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Luther Wallace Youngdahl

District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia (now U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) district Deceased · served 1951–1966 Appointed by Harry S. Truman (Democratic) 20 signed orders read

Judge Youngdahl no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.

How Judge Youngdahl decides

Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.

What persuades

He treated the Patent Office decision as weighty but rebuttable by stronger trial evidence.

“This is a trial de novo in which the decision of the Patent Office is presumptively correct and entitled to great weight. Yet the evidence adduced here overcomes this presumption”

He sent disputed libel defenses and damages to a jury rather than resolving them on an incomplete summary-judgment record.

“These questions as well as that of damages, if any are to be awarded, must be resolved by a jury.”

Cautions

He emphasized restraint before enjoining government action even when ultimately preserving part of a refund fund.

“the judiciary should exercise great caution before restraining governmental action”

He declined habeas intervention where ordinary appellate review was available.

“A remedy by appeal is readily available in the usual and orderly course of criminal procedure.”

Signed rulings

A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.

Alexiou v. McGrath
· 1951-11-19
Administrative review claim (alien plaintiff) Granted

“she is entitled to have the case remanded to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for a decision on the evidence on the record alone.”

Maddox v. Wright
· 1952-03-18
Motion to quash subpoena (subpoenaed party) Granted

“the motion to vacate the subpoena duces tecum requiring the production of the income tax returns, Nos. 2 and 3 in the subpoena, is 'hereby granted”

Motion to quash subpoena (subpoenaed party) Denied

“the motion to vacate requiring the production of bank statements and deposit slips, No. 1 in the'subpoena, is hereby denied.”

Thompson v. United States
· 1952-12-18
Summary judgment (veteran plaintiff) Granted

“the motion by plaintiff for summary judgment should be granted”

Motion for summary judgment or judgment on pleadings (United States) Denied

“the motion of the defendant for summary judgment, or in the alternative, judgment on the pleadings, should be denied.”

Kyron Foundation, Inc. v. Dunlap
· 1952-12-19
Motions to dismiss (tax official) Granted

“The Court concludes, therefore, that the motion to dismiss the complaint as amended should be granted.”

United States v. Lattimore
· 1953-05-02
Motion to change venue (criminal defendant) Denied

“The motion for a change of venue is therefore denied.”

Daggett & Ramsdell, Inc. v. Marzall
· 1954-11-04
Trademark registration (trademark applicant) Granted

“the Court concludes that Lactona, Inc., as the Patent Commissioner found, is entitled to the registration of its trade-mark ‘Debutanset’”

McCashen v. Watson
· 1955-04-05
Patent application (patent applicant) Granted

“We therefore authorize the Com-? missioner of Patents to grant the patent sought, covering the claims in controversy.”

Herman v. Labor Cooperative Educational & Publishing Society
· 1956-03-13
Summary judgment (libel defendant) Denied

“Neither party is entitled to summary judgment.”

Summary judgment (libel plaintiff) Denied
United States v. Peck
· 1957-06-11
Motion for judgment of acquittal (criminal defendant) Granted

“the defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal must be granted.”

Baker v. United States
· 1958-03-14
Negligence claim (tort plaintiffs) Granted

“the Court awards judgment for the State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company for this sum.”

Avrutick v. United States
· 1958-07-18
Negligence claim (injured plaintiff) Granted

“the Court finds male plaintiff is entitled to recover judgment against defendant in the sum of $1,500.”

In Re Williams
· 1958-08-07
Habeas petition (petitioner) Denied

“The motion for habeas corpus is denied.”

A historical record

Judge Youngdahl 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.