Harlan Watson Rippey
Judge Rippey no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Rippey decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Rippey treated dismissal before a full evidentiary hearing as exceptional when patent validity and claim scope remained open to proof.
“But the question must be absolutely free from doubt and the case must be exceptional before the court may dismiss the bill before a full hearing upon proofs.”
In bankruptcy matters, Rippey used equitable authority to correct an honest scheduling mistake when no party had changed position unfairly.
“In the absence of fraud or intentional laches on the part of a bankrupt, a court of bankruptcy on general principles of equity should correct such mistakes as have been made in this case”
Procedural preferences
Rippey would not resolve a suppression dispute on conflicting affidavits when the underlying encounter required factfinding.
“But the truth of what happened in this case cannot be settled on affidavits; it must be settled at the trial.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The application is denied, and the petition dismissed.”
“The petition for review is dismissed, and the order is affirmed on the opinion of George D. Judson, referee.”
“The motion to dismiss the complaint on the merits must he granted.”
“The motion must be denied, and it is so ordered.”
“It follows that the complaint states a good cause of action for infringement, and the motion must be denied.”
“Inasmuch as the petition must be dismissed as defective, the petitioning creditors must pay the expenses of the proceeding.”
“The motion must be denied, and it is so ordered.”
“The motion must be denied, and it is so ordered.”
“the question certified must be answered in the affirmative; that is, the examination should be allowed, within the proper limits of Section 7 of the Bankruptcy Act”
“the motion to amend is denied, and the case is set down for trial October 1, 1935.”
After trial, the court canceled a naturalization certificate obtained through fraudulent and illegal procurement.
“The motion to suppress must be denied, and it is so ordered.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No electronic docket sample was available for a historical caseload description.
A historical record
Judge Rippey 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.