Catherine C. Blake
How Judge Blake rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Blake no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Blake decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Kolbe, Blake connected the statute’s public-safety purpose to the burden imposed on the core constitutional right.
“The Act substantially serves the government’s interest in protecting public safety, and it does so without significantly burdening what the Supreme Court has now explained is the core Second Amendment right of ‘law-abiding, responsible citizens to use arms in defense of hearth and home.’”
In Jones, she treated an available less-intrusive search policy as important evidence in the equal-protection analysis.
“the January 2006 decision to search all arrestees to their last layer of clothing demonstrates just how readily available a constitutional alternative was to the Division.”
In CSS Antenna, she relied on the supplier’s combined Maryland contacts to sustain personal jurisdiction.
“These contacts, taken together, are sufficient to show that ATE purposefully availed itself of the privilege of doing business in Maryland.”
Procedural preferences
In Rostholder, Blake applied a strong presumption favoring public access to court filings.
“the presumption in favor of public disclosure of court records can only be overcome by a significant countervailing interest.”
In MHD-Rockland, she chose a fee award rather than dismissal for unjustified noncompliance.
“Instead of or in addition to any other sanction, the court must order the party, its attorney, or both to pay the reasonable expenses — including attorney’s fees — incurred because of any noncompliance with this rule, unless the noncompliance was substantially justified or other circumstances make an award of expenses unjust.”
In Webvention, she organized the stay inquiry around case stage, prejudice, and simplification.
“Specifically, Courts weigh three factors in determining whether to grant a stay pending patent reexamination by the PTO: 1) the stage of the proceedings; 2) whether a stay would unduly prejudice the nonmoving party; and 3) whether a stay would simplify issues and the trial of the case.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the reasons stated above, Reimold’s motion to remand will be granted.”
“The defendants’ motion to unseal will be granted.”
“The motion for reconsideration will be denied as to § 36(b) and granted as to § 48(a).”
“For the reasons stated above, ADI’s motion will be denied to the extent it seeks dismissal, and granted to the extent it seeks reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.”
“For the reasons that follow, the motion will be denied.”
“For the above reasons, Bowers’s motion for remand will be denied and BOA’s motion to dismiss will be granted.”
“Accordingly, Maryland’s $20,000 liability cap applies in this case, and the court will grant the defendant’s motion for partial summary judgment.”
“plaintiffs motion to remand (Docket No. 10) is DENIED; 2. defendant’s motion for sanctions (Docket No. 12) is GRANTED;”
“For the foregoing reasons, the plaintiffs motion to remand will be denied and his motion for leave to file an amended complaint will be granted.”
“For the reasons stated below, the motion will be denied.”
“For the reasons stated above, BANA’s motion to dismiss the Gosses’ complaint will be granted.”
“For the reasons stated below, the defendant’s motion will be granted.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 153 days (N = 9).
Nine valid terminated historical cases included four prisoner civil-rights matters and one each involving habeas, medical malpractice, contract, trademark, and other civil-rights claims. None retained a groundable motion ruling.
A historical record
Judge Blake 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.