John Finis Philips
How Judge Philips rules, drawn from 33 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Philips no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Philips decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Ex parte Ulrich, Philips granted habeas relief when continued detention would prolong a second prosecution after an unnecessary jury discharge.
“Under a solemn sense of official duty, I must, therefore, order the prisoner’s discharge from further custody.”
Procedural preferences
In Mudd, Philips required objections to a bankruptcy discharge to satisfy the statute’s stated grounds with concrete allegations.
“when creditors come to object to an application for a discharge, they must bring themselves within the positive requirements of the statute.”
Cautions
In Uri, Philips refused equitable protection for a trade label after finding that the claimant’s own marketing misrepresented the product’s origin.
“Those who come into a court of equity seeking equity must come with pure hands and a pure conscience.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“she stands in contempt of the order of the referee to that extent”
“the claimant should he allowed three-eighths of $300 as a preferred claim, amounting to $1.12.50, and the balance as a general creditor; and the claim will be certified to the referee, to be allowed accordingly.”
“The ruling of the referee in bankruptcy having been in accordance with the foregoing views of the court, the exceptions thereto are overruled, and the finding of the referee is affirmed.”
“It results that the petition is dismissed.”
“The application for leave to file amended specifications is denied.”
“The exceptions to the ruling of the referee are overruled.”
“his exceptions to the action of the trustee and the referee in disallowing his claim are overruled, and the ruling of the referee is affirmed.”
“The exceptions to the rulings of the referee on this petition are overruled, and the action of the referee in the premises is affirmed.”
“It results that, with the exception above indicated, the exceptions of the bankrupt are overruled, and the findings of the referee affirmed.”
“It results that the exceptions to the referee’s decision are overruled, and his findings and conclusions are affirmed.”
“Therefore the motion for a rehearing is denied.”
“The motions for a new trial and in arrest are overruled.”
“The plea to the jurisdiction is overruled.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No assigned docket records were returned under three plausible Philips name variants.
A historical record
Judge Philips 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.