Clifton Rhodes Bratcher
Judge Bratcher no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Bratcher decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Bratcher treated substantial evidence in the complete administrative record as controlling even if the court might have reached a different result independently.
“The function of the District Court in reviewing Social Security cases is to examine the entire record to determine if the decision of the Secretary is supported by substantial evidence”
Bratcher weighed all trial evidence before setting aside a verdict that no reasonable jury could have reached.
“It is the duty of this Court not to allow a verdict to stand which is against the great weight of the evidence in the case, a verdict which a reasonable jury could not have reached.”
Procedural preferences
Bratcher applied the liberal amendment policy where the revised pleading caused no new prejudice.
“Subdivision (b) of Rule 15 even provides for liberality in permitting the parties to amend their pleadings to conform to the evidence ‘even after judgment’.”
Bratcher required an employee to use the dispute process accepted through the union constitution before litigating against the union.
“plaintiff failed to exhaust his intra-union remedy”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Based upon the foregoing, costs should be taxed at $2441.82, which includes the $307.50 costs assessed by the Court of Appeals.”
“Accordingly, indictments # 138,060 and # 139,995 now pending in the Jefferson Circuit Court are dismissed.”
“Wherefore, the defendants’ motion for summary judgment is hereby sustained and granted.”
“Wherefore, it is ordered that the defendants’ motion to amend his answer be sustained and granted.”
“The premises considered, the motion of the defendant for a summary judgment is hereby sustained.”
“this action shall not be maintained as a class action”
“the plaintiff’s individual cause of action is now moot; and, accordingly, the entire action is dismissed at the cost of plaintiff.”
“plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment or, in the alternative, for a motion to remand are overruled and dismissed.”
“Defendant’s motion for summary judgment is sustained and granted”
“Wherefore, it is ordered that plaintiff’s motion to set aside the Court’s Order of May 20, 1971, is hereby overruled.”
“leave is hereby granted for plaintiff to file and prosecute to conclusion the above-entitled action in forma pauperis”
“The petition is dismissed.”
“Wherefore, it is ordered that the plaintiff’s motions to strike be granted and sustained and that the defense of the Indiana Guest Statute (Burns Statute 47-1021) be stricken from the defendant’s amended answer.”
“the order of the Commission concerning these proposed rate modifications issued in May, 1974, is hereby set aside.”
“the plaintiff, with its Perpetual Care Fund, does not qualify for the exemption provided for in Section 501(c) (13), and therefore is not entitled to a refund of the taxes paid by it for the years 1968,1969 and 1970.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The reviewed decisions span constitutional, civil-rights, labor, benefits, tax, transportation, and procedural matters. This publication-selected sample cannot support a career-wide caseload estimate.
A historical record
Judge Bratcher 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.