Editor’s note: On May 1, the Texas Lawyer editorial department hosted a roundtable discussion in Dallas, "Patent Law: Best Practices As Seen From The Bench." Panelists included U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap and U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy Payne, both of the Eastern District of Texas, and U.S. District Judges Barbara Lynn and Reed O’Connor of the Northern District of Texas. This is the first part of the discussion. The second part will be published in an upcoming issue. The judges’ discussion covered venue, technology in the courtroom, necessity of local counsel and claims-construction rulings. It has been edited for length and style.
John Council, senior reporter, Texas Lawyer, Dallas: . . . I think we have before us the best cross-section of Texas patent jurists possible. They include the Eastern District of Texas’ own Rodney Gilstrap and Roy Payne, whom I think most everybody here knows are two of the busiest patent judges in the nation. And we also have the Northern District’s Judge Barbara Lynn and Judge Reed O’Connor, who might become two of the busiest patent judges in the nation, if you give them the chance by filing cases in their court. So without further ado, let’s start with the questions, and Judge Lynn, I’m going to start with you. OK, first, I’d like to ask you because you have been a member of the Northern District’s patent-pilot projects for about two years now has the project generated the kind of patent docket business that you had expected?
