George Franklin Morris
Judge Morris no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Morris decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Morris rejected government relief when law-enforcement officers originated the offense rather than detecting a preexisting criminal plan.
“The crime of transportation was initiated by the federal officers.”
In tax disputes, Morris looked to the intended and practical result of a transaction instead of its outward form.
“We must consider the intention of the taxpayer and the result obtained rather than the outward form.”
Morris gave purchase-money security the strongest equitable priority over earlier claims to after-acquired property.
“a mortgage given for the purchase price of property simultaneously with the delivery of the property is entitled to the highest consideration of a court of equity”
Procedural preferences
Morris would not delay a plaintiff's jury trial merely to resolve a separate coverage dispute between defendants and their insurer.
“The right of the plaintiffs in this action at law to have their actions speedily tried and determined ought not to be held up- because of some contract between the defendants and a third person or corporation to which they are not a party.”
Morris required taxpayers to use available administrative review procedures before seeking a bankruptcy-court redetermination after the deadline had passed.
“These questions could have been determined by a petition for abatement followed by an appeal using the ordinary administrative procedure in the state court. This was not done and the debtor is barred from seeking such a remedy by lapse of time.”
On review of a bankruptcy referee, Morris declined to reward a creditor who pursued unfounded claims against third parties instead of timely participating in the estate.
“The claimant having elected to pursue third parties making unfounded claims against them and having failed ought not now be permitted to come into the bankruptcy court and share with others”
Cautions
Morris treated a creditor's knowledge of insolvency when taking security for antecedent debt as decisive evidence of an avoidable preference.
“The Cullen Hardware Corporation was on the 12th day of December. 1938 hopelessly insolvent. This fact, both Seymore and the John B. Varick Company knew”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The government’s petition for its destruction is denied.”
“I hold that the facts bring the case within the provisions of section 3466, B. S., and that the United States is entitled to priority.”
“The lien of the intervener is disallowed.”
“A draft decree for the forfeiture of the Buick eoupé may be presented for the court’s signature.”
“I see no reason why the plaintiff is not entitled to a decree for the payment of $900, with costs against the intervener and its surety on the bond. It is so ordered.”
“I hold that the action was barred by the limitation in section 19 of the World' War Veterans’ Act 1924, as amended. The ease is dismissed without costs.”
“The special appearance must be struck off, and the ease will stand for trial on the jury calendar in its order.”
“The conclusion is that the mare in question is a part of the bankrupt’s estate and must be turned over to the trustee, and it is so ordered.”
“The order is, pleas in abatement dismissed.”
“My conclusion is that the writ must be discharged and the petitioner remanded to custody.”
“The petition for refund is denied, and judgment is to be entered for the surety company.”
“I find that the tax on the common stock was wrongfully assessed and that the plaintiff is entitled to recover the same. I find a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of $4,490.89.”
“The order is judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $4,784.19 with interest from the date of the several payments.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No case-level docket record was returned for this historical tenure. The profile therefore makes no claim about caseload mix, case duration, administrative dispositions, or motion timing.
A historical record
Judge Morris 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.