Harry Morris Clabaugh

Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (now U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) district Deceased · served 1899–1914 Appointed by William McKinley; Theodore Roosevelt (elevation to Chief Justice) (Republican) 5 signed orders read

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

How Judge Clabaugh decides

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

What persuades

He sustained a constitutional objection when a regulation left residents uncertain about whose consent was required and how the prescribed distance should be measured.

“there is such uncertainty in the terms of this regulation as compels us to sustain the judgment of the court below.”

He accepted uniform Patent Office reasoning where three successive decisions found no patentable method.

“We think the decisions rendered in the Patent Office are conclusive, and, as we thoroughly agree Avith the reasoning of the sei’-eral opinions, it renders unnecessary any further expression upon our part.”

Cautions

He reversed criminal convictions when consolidated mail-fraud charges covered offenses outside the statutory six-month joinder period.

“the joining in this case by the consolidation of the two indictments, of three offenses not committed within the same six months, *240•was error”

Signed rulings

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

Bass v. United States
· 1902-06-04
Appeal (criminal defendant) Granted

“the judgments must be reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial.”

United States ex rel. Taylor v. Taft
· 1904-06-08
Appeal (mandamus petitioner) Denied

“the action of the court below in denying the prayer of the petitioner for a writ of mandamus and the dismissal of the petition is affirmed, with costs.”

Jackson v. Baker
· 1904-06-08
Appeal (plaintiff-appellant) Granted

“the judgment is reversed, with costs, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings according to law.”

In re Weber
· 1905-06-06
Patent appeal (patent applicants) Denied

“the decision must be affirmed.”

District of Columbia v. Keen
· 1908-06-09
Appeal (District of Columbia) Denied

“Affirmed.”

A historical record

Judge Clabaugh 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.