Federal Circuit Pick Is Approved by Senate Judiciary Committee (1)

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Judge Leonard Stark’s nomination to the Federal Circuit, bringing him one step closer to a seat on the top U.S. patent court.

Stark, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, was approved on a bipartisan 16-6 vote. It’s unclear when the full Senate will vote on the nomination.

If confirmed, Stark would replace Judge Kathleen M. O’Malley who plans to retire in March. O’Malley is the only current member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit with experience as a trial judge.

Stark has handled 2,400 patent ...