Rensselaer Russell Nelson

How Judge Nelson rules, drawn from 26 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Judge Nelson no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

Court
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
Position
district
Status
Deceased
Appointed by
James Buchanan (Democratic)
Education
Yale College (1846); Read law (1849)
Signed orders read
26

How Judge Nelson decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

Cautions

In bankruptcy proceedings, Nelson emphasized equal distribution and permitted creditor intervention when withdrawal could undermine that objective.

“The submission of the estate of a debtor for distribution among all his creditors — ignoring all preference — is the chief object to be attained by these proceedings”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

In re Glenmont
· 1887-11-01
Maritime lien claim (equipment suppliers) Denied

“The libel is dismissed, with costs, and a decree so ordered.”

Oleson v. The Ida Campbell
· 1888-03-09
Dismissal for lack of admiralty jurisdiction (vessel claimant) Granted

“Decree ordered dismissing libel.”

Dismissal for lack of admiralty jurisdiction (vessel owner) Granted

“a decree dismissing libel is also ordered.”

United States v. Stowe
· 1884-02-23
Government claim (plaintiff United States) Denied

“Judgment is ordered for defendants.”

United States v. Yoder
· 1883-11-15
Government timbers claim (plaintiff United States) Denied

“Judgment for defendant.”

The Frank
· 1885-11-08
Maritime lien claim (libelant towing company) Denied

“Libel dismissed, with costs.”

In re Extradition of Herris
· 1887-11-16
Habeas or extradition petition (prisoner) Granted

“Prisoner is discharged.”

Harris v. The Ruby
· 1889-04-06
Motion to set aside judicial sale (libelant) Denied

“Motion to set aside sale denied.”

Ex parte Doran
· 1887-08-29
Habeas corpus petition (petitioner) Granted

“The petitioner is discharged from custody.”

In re Kimmel
· 1890-03-28
Habeas corpus petition (petitioner) Granted

“the petitioner, being restrained unlawfully of his liberty, is entitled to a discharge, and it is so ordered.”

In re Kelley
· 1885-11-07
Habeas or extradition petition (prisoner) Granted

“He is therefore discharged.”

McBrier v. A Cargo of Hard Coal
· 1895-09-03
Exceptions to libel (cargo consignee) Denied

“Upon full consideration of the exceptions to the . libel, they are overruled.”

United States v. Smith
· 1895-10-01
Demurrer to indictment (criminal defendant) Denied

“Demurrer overruled.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

No representative assigned electronic docket sample exists for Nelson's nineteenth-century tenure. The publication-selected decisions do not establish his complete caseload mix or case duration.

A historical record

Judge Nelson 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.