Russell Gentry Clark

How Judge Clark rules, drawn from 25 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

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

Court
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
Position
district
Status
Deceased
Served
1977–2003
Appointed by
Jimmy Carter (Democratic)
Commissioned
1977-07-05
Education
University of Missouri School of Law, LL.B. (1952)
Signed orders read
25

How Judge Clark decides

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

What persuades

In Bensman, Clark treated endangered-species protection and the consequences of extinction as decisive in the preliminary-injunction balance.

“the continued decline and possible extinction of a species weigh heavily to tip the balance to favor granting the injunction.”

Procedural preferences

In Moyer, Clark resolved the jurisdictional dismissal before denying a proposed amendment that could not cure the missing jurisdiction.

“Because this Court grants defendants’ motion to dismiss based on the Court’s lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the plaintiffs motion for leave to file an amended complaint and add a party defendant will be denied.”

Cautions

In Newcomb, Clark required a satisfactory explanation for a substantial loss of assets before permitting bankruptcy discharge.

“the lack of any explanation for over $200,000 cannot be considered ‘satisfactory“ under the statute.”

Signed rulings

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

Brotherhood of Railway, Airline & Steamship Clerks v. Kansas City Terminal Railway Co.
· 1977-12-27
Motions to dismiss (defendant railway) Granted

“the Court hereby ORDERS that the defendant’s motion to dismiss is granted”

Summary judgment motion (plaintiff union) Denied

“plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is denied.”

Amoco Oil Co. v. United States
· 1978-05-08
Summary judgment motion (plaintiff) Granted

“it is hereby ORDERED that the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is hereby granted”

Summary judgment motion (defendants) Denied

“the defendants’ motion for summary judgment upon its counterclaim is denied;”

Carney v. Califano
· 1978-08-30
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Granted

“Therefore, for the reasons set forth above, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant’s motion to dismiss is granted”

United States v. Becklean
· 1979-01-13
Motion to withdraw guilty plea (defendants) Denied

“For the above stated reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion of the defendants to withdraw their guilty pleas upon vacation of sentences is denied;”

Pearman v. Texaco, Inc.
· 1979-11-21
Preliminary injunction (plaintiff) Denied

“For all of the above reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction is denied;”

Newcomb v. Lamar Trust Co.
· 1985-09-20
Bankruptcy appeal (debtors-appellants) Denied

“Accordingly, and for the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that the decision of the Bankruptcy Judge is affirmed.”

LaSalle Music Publishers, Inc. v. Highfill
· 1985-11-04
Motions to dismiss (defendant) Denied

“Accordingly, and for the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that the defendant’s motion to dismiss is denied.”

Hartman v. Hallmark Cards, Inc.
· 1986-02-27
Motions to strike (plaintiff) Denied

“it is hereby ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion to strike the affidavit of Judith Whittaker is hereby denied;”

Summary judgment motion (defendant Hallmark Cards, Inc.) Granted

“Defendant’s motion for summary judgment will be granted.”

Kidder Skis International v. Williams
· 1986-12-20
Motion for reconsideration (appellee) Denied

“Accordingly, and for the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that the appellee’s motion for reconsideration is denied.”

Rose v. Carlson (In re Rose)
· 1990-04-05
Bankruptcy appeal (appellant) Granted in part

“Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that the December 30, 1988, and February 8, 1989, orders of the Bankruptcy Court are affirmed in part and reversed in part.”

Wachovia Bank & Trust, N.A. v. Wear (In re Green)
· 1990-11-06
Bankruptcy appeal (appellants) Denied

“It is ORDERED that the Bankruptcy Court’s order of June 14, 1990 is affirmed.”

Ozark Interiors, Inc. v. Carpenters Local No. 978
· 1990-11-28
Summary judgment motion (defendant union) Granted

“Accordingly, it is ORDERED that defendant Carpenter’s motion for summary judgment is granted.”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 109 days (N = 10).

A fixed-seed sample of ten terminated matters filed in 1998 included prisoner, civil-rights, employment, statutory, and contract proceedings.

A historical record

Judge Clark 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.