J. Otis Humphrey
How Judge Humphrey rules, drawn from 8 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Humphrey no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Humphrey decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In the Southern Railway case, Humphrey treated extremely weak inspection staffing and repeated undiscovered defects as evidence that the carrier had not exercised reasonable care.
“Such wholesale failure to discover defects implies method, and the evidence further supplies the reason.”
Procedural preferences
In Gerstel, Humphrey applied a criminal-law level of certainty before using coercive turnover and confinement powers in bankruptcy.
“as this is a proceeding in which the power of the court should be exercised with caution, and in which the court acts only upon evidence which satisfies beyond a reasonable doubt”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The equities are found to be with the complainant. Counsel.for complainant may submit form of decree.”
“The writ will issue, and bond is fixed in the sum of $20,000.”
“The exceptions are sustained. The prayer of the bill will be granted, and an order entered accordingly.”
“the order of the court will be that she deliver over to the trustee money or property to the amount of $15,000 in value within 10 days”
Humphrey charged the jury on mail-fraud counts and declined further instructions after hearing counsel’s objections; the report states no verdict and is excluded from outcome statistics.
“The defendant is found guilty, and judgment will be entered for the statutory penalty.”
“For the reason stated, the demurrer to the third and fourth counts is overruled.”
“the fine assessed upon this indictment is fixed at the sum of $12,000.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No assigned docket records were returned under two plausible Humphrey name variants.
A historical record
Judge Humphrey 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.