What’s in the Pipeline for Judicial Vacancies? – April 17 Update

We continue to follow the important changes underway behind the bench at the Federal Circuit and in several district courts where a significant number of patent infringement cases are pending. On April 15, the Senate unanimously confirmed Beverly Reid O'Connell to the United States District Court, Central District of California. She will fill the vacancy left by U.S. District Judge Valerie Baker Fairbank who assumed senior status on March 1, 2012. With her confirmation, the Central District now has a full bench of 28 judges.

Judge Reid O’Connell has nearly twenty years of public service experience. She has served as a Judge in the L.A. Superior Court since 2005.  Prior to that, she was a federal prosecutor in the Central District of California for 10 years.

We will continue to track the judicial confirmation process as it progresses. To view the chart of judicial vacancies in jurisdictions with active patent litigation dockets, please click here.

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