Orma Rinehart Smith

United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi district Deceased · served 1968–1982 Appointed by Lyndon B. Johnson 25 signed orders read

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

How Judge Smith decides

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

What persuades

Smith favored developing disputed facts through an adversarial record when summary disposition would be premature.

“A full development of the facts in an adversary proceeding appear proper for the disposition of the action.”

Smith scrutinized whether deposition-copy costs were genuinely necessary rather than merely useful to counsel.

“could have easily been obtained by the Gazaway Defendants and presented to the court in affidavits.”

Procedural preferences

Smith declined severance where separate trials would duplicate proof and increase delay and expense.

“For reasons of judicial economy, this court is of the opinion that the interests of the parties would be better served if the plaintiffs’ claims were tried together.”

Signed rulings

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

Wildmon v. Hustler Magazine, Inc.
· 1980-12-12
Summary judgment (publisher) Granted

“the court is of the opinion that the motion is well taken and should be granted.”

Thompson v. F. W. Woolworth Co.
· 1981-01-15
Motions to dismiss (nonresident manufacturers) Granted

“The court finds that the motions of Moss-berg and E-Z Mount must be sustained.”

Loewen v. Turnipseed
· 1981-01-20
Motion to alter or amend fee award (prevailing plaintiffs) Granted in part

“the hourly rate upon which the award is based is increased by 50% making the hourly rate in each instance the sum of $75.00 per hour.”

United Steelworkers of America v. Mueller Brass Co.
· 1979-10-25
Summary judgment (employer) Granted

“the defendant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.”

Crowe v. Lucas
· 1979-10-10
Motion for attorney fees (prevailing civil-rights plaintiff) Granted

“the court concludes that a reasonable attorney’s fee to be awarded in this case is $11,000”

Ethridge v. North Mississippi Communications, Inc.
· 1978-09-08
Summary judgment (newspaper) Granted

“Under these circumstances the motion should be sustained.”

J. Russell Flowers, Inc. v. Itel Corp.
· 1980-06-06
Summary judgment (equipment lessor) Granted

“The plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment will be denied, and the defendant’s motion for summary judgment will be sustained.”

Reese v. Liberty Mutual Insurance
· 1979-04-04
Motions to dismiss (co-employees) Granted

“Their motion to dismiss is well taken and will be sustained.”

Johnson v. Summer
· 1980-01-17
Motion for attorney fees (prevailing plaintiffs) Granted

“The court will therefore enter an order providing for interest at 8% per annum on the award of $7,500.00 previously entered, and also for an award of $3,750.00 as reasonable attorney’s fees”

Tedford v. Grumman American Aviation Corp.
· 1980-02-15
Motions to dismiss (engine remanufacturer) Denied

“An order will be entered overruling the motions.”

Merritt v. International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
· 1979-11-08
Motion for sanctions (employer) Granted

“The court concludes that the plaintiffs should reimburse Bechtel for the expenses necessarily incurred in connection with the matters aforesaid in the sum of $450.00.”

Lampkin v. Bryan
· 1979-09-06
Motion for attorney fees (prevailing defendant) Denied

“The motion is not well taken and will .be overruled”

Caseload & timing

From public federal docket records for this judge.

The 25 reviewed decisions cover jurisdiction, civil rights, employment, class procedure, defamation, commercial disputes, costs, and fees. No historical docket timelines were available for broader caseload analysis.

A historical record

Judge Smith 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.