George Purnell Fisher
How Judge Fisher rules, drawn from 4 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Fisher no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Fisher
George Purnell Fisher was a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Supreme Court of the District of Columbia). Appointed by President Abraham Lincoln, Judge Fisher received a commission on March 11, 1863. Judge Fisher resigned on May 1, 1870.
How Judge Fisher decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He required a special tribunal's record to establish every fact necessary to its statutory jurisdiction.
“the record of the justices must show everything necessary to bring the defendant within the purview of the statute”
He treated territorial jurisdiction as an essential limit on summary contempt authority.
“It is sufficient that the superintendent acted in a case where he had not competent jurisdiction”
Cautions
He allowed election officials to demand further proof when a supported challenge created an honest doubt about a voter's qualifications.
“if such challenge be supported by evidence sufficient to engender an honest doubt in the minds of the commissioners, it would be the duty of the person tendering his vote to relieve that doubt by his own oath and such other proof as he could reasonably obtain.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The judgment below is reversed with costs.”
“It is, therefore, ordered that the said George F. Hotchkiss be discharged from his imprisonment under the commitment of the Superintendent of Police. ;”
“For the reasons we have given, it is the unanimous opinion of the Court that the proceedings before the justices in this case he quashed.”
A historical record
Judge Fisher 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.