot be allowed, at all events at this present day, to contravene specific statements of the precise amount and character of damage contained in the same pleading.”
In a will contest, he removed fraud from consideration when the contestants produced neither proof nor an offer of proof on that issue.
“There is no proof of fraud in this case, and no offer of any such proof; and the issue of fraud may therefore be dismissed from consideration.”
Procedural preferences
Morris required a record that stated the substance of all testimony bearing on a challenged ruling before appellate review could proceed intelligently.
“It is elementary law that, in order that an appellate tribunal may pass intelligently upon the ruling of a trial court, the record must give, and must purport to give, the substance of all the testimony bearing upon such ruling;”
He gave effect to legislative intent that pending appeals be resolved on their merits despite a change in the court's structure.
“Congress intended that all appeals pending in the General Term should be heard on their merits.”
Cautions
Morris declined to decide a patent theory when the administrative record did not show whether the asserted technical advantage existed.
“we have no means of ascertaining on this appeal whether the result of the appellant’s location of his condenser would be as claimed”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The judgment appealed from must be affirmed, with costs; and it is so ordered.”
“the order or decree appealed from should be affirmed, with costs. And it is so ordered.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Not applicable to this circuit-court record.
A historical record
Judge Morris 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.