Bolitha James Laws
Judge Laws no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Laws decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He required facts raising the inference of criminal activity above suspicion and conjecture before approving a residential search.
“Probable cause means more than suspicion; there must be knowledge and information sufficient in themselves to warrant a man of reasonable caution to believe that an offense has been or is being committed.”
He granted acquittal where the government’s evidence of guilty knowledge was weak and equally consistent with innocent fear of an accidental misstatement.
“The evidence is not at all strong or convincing.”
He applied the exclusionary rule to property traced into converted forms after an unlawful arrest and seizure.
“This proprietary interest continues when the property is entrusted to another party, Pielow v. United States, 9 Cir., 1925, 8 F.2d 492, and when it is converted to other forms, here checks, bankbooks and an automobile title.”
Cautions
He rejected agency discretion that Congress had neither granted nor left open in mandatory school legislation.
“Congress at no time gave the Board of Education power to determine when there should be and when there should not be charges made for non-residents.”
He would not continue serious criminal prosecutions where the evidence remained doubtful after extended investigation.
“Under the circumstances, to permit another trial, which conceivably would last more than a year, with new prosecutors and newly appointed counsel for defendants, with the eventual outcome in serious doubt, as Mr. Rogge has stated to the Court on three occasions, would be a travesty on justice.”
He treated questioning jurors while they were deliberating or about to consider cases as an intolerable interference with independent decision-making.
“To harass them by challenging and lengthy questions while they are deliberating or about to consider cases is intolerable.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the same hereby are, consolidated for trial upon the following issues with respect to the sanity of the defendant:”
“the motions of defend-ants for summary judgment be granted.”
“The pending motions to dismiss will be sustained.”
“Accordingly, the motion to dismiss filed in this cause will be granted.”
“Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment will be sustained; defendant’s motion for. summary judgment will be denied.”
“Defendant’s motion to dismiss will be overruled.”
“Plaintiff’s motion will be overruled.”
“For the reasons stated, I feel constrained to rule that the proposed bond will not be approved.”
“The motion for a directed verdict in favor of the defendants will be granted.”
“I have no doubt the cases should be dismissed and an order to that effect will be entered as to all defendants.”
“The motion for preliminary injunction will be granted and the Motion to dissolve the temporary restraining order will be denied.”
A historical record
Judge Laws 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.