Charles Weston Houck
How Judge Houck rules, drawn from 7 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Houck no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Houck decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Jeffers, Houck required evidentiary support rather than counsel's statistical argument at summary judgment.
“Even the most cogent arguments, if unaccompanied by actual evidence, will not save a claim at the summary judgment stage.”
Procedural preferences
In Blanton, Houck enforced a consent order according to the agreement the parties had placed before the court.
“The court has a duty to enforce the agreement reached by the parties and incorporated into its consent order.”
Cautions
In Haley, Houck required more than political hostility or rhetoric to sustain a constitutional retaliation claim based on government speech.
“This standard is necessarily rigorous to protect the First Amendment rights of public officials, and the plaintiffs’ allegations fall short of its requirements.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Court grants the Union’s motion (ECF No. 38) to enforce the arbitration awards.”
“The motion for the stay was denied with the understanding that this court would expedite its review of said appeal.”
“we affirm the bankruptcy court’s order of October 30, 1986, denying debtor’s motion.”
“we affirm the order of the bankruptcy court dismissing appellant’s Chapter 13 proceeding pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 109(f)(1) and prohibiting him from refiling under Title 11 for 180 days from the date of its order, April 25, 1985.”
“the defendants’ motion to dismiss is hereby GRANTED.”
“The defendants’ motion to strike is MOOT.”
“Therefore, the defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted.”
“the defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted”
“the defendant’s motion to strike the plaintiffs expert designation is moot.”
“the Court grants Lafarge’s motion for summary judgment.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median case duration in the sampled dockets: 180.5 days (N = 10).
A fixed-seed sample of ten terminated matters filed in 2010 included tort, employment, contract, insurance, and agricultural cases.
A historical record
Judge Houck 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.