A. Leon Higginbotham Jr.
How Judge Higginbotham rules, drawn from 24 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Higginbotham no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Higginbotham decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
He preserved a chosen forum when the moving party had not shown that convenience strongly favored transfer.
“The burden is on the moving party to establish that a balancing of proper interests weigh in favor of the transfer, and ‘ . . . unless the balance of convenience of the parties is strongly in favor of the defendant, the plaintiff’s choice of forum should prevail.’”
He protected press materials in civil discovery when the requesting parties showed neither a particularized need nor the absence of alternative sources.
“The plaintiffs have shown no particularized need for these affidavits; there has not even been a demonstration that the information could not be secured from alternative sources.”
Procedural preferences
He treated the discovery rules as enforceable obligations designed to keep litigation fair and efficient.
“The provisions governing discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are more than mere procedural guidelines to be consulted at the pleasure of a party to a federal suit.”
Cautions
A request for federal relief failed when Congress had expressly withdrawn jurisdiction over the administrative benefit determination at issue.
“Thus, as this Court lacks jurisdiction in this matter, defendants’ motion to dismiss Mr. Wexler’s Complaint is granted”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the motion of Jarka Corporation for judgment n. o. v., or in the alternative, for a new trial is denied.”
“defendants’ motions to amend the Order of February 4, 1970, to stay these proceedings, and to certify the Order of February 4, 1970, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 1292, are in each and every respect denied.”
“I must deny Globe Rubber Products Corporation’s motions for dismissal of the third-party complaint or summary judgment against Mehl Manufacturing Company.”
“summary judgment on behalf of the United States of America and against plaintiff is granted as to all that occurred while plaintiff was in the United States Army — the misreading of the x-ray and the consequent aggravation of his tubercular condition.”
“plaintiffs’ motion for production of the written investigation reports referred to in defendants’ answer to plaintiffs’ Interrogatory No. 2 is denied.”
“Accordingly, I deny Mr. Kalodner’s two latest amendments (Docket Nos. 263, 265) also as a matter of sound judicial discretion.”
“the Petition to Alter or Modify the Trustees’ Plan by substituting therefore the Debtor’s Plan (Docket No. 275) is denied.”
“For the reasons appearing hereinafter, I deny both of the defendant’s motions.”
“The motion for a decree to enforce the settlement agreement is granted.”
“Hence, defendants’ motion for a transfer to the District of Massachusetts is Denied.”
“Defendant’s motion to dismiss must therefore be denied.”
“Defendant’s motion for a transfer of venue must be denied.”
“His motion under § 2255 and his alternative claim for relief, construed as a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (1970), must therefore be denied.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No assigned-judge docket cohort could be enumerated for the closed district tenure, so no caseload mix or duration statistic is reported.
A historical record
Judge Higginbotham 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.