AIPLA Endorses Judge Leonard P. Stark for Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit December 16, 2021

On December 16, 2021, the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) submitted a letter to Chair Richard J. Durbin and Ranking Member Charles E. Grassley of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary in support of Judge Leonard P. Stark’s nomination to Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

The letter outlined the Association’s White Paper (“Recommendations Regarding Nomination of Judges to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit” dated September 2018) and recommendations included therein for all individuals nominated to serve as Circuit Judges of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Criteria included an understanding of the patent system’s targeted nexus of law, technology, and business, as well as the business impact of the decisions routinely made by the Federal Circuit and maintaining and improving both the reliability of and adherence to the body of established patent law that the Federal Circuit is charged with applying consistently and uniformly.

The letter noted that Judge Stark not only meets the criteria mentioned, but would bring essential experience to the Court, elaborating that this experience and skill set is currently possessed only by Judge Kathleen O’Malley. The letter calls Judge Stark’s academic and judicial credentials ‘stellar’ and notes acquaintance with the Judge and his extensive patent-related background as a United States Magistrate Judge and District Court Judge. Thus, the letter provides an enthusiastic endorsement of Judge Stark, urging the Senate to move forward with his confirmation.

To read the full letter, please download the file.