John Andrew Peters
Judge Peters no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Peters decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Peters treated intervening higher authority as sufficient to displace an older procedural rule.
“The rule has not sufficient vitality to survive such a body-blow as the above and I feel compelled to regard it as no longer in force.”
Peters credited a comprehensive brief when the opposing party did not overcome its reasoning or authorities.
“I am not impressed by the attempt of the defendant to overcome either the reasoning or the authorities cited in the comprehensive brief filed by the plaintiffs”
Procedural preferences
Peters declined summary judgment when fairness required hearing the evidence.
“I do not think a fair and just judgment could be given in the summary way desired by the defendant, without hearing the evidence”
Peters upheld a verdict where the issues were understood and the trial followed the pleadings and pretrial order.
“the issues were apparently understood; the trial was in accord with the pleadings and the pre-trial order and the verdict supported by the evidence.”
Cautions
Peters required a negligence plaintiff to prove both the defendant's fault and the absence of contributory negligence.
“the burden resting on him to satisfy me by a preponderance of the evidence that the cause of the accident was the defendant’s negligence and that no negligence of the plaintiff contributed to the result.”
Peters reversed a discharge denial when the statutory evidence was insufficient.
“the evidence is not sufficient under the statute to warrant denial of his discharge.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The petition must be dismissed, with costs.”
“the motion of the Steel Products Company to dismiss the libel should be denied”
“will sign a judgment for them for the amount claimed with interest and costs.”
“The petition of the claimant will be dismissed.”
“The petitioners, however, were in no way to blame for the unfortunate accident and should be exonerated. Decree accordingly.”
“I conclude that the bill should be dismissed. Judgment will be entered accordingly.”
“It follows that judgment must be for the defendant with costs.”
“An order will be issued to enforce .the subpoena.”
“The petition that the defendant Samuel Kurson be adjudged in contempt of court must be dismissed.”
“Motions for new trial are denied.”
“Summary judgment is ordered for the amount claimed, with, interest.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No case-level docket record was returned for Peters's 1921-1953 tenure. The profile therefore makes no claim about caseload mix, case duration, administrative dispositions, or motion timing.
A historical record
Judge Peters 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.