James Edmund Boyd
How Judge Boyd rules, drawn from 9 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Boyd no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Boyd decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Babcock Lumber, Boyd treated continuous possession under successive deeds as sufficient to mature title and defeat a competing claim.
“the title of the complainant had by law ripened when the bill was filed.”
Procedural preferences
In Minor, Boyd declined equity jurisdiction where the government could obtain relief through ordinary execution in the law cases.
“a bill in equity was not the proper remedy. These were judgments at law, and the United States had a complete and adequate remedy”
Cautions
In Atwell, Boyd enforced grand-jury secrecy where disclosure could supply an indicted defendant with impeachment material and disrupt the prosecution.
“It is no part of the business of a grand juror to furnish a defendant who has been indicted the ammunition with which to return the fire of the prosecution”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the exceptions be overruled, not only as to the right of Mosley and the estate of Seabolt to have their personal exemptions, but also as to the rights of the widow to dower, and the infant child to a homestead”
“the rule against the respondent is made absolute. He is adjudged guilty of contempt of the court”
“The injunction as prayed for by the plaintiff will issue”
“A decree will therefore be entered, dismissing the bill in this case.”
“defendants’ claim to title is fictitious and void; therefore it is declared by the court now to he a cloud upon complainant’s title.”
“the restraining order issued in this case should be made permanent”
“the court has jurisdiction to entertain the suits and issue the orders of restraint or decrees for injunction sought thereby.”
“the defendants’ motion to dismiss for the want of jurisdiction should be denied”
“the temporary restraint heretofore granted should be made permanent.”
“overrule the demurrer”
“enter judgment for the plaintiff for the amount of the tax paid, with interest as demanded.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No exact-name historical dockets were available, so caseload mix and case-duration analysis could not be computed.
A historical record
Judge Boyd 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.