Joseph William Woodrough
How Judge Woodrough rules, drawn from 22 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Woodrough no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Woodrough decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Bernstein, Woodrough sustained a demurrer because criminal liability could not depend on a jury's later view of whether a price was reasonable.
“This expression of the law conforms to my own conclusions, and confirms me in the opinion that the law here in question is void.”
In Heafey, Woodrough treated a family business incorporation as a change of form that produced no taxable gain.
“the substitution of shares of stock in the corporation for the shares in the partnership operated to change the form of the holdings, and not the substance”
Procedural preferences
In Musgrave, Woodrough suppressed evidence because the warrant was issued to an agent outside the class authorized by statute.
“a strict and literal observance of all limitations incorporated in the law concerning the issuance of search warrants is not only in accordance with the historical tradition and spirit of our law”
Cautions
In Smith, Woodrough rejected an attempt to recast state embezzlement and concealment as a federal mail-fraud scheme.
“The courts must scrutinize carefully the substance of the charge as well as the mere form in which it is beclouded”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The demurrer to this count of the indictment must therefore be sustained.”
“The bill should be dismissed; and it is so ordered.”
“It is therefore ordered that the demurrers to the petition be overruled”
“judgment of condemnation should be entered on the pleadings and the judgment roll of the criminal ease.”
“the offer of proof along the line indicated will be excluded.”
“I find the plaintiff to be a citizen of this country now resident here animo manendi, and entitled to recover whatever property belonging to him is now in the custody of the Alien Property Custodian.”
“I will overrule the motion of plaintiffs”
“I will sustain the .request of the government to instruct the jury that the trust in question was a trust created by Gustave E. Shukert in his lifetime, and was intended to take effect in possession and enjoyment at or after his death”
“it is ordered that the motion to suppress the evidence obtained under the search warrant be sustained.”
“Let a new trial be granted, and the matter made certain, before she is sent to jail.”
“the petition is dismissed, because the particular provision of the law on which it is based is unconstitutional and void.”
“it will be ordered that plaintiff have decree against the defendants as prayed.”
“The indictment should be quashed.”
“The decision and order of the referee establishing the lien ahead of the trustee in bankruptcy was- right, and is affirmed.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No tenure-bounded docket record was available.
A historical record
Judge Woodrough 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.