Francis Joseph William Ford
Judge Ford no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Ford decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Ford required evidence supporting a reasonable probability of success before granting preliminary relief, and independently enforced an express statutory bar on injunctions.
“the Court cannot find that plaintiffs, on the evidence now before the Court, have shown a reasonable probability of proving their contentions at a full trial on the merits”
Ford required a public-figure libel plaintiff to identify evidence of actual malice rather than rely on allegations questioning a publisher's investigation.
“plaintiff has failed to produce any indication of any factual evidence to sustain a contention that defendant’s publication was made with actual malice.”
Procedural preferences
Ford denied summary judgment when the asserted contractual relationship depended on disputed material facts.
“This contention clearly raises questions of material fact which must be resolved before the Court can pass on the question”
Ford would not enforce a contractual forum restriction that displaced jurisdiction supplied by a federal statute.
“Parties cannot by contract oust the District Court of the jurisdiction conferred upon it.”
Cautions
Ford treated military activation decisions as beyond judicial review when the commanding authority acted within its discretion.
“The Commanding General, First United States Army, was well within his discretion to order the petitioner to active duty and the decision is not reviewable by this Court.”
Ford distinguished negligent handling from a deliberate contractual deviation and therefore enforced the shipment contract's damages limitation.
“Mere negligent handling of the shipment is not such a deviation from contract terms as to justify rescission.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction is denied.”
“Defendant’s motion for summary judgment is denied.”
“Motion for summary judgment of Chrysler Leasing Corporation is granted as to Count I of plaintiff’s complaint; denied as to Count II.”
“Motion for summary judgment of Avis, Inc., Avis Rent-A-Car System, Inc., and General Rental Company granted as to Count I.”
“Defendant’s motion to dismiss the indictment is allowed.”
“The motion for a temporary restraining order is denied.”
“The petitions for authorization to apply to the Interstate Commerce Commission for leave to abandon the Concord-Lincoln and Northfield-Franklin Falls lines are allowed.”
“Judgment will be entered for petitioner, granting the writ of habeas corpus and discharging petitioner from the custody of respondents.”
“Defendant’s motion for summary judgment is allowed and judgment will be entered for defendant dismissing the complaint.”
“Judgment will be entered for plaintiff for $15,150 with interest from October 9, 1968.”
“Judgment will be entered for defendant.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No case-level docket record was returned for Ford's 1938-1975 tenure. The profile therefore makes no claim about caseload mix, case duration, administrative dispositions, or motion timing.
A historical record
Judge Ford 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.