George Scott Register
Judge Register no longer hears cases. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled.
How Judge Register decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Register avoided an unnecessary constitutional ruling when statutory construction fully protected the plaintiff's rights.
“No determination need be, or should be, made as to the constitutionality of any one or more of the North Dakota statutes here under attack.”
He treated substantial population-based vote dilution as incompatible with equal protection and refused to accept the legislature's deficient plan.
“said Bill does not comply with the constitutional requisites of the Equal Protection Clause of the Federal Constitution, and is therefore a nullity.”
Procedural preferences
Register described summary judgment as an extreme remedy but granted it when no recovery was possible under any discernible circumstances.
“A summary judgment is an extreme remedy, and, under the rule, should be awarded only when the truth is quite clear.”
He protected final probate decrees from collateral attack by parties or their privies.
“A final decree of distribution issued by a County Court has equal rank with a judgment of other courts, and has the same immunity from collateral attack.”
Cautions
Register required the absence of any genuine factual dispute before granting summary judgment.
“The judgment is authorized only where the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, where it is quite-clear what the truth is, and that no genuine issue remains for trial.”
He acknowledged equitable hardship but followed the governing law even when agency action appeared unwarranted.
“Notwithstanding these views the Court is, as stated, compelled to hold in favor of the Defendants.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the reasons hereinbefore stated, such motion will be denied.”
“For the reasons hereinbefore stated, defendant’s motion for summary judgment will be granted.”
“the motion of plaintiff for the dismissal thereof be granted, but it will be the further order of this Court that the defendant may serve and file an amended counterclaim containing averments which may be properly pleaded as a counterclaim within 20 days from the date of the order herein.”
“It is the opinion of this Court that defendants’ motion for summary judgment should be denied as to all counts, except as to Count One and Count Five, as aforesaid.”
“For the reasons hereinbefore stated, said action and counterclaim will be dismissed.”
“Judgment will be granted in favor of the plaintiff in accordance with the plaintiff’s prayer.”
“For the reasons hereinbefore stated, judgment will be for the defendant.”
“For the reasons hereinbefore stated, judgment will be for the defendants.”
“For the foregoing reasons, an Order sustaining the motion to dismiss as to the United States of America will be made and entered.”
“there is no genuine-issue of fact to be tried, that plaintiff' is entitled to judgment as a matter of‘ law, and that the motion for summary-judgment should be granted.”
“it is the further opinion of this Court that said lease is a valid and subsisting lease on the said premises.”
“Plaintiffs are entitled to all thereof.”
“It is the opinion of this Court that the purported lease to the plaintiff is void and of no legal effect.”
“Plaintiff is entitled to a refund of the $601 paid for the lease.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
The twenty-five reviewed decisions cover varied litigation but do not establish the distribution of Register's full caseload.
A historical record
Judge Register 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.