Edwin Richley Hicklin
Judge Hicklin no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Hicklin decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Hicklin used remittitur when the evidentiary record supported substantial damages but not the full jury award.
“the very vigor and activity of this pastor belie any such measure of damage as was awarded.”
He read federal anti-rebate statutes broadly to reach discriminatory devices regardless of their form.
“These statutes are intended to strike through all forms, pretenses, and subterfuges to reach and eradicate the forbidden evil.”
Procedural preferences
When federal jurisdiction was doubtful, Hicklin favored remand rather than retaining a dispute merely because federal law might later require construction.
“when doubt exists, jurisdiction should be denied.”
He required administrative processes to run before granting judicial relief that depended on regulatory approval.
“the action of plaintiff is, to say the least, premature.”
Cautions
A federal procedural rule did not independently create jurisdiction; the ordinary federal jurisdictional requirements still had to be present.
“it prescribes a procedure to be followed where Fedei-al jurisdictional requirements are already present.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“It is ordered that unless the plaintiff shall elect to remit the sum of $8,696 of this judgment, leaving judgment due him in the amount of $31,304 as the total of his damages (plus the judgment for costs), the verdict and judgment be set aside and a new trial granted.”
“It is the judgment of this Court that plaintiff is entitled to the agreed contract price of $11,750.53, diminished by liquidated damages of $1,200, and enhanced by the award for additional excavation of $1,970.10.”
“It is therefore ordered and adjudged that plaintiff’s Motion to Remand, filed herein on January 9, 1959, be, and the same is hereby sustained, and this cause is hereby remanded to the District Court of Iowa, in and for Pottawattamie County.”
“It is hereby ordered that the motions to dismiss filed on behalf of the landowners be, and the same are, overruled.”
“It is therefore ordered that plaintiffs’ petition ought to be, and is hereby, dismissed, with the further right to reinstate its cause in the event that administrative remedies have been applied.”
“A permanent injunction should issue as prayed for in the complaint.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No electronic case-level docket exists for Hicklin's tenure. The profile therefore makes no claim about complete caseload mix, duration, administrative dispositions, or motion timing.
A historical record
Judge Hicklin 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.