George Luzerne Hart Jr.

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia district Deceased · served 1959–1979 Appointed by Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican) 15 signed orders read

Judge Hart no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

How Judge Hart decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

He upheld an agency’s implementation schedule after considering the statute’s competing goals and finding the agency’s accommodation reasonable.

“this Court finds that the Secretary’s decision was reasonable and should be affirmed.”

He treated a recurring mechanical failure as safety-critical even without proof that past failures had caused recorded fatalities.

“even a momentary loss of control of a moving vehicle presents imminent danger of an accident with the grave possibility of resulting personal injury or death.”

Cautions

He weighed irreparable harm, the burden on the opposing party, and the public interest before granting union-election relief.

“the public interest in democratic union elections and the unfettered right-to-sue as manifested in LMRDA will be enhanced by the grant of injunctive relief.”

He used the court’s authority to stop repetitive filings that consumed resources needed for other litigants.

“[U]nless the Courts of this Nation are to be deemed to be powerless to stop such a flagrant abuse of the judicial process”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Green v. United States District Court for the District of Columbia
· 1980-08-18
Sua sponte dismissal (court) Granted

“For these reasons the above-captioned cases are hereby dismissed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) as frivolous and malicious.”

Gulf Oil Corp. v. Westinghouse Electric Corp.
· 1977-05-04
Preliminary injunction (plaintiff) Denied

“ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for a Preliminary Injunction be and hereby is denied;”

Anheuser-Busch, Inc. v. Internal Revenue Service
· 1980-07-24
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“ORDERED, that defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment be, and the same hereby is, granted;”

Cuneo v. Laird
· 1972-01-14
Summary judgment (plaintiffs) Denied

“Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment must be denied. Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment must be granted. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss must be denied.”

Summary judgment (defendants) Granted
Motions to dismiss (defendants) Denied
Wilderness Society v. Hickel
· 1970-04-28
Preliminary injunction (plaintiffs) Granted

“Based upon the foregoing, a preliminary injunction against Defendant should issue.”

Sadlowski v. United Steelworkers of America
· 1981-01-30
Motions to dismiss (Secretary of Labor) Granted

“The Motion to Dismiss filed by the defendant Secretary of Labor is granted for lack of jurisdiction;”

Motion for protective order (Secretary of Labor) Moot / procedural

“The Motion of the Secretary of Labor for a Protective Order is dismissed as moot;”

Summary judgment (United Steelworkers of America) Granted

“The Motion of the USWA for Summary Judgment as to Count V of the Complaint is granted.”

Summary judgment (plaintiffs) Granted

“The Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment as to Count IV of the Complaint is granted.”

Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc. v. Schweiker
· 1981-05-27
Administrative review claim (plaintiff hospital) Granted in part

“the Decision of the Administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration be affirmed in part and reversed in part;”

Public Lands Institute, Inc. v. Andrus
· 1980-09-19
Summary judgment (defendants) Granted

“ORDERED, that defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment be, and the same hereby is, granted;”

Summary judgment (plaintiffs) Denied

“ORDERED, that plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment be, and the same hereby is, denied;”

Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic v. United States Commissioner of Education
· 1980-07-15
Summary judgment (defendants) Granted

“ORDERED, that defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment be, and the same hereby is, granted;”

Summary judgment (plaintiffs) Denied

“ORDERED, that plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment be, and the same hereby is, denied;”

Spirides v. Reinhardt
· 1980-03-14
Summary judgment (defendant) Granted

“the defendant’s motion for summary judgment will be granted; and the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment will be denied.”

Summary judgment (plaintiff) Denied
American International Group, Inc. v. Islamic Republic
· 1980-07-10
Motion for partial summary judgment (plaintiffs) Granted

“ORDERED, that plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment be, and it hereby is, granted;”

Preliminary injunction (plaintiffs) Granted

“ORDERED by the Court this 10th day of July, 1980 that the motion of the plaintiffs be and is hereby granted;”

United States v. Ford Motor Co.
· 1976-10-01
Summary judgment (United States) Granted

“The Court, therefore, grants plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.”

A historical record

Judge Hart 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.