Patent Lawyers Bemoan Lack of Binding Guidance on Waco Transfers

The lack of formal Federal Circuit guidance on when patent cases can remain in Judge Alan Albright’s West Texas courtroom poses challenges for attorneys seeking predictable strategies for keeping high-stakes suits in Waco, attorneys say.

Albright’s court is one of the most patent-heavy venues in the country, with a reputation for being friendly to patent owners and quick in deciding disputes. The high concentration—and Albright’s tendency to balk at transferring patent cases to other courts— drew scrutiny from Congress and US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who requested a report reviewing the rules that led to the flock of ...