William Calvin Chesnut
How Judge Chesnut rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Chesnut no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Chesnut decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Lease, Chesnut evaluated disability in light of the claimant's combined impairments, education, and actual work experience rather than treating a consulting physician's report as conclusive.
“I do not find that Dr. Jacobson’s report is sufficient to constitute substantial evidence in support of the Referee's findings in the light of other medical evidence and other facts to be found in the transcript as a whole.”
In the currency-forfeiture case, Chesnut separated personal wallet contents from other cash when the surrounding items supplied a plausible non-gambling explanation.
“I think there is a plausible distinction to be made between the money in the defendant’s wallet and the rest of the currency that he had in his possession.”
In Noble, Chesnut distinguished steps needed to perfect a landlord's distraint lien from later procedures required before selling the property.
“The appraisal is not a condition precedent to the levy of the distraint hut only to a subsequent sale thereunder.”
Procedural preferences
In Washington County Insurance, Chesnut treated actual prejudice and the factual or legal character of the issues as central to whether an untimely jury demand should be excused.
“the determining factor in such cases should be whether, despite the failure to comply with the rule, the nature of the case is such that one or the other of the parties is likely to be really prejudiced by the failure to have a jury trial.”
In Hiss, Chesnut allowed civil discovery to proceed during a related criminal case while preserving objections to questions outside the civil action's relevant issues.
“both the civil and the criminal cases, if both are tried, should be prosecuted with the sole object of determining the real and true relevant facts.”
In McDowell, Chesnut denied dismissal without prejudice when the stipulated record left both the facts and the law insufficiently clear.
“the better practice is to overrule the motion without prejudice.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Ordered that the final decision of the Secretary be and the same is hereby affirmed.”
“For these reasons the petition for reduction of sentence is denied.”
“The petition for the writ is therefore hereby denied.”
“My conclusion is that the motion to dismiss for lack of venue jurisdiction must be granted.”
“the attempted service on the State Tax Commission of Maryland was ineffective and should be vacated.”
“I conclude therefore that the motion to remand be and the same is hereby granted.”
“the conclusion of the Secretary that the claimant was not entitled to the period of disability claimed was incorrect and must therefore be reversed.”
“Accordingly, this 5th repetitive motion of McGann is hereby dismissed on the ground that this court does not feel that it should give further consideration to the matter.”
“the present petition for habeas corpus should be and it is hereby dismissed this 7th day of December 1956.”
“This petition for certiorari is hereby dismissed because this court does not have power or authority to issue such a writ.”
“This part of the petition is hereby granted.”
“the court’s discretion in this case is properly exercised in the denial of the defendant’s motion for a jury trial”
“It is therefore Ordered that the conclusion of the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare be and the same is hereby affirmed this 6th day of November 1959.”
“the petitioner’s application for the issuance of the writ of habeas corpus by this court is hereby denied.”
“I do not find in the petition here filed any basis for vacation or correction of the sentence imposed in this court.”
“the defendants’ motion for a reconsideration of the order overruling the motion to dismiss the indictment is hereby this 25th day of January, 1952, overruled.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No indexed assigned dockets were returned, so no sampled case mix is reported.
A historical record
Judge Chesnut 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.