Clarence William Sessions
Judge Sessions no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Sessions decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Sessions treated the practical public purpose of federal safety statutes as controlling over operational convenience or economy.
“The beneficial and remedial purposes of these statutes must not be defeated by strained construction and must not be made subordinate to either convenience or economy of railroad operation.”
He enforced patent rights where prior art did not disclose the same functional combination, but treated proven prior use as fatal anticipation.
“prior use of the same process must constitute anticipation.”
Procedural preferences
Sessions required prompt review of bankruptcy orders and treated prolonged inactivity as inconsistent with speedy estate administration.
“the circumstances and conditions must be extreme which will excuse a delay of more than 30 days”
He required an involuntary-bankruptcy petition to plead facts that created a triable issue and gave the alleged debtor fair notice.
“An act of bankruptcy specified in section 3 must bo set forth in a petition showing that the bankrupt committed an act of bankruptcy”
Cautions
Sessions would not impose a coercive turnover order unless clear proof showed that the debtor still possessed the property and could comply.
“The order must not be made, unless upon clear and convincing proof that the bankrupt has the goods or the property in Ms possession at the time of the making of the order and has the ability to comply with it.”
He refused to let a municipality repair its own unlawful conduct by taking assets away from innocent bankruptcy creditors.
“the court will not lend its aid to any plan or scheme, however specious and plausible it may appear, by which innocent *459creditors of a bankrupt estate will be deprived of their moneys for the benefit of wrongdqers.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The motion to strike claimant’s answer from the files and for a decree of condemnation will be granted.”
“A decree will be entered, finding each of the claims declared upon valid and infringed by the Holland Furniture Company”
“A decree will be entered, dismissing the bill of complaint, with costs to the defendant to be taxed.”
“The order of the master is approved and affirmed.”
“The order of the referee in this regard will be reversed”
“the verdict of the jury will be in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of $400.”
“A decree will be entered in favor of complainant in accordance with the prayer of the bill”
“petitioner is not entitled to the relief for which he prays, and his petition must be dismissed.”
“Judgment will be entered in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant for the sum of $100 upon each count of the declaration.”
“A decree will be entered in each of these cases finding each of the claims declared upon valid and infringed”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
No case-level docket record was returned for Sessions's tenure. The profile therefore makes no claim about his complete caseload mix, case duration, administrative dispositions, or motion timing.
A historical record
Judge Sessions 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.