West Texas Spreads Patent Case Duties, Curbing Judge Albright

New patent cases filed to a Waco, Texas, federal court will be randomly assigned to “equitably distribute” the lawsuits, according to a Monday order that comes amid increased scrutiny of Judge Alan Albright’s consolidation of patent litigation in his courtroom.

Patent suits filed after July 25 will be spread among 12 judges in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, Chief Judge Orlando L. Garcia said in the order. Previously, any case filed in Waco was automatically assigned to Albright, who has encouraged patent plaintiffs to flock to his court.

Nearly 25% of all patent litigation ...