Henry Jacob Friendly
Judge Friendly no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Friendly decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Resolves cases on the narrowest sufficient ground, declining to decide harder jurisdictional questions once one secure basis for jurisdiction is established.
“Fortunately, however, we need not decide whether jurisdiction over the Secretary exists under § 405(g) or § 1331, since we are satisfied that jurisdiction is provided by 28 U.S.C. § 1361”
Procedural preferences
Expects litigants to make reasonable pre-suit efforts and will deny fee-shifting where a party rushed to court instead of pursuing an available informal resolution.
“as every lawyer should know, the fact that a party is legally entitled to invoke the aid of the courts does not demonstrate that a rush to the courthouse door is always reasonable.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“We therefore vacate the order and direct a hearing consistent with this opinion.”
“Accordingly the petition is dismissed on that ground.”
“Petition for review denied; enforcement granted.”
“The order dismissing the third party complaint for lack of jurisdiction is reversed.”
“The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial consistent with this opinion.”
“The judgment is reversed and a new trial ordered.”
“The judgment is reversed with instructions to allow deduction of the widow's interest in the real property.”
“We therefore reverse the order granting a preliminary injunction and direct that these actions be promptly tried.”
A historical record
Judge Friendly 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.