Judge David Davis opens the Shelby County Circuit Court with sixty cases on the docket. Judge Davis orders Lincoln's clients, the defendants in two related cases, Alderson v. Noland et al., and Alderson v. Noland et al., to file a plea by the next morning. Lincoln and Samuel W. Moulton represent defendant Thomas Hardy in the slander case of Johnson v. Hardy. Judge Davis orders Hardy to file a plea by the next morning. Lincoln represents plaintiff William Reader in the chancery case of Reader v. Williams, a dispute over a land transaction. Judge Davis orders defendant William H. Williams to file an answer to the complaint by Wednesday, May 26. Judge's Docket Entries, May 1852 term, Judge's Docket; Judge's Docket Entry, May 1852 term, Alderson v. Noland et al., Judge's Docket; Judge's Docket Entry, May 1852 term, Alderson v. Noland et al., Judge's Docket; Judge's Docket Entry, May 1852 term, Johnson v. Hardy, Judge's Docket; Decree, 27 May 1852, Reader v. Williams, Circuit Court Record D, 352; Judge's Docket Entry, May 1852 term, Reader v. Williams, Judge's Docket, all in Shelby County Circuit Court, Shelby County Courthouse, Shelbyville, IL.