Charles Stanley Blair
How Judge Blair rules, drawn from 19 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Blair no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Blair decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In the Board of Education case, Blair permitted a jurisdictional amendment where the existing pleading already made the parties’ diverse citizenship apparent.
“These authorities suggest, and common sense dictates, that the amendment ought to be permitted in the instant case.”
In Sharp, Blair treated differently worded excess-benefit agreements according to their shared practical obligation.
“Although the language differs, all convey the same substantive rights and impose similar obligations on the parties.”
In Byers, Blair required a statutory-negligence plaintiff to fall within the protected class and to allege the kind of harm the statute was designed to prevent.
“To use a statutory duty as a foundation for a negligence claim, the plaintiff must show that it was within the class of persons the legislation was intended to protect and that the alleged injury was of the type of harm which the statute was intended to prevent.”
Procedural preferences
In Nelson, Blair followed the district’s usual sequencing of a party deposition before production of that party’s prior statement.
“Thus, it would appear that in the usual situation in this district the practice is to require the production of the plaintiff’s statement after the plaintiff has been deposed.”
In Fathers United, Blair abstained where a state-court interpretation of a new constitutional amendment could avoid or narrow the federal question.
“this court holds that it should abstain from ruling on the merits of the plaintiffs’ claims.”
In Swearingen Aviation, Blair maintained narrowly drawn secrecy orders after examining evidence about the grand jury investigation.
“the court finds, in the exercise of its discretion, that it is essential that these orders remain in effect to preserve the legitimate functions of the grand jury and the integrity of the judicial process itself.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“ORDERED that the defendant’s motion to dismiss be, and the same hereby is, DENIED.”
“That the defendant’s amendment to the petition for removal be, and the same hereby is, permitted;”
“That the plaintiff’s motion to remand be, and the same hereby is, DENIED.”
“That Copanos’ motion to withdraw its claim, except as provided above, is moot.”
“ORDERED that the plaintiff submit to deposition prior to the production by the defendant of the plaintiff’s statement and that, at the close of the deposition, the defendant immediately furnish to the plaintiff a copy of all statements which the' plaintiff may have given to the defendant.”
“ORDERED that the orders of the bankruptcy court be, and hereby are, AFFIRMED.”
“That defendant’s motion to dismiss the prayer for punitive damages in this cause be, and the same hereby is, GRANTED; That defendant’s motion to dismiss be, and the same hereby is, DENIED in all other respects.”
“Therefore, we conclude that the sounder choice is to dismiss the suit without prejudice.”
“That defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment be, and the same hereby is, GRANTED;”
“That plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment be, and the same hereby is, DENIED.”
“That the motion of Swearingen Aviation Corporation and Fairchild Industries, Inc. to vacate be, and hereby is, DENIED;”
“ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion to remand this case to the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland be, and hereby is, GRANTED.”
“For the aforementioned reasons, the defendant Robinson’s motion for leave to withdraw his guilty plea is, this 12th day of September, 1974, denied.”
“That plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment be, and hereby is, GRANTED;”
“That defendant’s motion for summary judgment be, and hereby is, DENIED;”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No assigned historical dockets were returned, so no sampled case-mix description is available.
A historical record
Judge Blair 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.