Frederick Olen Mercer

How Judge Mercer rules, drawn from 29 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

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

Court
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
Position
district
Status
Deceased
Served
1956–1966
Appointed by
Dwight D. Eisenhower (Republican)
Commissioned
1956-06-19
Education
University of Illinois College of Law, LL.B. (1924)
Signed orders read
29

How Judge Mercer decides

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

What persuades

In Minier, Mercer read the endorsement together with the policy’s evident purpose and the insured’s named status.

“What language could have more definitely included Minier, particularly in view of the fact that Minier was named as an insured”

Procedural preferences

In the railroad tax case, Mercer emphasized restraint before federal interference with state fiscal administration.

“Federal Courts should exercise a reluctance to interfere by injunction with the fiscal affairs of a state.”

Signed rulings

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

Gas Products Corp. v. George D. Roper Corp.
· 1956-12-19
Motion to quash service and dismiss (George D. Roper Corporation) Granted

“The motion to quash service and dismiss the complaint as to George D. Roper Corporation is allowed and said service is hereby quashed and said complaint dismissed as to George D. Roper Corporation.”

City of Davenport v. Three-Fifths of an Acre of Land
· 1957-01-15
Summary judgment (plaintiffs) Granted

“It is the Order of the Court that plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment be and the same is hereby allowed.”

Allen v. United States
· 1957-02-15
Motions to dismiss (defendants) Granted

“The motion of the defendant, United States of America, and the motion of the defendant, Doris Allen, to dismiss the complaint, are sustained and the complaint is dismissed at plaintiff’s cost.”

Chicago & North Western Railway Co. v. Lyons
· 1957-02-26
Motions to dismiss (defendants) Granted

“the motion of defendants to dismiss the complaint as amended is hereby allowed and said complaint is hereby dismissed without prejudice to any proceedings which may be instituted in State Courts.”

Anson v. Hiram Walker & Sons, Inc.
· 1957-03-06
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“It is therefore ordered-and adjudged that the defendant’s motion to dismiss this action is hereby allowed and the complaint herein is hereby dismissed.”

Yates v. White
· 1957-06-04
Motions to dismiss (respondent) Granted

“it is ordered by the Court that the motion to dismiss is hereby allowed and said petition is dismissed.”

Edlin v. Security Insurance Company
· 1957-10-02
Motions to strike (plaintiffs) Denied

“the motion of plaintiffs to strike from paragraph 2 of Count II of the Answer of the insurance companies certain allegations, is hereby denied.”

Eldin v. United States
· 1957-12-11
Life insurance claim after bench trial (plaintiff) Denied

“the proceeds of said insurance policy involved herein be paid to the designated beneficiary, Eleanor A. Eldin.”

Oakford Co. v. Kroger Co.
· 1957-12-18
Trademark infringement and injunction claim after bench trial (plaintiff) Granted

“judgment be entered in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant on the complaint filed herein”

Trademark infringement counterclaim after bench trial (counterclaimant) Denied

“judgment be entered in favor of the counterdefendant and against the counterclaimant on the counterclaim filed herein”

Ratner v. United States
· 1957-12-23
Complaint to set aside administrative order (plaintiff) Denied

“It is, therefore, ordered that the Complaint herein be dismissed.”

United States v. One Thousand Five Hundred & Eight Dollars & Forty Cents
· 1958-01-22
Civil forfeiture claim after hearing (United States) Granted

“It is ordered that the issues be found in favor of the libelant herein and said money is hereby declared forfeited.”

Minier v. Travelers Indemnity Co.
· 1958-01-22
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Denied

“It is therefore ordered that the motion to dismiss the complaint be and the same is hereby denied.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

No assigned docket records were returned under three plausible Mercer name variants.

A historical record

Judge Mercer 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.