Armistead Mason Dobie
How Judge Dobie rules, drawn from 7 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Dobie no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Dobie decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A dismissal request was resolved by comparing the practical burdens on both sides and selecting the result that imposed the least hardship.
“the Court on a motion such as this should weigh the equities and should make that decision which to the Court seems fairest under all of the circumstances.”
Procedural preferences
When federal jurisdiction was doubtful and state jurisdiction clear, the court favored remand to protect a successful party from later losing the judgment on jurisdictional review.
“where the jurisdiction of the federal court is doubtful, good judgment requires remand”
A search incident to arrest supported retention only of items tied directly to the charged offenses; unrelated materials had to be returned and suppressed.
“the motion of the defendants is, therefore, sustained as to all the objects and documents which do not satisfy the illuminating characterization of Judge Hand just set out”
Cautions
A claimant seeking remission of forfeiture needed a continuing property interest acquired without notice of the vehicle's illegal use.
“petitioner could not then satisfy condition (1) of the remission statute as one having an interest in the automobile.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“At the conclusion of the petitioner’s evidence, the United States moved for judgment in its favor and against the petitioner, the Commercial Credit Company, Incorporated. This motion was granted by the court.”
“no other proper course of action was open to the court save to sustain the motion of the United States for judgment in its favor, denying the petitioner’s request for a remission of the forfeiture.”
“Plaintiff’s motion to dismiss without prejudice is, accordingly, granted, but the plaintiff must pay the costs in this action.”
The federal court lacked jurisdiction over the removed tort action involving reserve officers serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps.
“Motion sustained in part, and overruled in part.”
“For the reasons above set out, the plaintiff’s motion to remand is sustained, and the instant garnishment proceeding against the Maryland Casualty Company is remanded to the Circuit Court of Alleghany County, Virginia, from which it was removed to this court.”
“Defendant’s motion to dismiss is, accordingly, overruled.”
“For the reasons set out above, the demurrer of the defendant, V. P. Wilson, to the Fifth Count of the indictment is hereby overruled.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Dobie's reported district decisions address forfeiture, removal and remand, search and seizure, copyright, mail fraud, and federal jurisdiction. No electronic records are available to quantify his caseload.
A historical record
Judge Dobie 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.