William Benson Bryant
How Judge Bryant rules, drawn from 17 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Bryant no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Bryant
William Benson Bryant was a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Judge Bryant received a commission on August 11, 1965. Judge Bryant assumed senior status on January 31, 1982 and served until death on November 13, 2005.
How Judge Bryant decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He would not grant summary judgment where late-produced records changed the factual picture and created a negligence question for trial.
“Essentially PEP-CO claims that because its repair crew found a deathtrap and left a deathtrap, it cannot have acted negligently.”
He rejected a deliberative-process claim when the agency had already adopted and communicated the position at issue.
“It is clear that the agency has ‘adopted’ the position articulated in the letters, thereby vitiating any privilege the agency might claim under Exemption 5.”
Cautions
He measured police tactics against individualized Fourth Amendment standards rather than their practical effectiveness.
“Indiscriminate sweeps may be an effective tactic for moving drug traffic from one place, where it bothers the citizens, to another, where it causes less initial citizen concern. But when tested by the standards of the Fourth Amendment, its legitimacy is nonexistent.”
He required a preliminary-injunction movant to align the requested relief with both likely success and the public interest.
“the Court finds that Atlas cannot demonstrate that its interests coincide with those of the public.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the reasons stated below, the motion of defendant is denied and the motion of plaintiff is granted.”
“Ordered, that plaintiff’s request for attorney’s fees in the amount of six hundred twenty dollars ($620) be and hereby is granted;”
“Ordered Further, that plaintiff’s motion for attorney fees for counsel be and hereby is granted.”
“Ordered that defendants’ motion to reconsider and to amend be, and hereby is, denied.”
“Accordingly, Atlas’s motion for a preliminary injunction must be denied.”
“ORDERED, that plaintiffs’ submission pursuant to this Court’s order of October 24, 1975 awarding attorneys’ fees and other litigation costs be, and hereby is, granted, as modified above, in the amount of $19,549.19;”
“FURTHER ORDERED that defendants’ Motion For Reconsideration be, and hereby is, denied.”
“ORDERED that the motions of the plaintiffs in C.A. No. 83-2830 and C.A. No. 83-2341 for summary judgment and partial summary judgment, respectively, be denied;”
“ORDERED that the motions of the defendant in C.A. No. 83-2830 and C.A. No. 83-2341 for summary judgment and partial summary judgment, respectively, be granted.”
“ORDERED, that the Petition of Whitfield Transportation Company, Inc. For A Determination Of The Question Of Jurisdiction Over It be, and hereby is, denied;”
“FURTHER ORDERED, that the Petition of Suburban Motor Freight, Inc., For A Determination Of The Question Of Jurisdiction Over It be, and hereby is, denied;”
“Finding the policy statement inappropriate for review at this time, the court must deny plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction.”
“this Court concludes that defendants’ petition for removal must be granted.”
“Upon consideration of the petition, this Court concludes that relief should be granted to the extent that the Parole Board must withdraw its detainer.”
“ORDERED, that Richard Nixon’s Motion to Quash Subpoena Duces Tecum be, and hereby is, denied;”
“The District’s request for an award of costs of litigation is DENIED.”
Pending matters in the official report
Judge Bryant was last listed in the Civil Justice Reform Act report as of September 30, 2022.
| Motions pending more than six months | 0 |
| Bench trials submitted more than six months | 0 |
| Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Social Security appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Civil cases pending more than three years | 0 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2020 | 0 | 0 |
A snapshot on that date: matters listed may since have been decided or reassigned. A motion referred to a magistrate judge is counted for both judges. Motions in multidistrict litigation, section 2255 cases and Social Security appeals are not counted, and a very large three-year count is generally a multidistrict docket. Source: Appendix A of the report (PDF); about the report.
A historical record
Judge Bryant 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.