John Raymond Hargrove Sr.
How Judge Hargrove rules, drawn from 22 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Hargrove no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Hargrove decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Marubeni, Hargrove refused to preserve a vessel arrest merely because future negotiations might later fail.
“This Court is unwilling to arrest Leona’s ship in the unsupported anticipation that when the parties sit down to work out their differences, they will be unable to do so.”
In Prince, he found Maryland jurisdiction fair where the claim arose directly from the adoption agency’s contract with a Maryland resident.
“Requiring IAI to defend a lawsuit in Maryland based on Plaintiffs claim, which is directly related to its contract with a Maryland citizen, would not offend the Due Process Clause.”
In Citizens for Freeman, Hargrove treated the election commission’s subpoena inquiry as a legitimate investigative process rather than an unsupported fishing expedition.
“The FEC’s inquiries are well within the scope of their authority and are the equivalent to discovery in civil matters.”
Procedural preferences
In Haley, Hargrove required record evidence on every essential element at summary judgment.
“Haley has completely failed through pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions on file, or through affidavits, to make a showing to establish the existence of elements essential to her case.”
In K-Mart, he rejected interlocutory review that would prolong the bankruptcy case instead of materially advancing it.
“Such delay is not in keeping with the requirement that an interlocutory appeal be accepted only if it will help terminate or shorten litigation and keep expenses down.”
In Neubauer, Hargrove upheld a discovery restriction that balanced confidential business information against the debtor’s need to investigate.
“The final protective order issued by the bankruptcy court strikes the appropriate balance between these competing concerns.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“That this Appeal BE, and the same hereby IS, DISMISSED;”
“That the motion to dismiss submitted by defendant Giampier Ltd., BE and the same hereby IS, GRANTED.”
“For the reasons discussed, this Court affirms the opinion of the Bankruptcy Court.”
“Thus, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Celotex, defendant United’s Motion for Summary Judgment will be granted.”
“The Motion to Quash is denied. It will be so ordered.”
“this action is hereby transferred to the Eastern District of Virginia.”
“Accordingly, the Bankruptcy Court’s finding of contempt and assessment of attorney’s fees, punitive damages, and nominal damages against Citizens Bank under 11 U.S.C. § 362(h) must be reversed.”
“That Plaintiff National Indemnity Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment BE, and the same hereby IS, DENIED.”
“That Defendant National Union Fire Insurance Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment BE, and the same hereby IS, GRANTED.”
“That Defendant Choice TV Rental, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss BE, and the same hereby IS, DENIED.”
“Leona’s Motion to Vacate the Arrest of the M/V UNITY will be granted, Marubeni’s Motion for Leave to File an Amended Verified Complaint will be denied, and the pending Verified Complaint will be dismissed.”
“That defendant A & S’s Motion for Realignment and to Dismiss BE, and the same hereby IS, GRANTED.”
“Accordingly, K-Mart is denied leave to appeal the Bankruptcy Court’s denial of its motion to change venue and Swann’s Motion to Dismiss Interlocutory Appeal is granted.”
“That Defendant Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment BE, and the same hereby IS, GRANTED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 1920.5 days (N = 10).
A fixed-seed sample of ten terminated historical cases included four product-liability matters and one each involving land torts, employment civil rights, medical malpractice, other civil rights, tax, and a case without a retained nature-of-suit label. None retained a motion-entry timeline.
A historical record
Judge Hargrove 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.