The following excerpt is from Philippine Packing Corp. v. Maritime Co. of Philippines, 519 F.2d 811 (9th Cir. 1975):
"The term 'discretion' denotes the absence of a hard and fast rule. The Styria v. Morgan, 186 U.S. 1, 9 (22 S.Ct. 731, 46 L.Ed. 1027). When invoked as a guide to judicial action it means a sound discretion, that is to say, a discretion exercised not arbitrarily or willfully, but with regard to what is right and equitable under the circumstances and the law, and directed by the reason and conscience of the judge to a just result."
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