Henry Seiler Wise
How Judge Wise rules, drawn from 13 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Wise no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Wise
Henry Seiler Wise was a judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Judge Wise was commissioned to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois on September 21, 1966 and reassigned to this court on March 31, 1979. Judge Wise served until death on March 16, 1982.
How Judge Wise decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Storment v. Hickman, Wise stated in the opening paragraph that he would allow the defendants’ dismissal motion, then turned to the supporting analysis.
“After reviewing the pleadings, motions and briefs in support thereof, this Court holds that defendants' motion to dismiss should be allowed.”
In Williamson Towing Co. v. Illinois, Wise allowed the state’s motion to strike and dismiss the third-party complaint after finding no congressional intent to permit the suit against the state under the cited federal statutes.
“It is therefore ordered that the State of Illinois’ Motion to Strike and to Dismiss the plaintiff’s Third Party Complaint be, and is hereby, allowed.”
In Shoresman v. Burgess, Wise denied the plaintiffs’ request for an injunction while allowing their claim for declaratory relief to proceed.
“claim for injunctive relief should be denied but that their prayer for a declaratory judgment should be allowed”
In United States v. State of Illinois, Wise granted the plaintiff’s summary judgment motion and denied the defendants’ cross-motion in the same dispositive sentence.
“Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment is granted, and defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment is denied.”
Procedural preferences
In In re Heard, Wise ended the bankruptcy appeal with a formal decretal paragraph affirming the bankruptcy judge’s order.
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Order of the Bankruptcy Judge entered on June 9, 1977, be, and the same is hereby, affirmed.”
In In re Heard, Wise resolved the bankruptcy appeal on the briefs after oral argument was waived and only the appellant filed a brief.
“Oral argument has been waived, and only appellant has filed a brief.”
In United States v. State of Illinois, Wise directed counsel for both sides to confer and submit an order implementing his summary judgment ruling.
“Counsel for both sides will confer and submit an appropriate order.”
In W. R. Grace & Co. v. Park Manufacturing Co., Wise made written findings after a bench trial at which the parties presented extensive evidence and later submitted briefs and proposed findings.
“A trial of these issues was had before the Court without a jury, commencing June 12, 1972, during which extensive evidence was introduced by all parties and following which such parties submitted briefs as well as proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Under the circumstances, the decision in the Mistrot case will be followed by this Court, and the Referee's order will be reversed.”
“The Referee's Order denying the bank*301rupt's Motion to Dismiss said amendment will therefore be affirmed.”
Findings of fact and conclusions of law after a bench trial in a Federal Tort Claims Act suit tried December 5, 1966; recovery barred by contributory negligence, closing with 'Let judgment be entered accordingly.' A post-trial judgment, not a ruling on a motion, so it is excluded from the motion counts.
Patent infringement opinion with findings of fact and conclusions of law following a bench trial that began June 12, 1972. The decretal paragraphs order an accounting before a master with damages trebled for willful infringement, attorneys' fees, and an injunction. A post-trial judgment rather than a motion ruling, so it is excluded from the motion counts.
“It is therefore ordered that defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiff's complaint be, and the same is hereby, allowed.”
“Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment is granted, and defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment is denied.”
“It is therefore ordered that the State of Illinois' Motion to Strike and to Dismiss the plaintiff's Third Party Complaint be, and is hereby, allowed.”
“It is hereby ordered that the order entered by the Bankruptcy Judge on November 27, 1974, ordering the Trustee to pay to Harrisburg Production Credit Association certain sums of money, be, and the same is hereby, affirmed.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that plaintiffs' prayer for the convention of a three-judge court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 2281, 2284 and for injunctive relief be, and the same are hereby, denied.”
“To the extent that defendant challenges plaintiffs' standing to sue and the existence of a justiciable case and controversy, his motion to dismiss and/or for summary judgment should be denied.”
Findings of fact and conclusions of law in an estate tax refund suit decided on the documents introduced at trial, holding the executors' waiver ineffective against the five-year limitation of 26 U.S.C. section 2053(c)(1)(A) and entering judgment for the defendant. A post-trial judgment rather than a motion ruling, so it is excluded from the motion counts.
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Order of the Bankruptcy Judge entered on June 9, 1977, be, and the same is hereby, affirmed.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that defendant's motion to dismiss be, and the same hereby is allowed.”
A historical record
Judge Wise 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.