James Skelly Wright
How Judge Wright rules, drawn from 21 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Wright no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Wright decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In McElveen, Wright relied on the stark difference between challenges to Black and white voters with the same registration-card defects when granting relief.
“A court need not, and should not, shut its mind to what all others can see and understand.”
In Local 130, Wright enforced the labor award because the agreement covered all disputes, made the result final, and prohibited strikes, distinguishing contracts with narrower terms.
“The bargaining agreement of the parties here contains a no strike clause. Moreover, its arbitration provision covers ‘all grievances or questions in dispute.’”
Procedural preferences
In Pearce, Wright stayed final resolution so Louisiana courts could construe the state statute while preserving the federal constitutional questions for later decision.
“a proper respect for the principles of our federalism suggests that state courts do not unnecessarily decide federal claims any more than federal courts should pass on purely state law questions.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Motion to dismiss denied.”
“Motion of defendant to dismiss denied.”
“Motion of plaintiff for summary judgment granted.”
“Motion denied.”
“The motion to remand is accordingly denied.”
“the temporary injunction should be granted.”
“Defendant’s motion for summary judgment is denied.”
“Motion for temporary injunction denied.”
“the temporary injunction should be granted.”
“Application for injunction denied.”
“it is proper that a temporary injunction issue to preserve the status quo.”
“The motion to dismiss is denied.”
“The-motion to intervene is granted.”
“Decree for petitioner.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No exact-name federal docket records were returned for Wright's 1949–1962 district tenure, so no historical caseload mix is reported.
A historical record
Judge Wright 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.