Abram Baldwin Olin
Judge Olin no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Olin decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He enforced the written terms of a contract when the opposing evidence would contradict the instrument rather than prove a later modification.
“The rule which excludes parol evidence from contradicting or varying a written instrument is based upon the principle that when parties draw up and sign a written instrument, such instrument expresses their whole agreement in regard to the matter of contract.”
He required fraud, false representation, or imposition before disturbing a completed judicial sale.
“this court will not set aside a sale unless some fraud, false statement or imposition is practiced which has misled the purchaser.”
Cautions
He strongly rejected a divorce suit resting on facts the complainant knew before marriage.
“if all the facts falsely stated in the bill were admitted to be true, they afford no ground for a divorce from the bond of matrimony, unless we apply to the solemn contract of marriage the same rules of law that we do to a contract for swapping horses.”
He emphasized the gravity of fraud against the Treasury when affirming a false-claim conviction.
“The evidence recited in the bills of exceptions clearly shows that Bowen was a willing instrument in the attempt to perpetrate a gross fraud upon the Treasury”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the judgment of the court below must be affirmed.”
“The judgment of the Court below is affirmed.”
“The decree of the court in special term for probate business is affirmed.”
“The judgment in this case is affirmed, and the warden of the jail is directed to carry into execution the sentence of the Criminal Court.”
“The judgment of the circuit must be affirmed.”
“An order will therefore be made referring this case back to the examiner to take such further proofs as may be deemed necessary, the proofs already taken to stand as part of such proofs.”
“The judgment in this case must be reversed, and a new trial granted.”
“The decree of the court in special term should be affirmed.”
“We think the decree in this case should be reversed, and an order made appointing some competent engineer to take proofs of the reasonable and necessary costs of constructing a sewer under the tracks of the complainant’s road”
A historical record
Judge Olin 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.