Alfred Adams Wheat
How Judge Wheat rules, drawn from 5 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Wheat no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Wheat
Alfred Adams Wheat was a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Supreme Court of the District of Columbia). Appointed by President Herbert Hoover, Judge Wheat received a commission on May 3, 1929. Judge Wheat left the court on June 7, 1930 on appointment to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Supreme Court of the District of Columbia).
How Judge Wheat decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Capital Transit Co. v. Hazen, he rejected the railway’s narrow reading of “abandonment” after service ended on E Street and affirmed an order requiring removal of its unused tracks.
“There is no use in quibbling over the meaning of the words ‘abandon’ and ‘abandonment.’ They are words in common use and their meaning is well understood.”
Cautions
In Alton Railroad v. Railroad Retirement Board, he separated objections to the Act’s wisdom from the question of congressional power, then held specific retirement provisions unconstitutional.
“These matters, however, seem to me to involve questions of wisdom and propriety rather than of power and to be for the consideration of the Congress rather than of the courts.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“A decree will be made in favor of the plaintiffs, granting the relief prayed for in the bill.”
“I think that the Public Utilities Commission had jurisdiction and that the Order attacked in the bill was a valid exercise of that jurisdiction. The bill must, therefore, be dismissed.”
“That the provision in the bond quoted in the findings of fact No. 2 was a condition precedent to liability and failure to give the notice bars recovery on the bonds.”
“they are in no position now in equity to assert superior title to the people who bought these notes in good faith, and in the belief they were properly issued.”
A historical record
Judge Wheat 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.