Patent cases filed in the Waco Division of the Western District of Texas will now be randomly assigned among various judges, following a new order designed to spread out the caseload and make it harder for plaintiffs to have their cases heard in Judge Alan Albright’s popular courtroom. Chief Judge Alia Moses issued the order on Thursday.
Under this new system, those who wish to move their patent cases to Albright’s one-judge Waco Division after being assigned to another judge must convince the assigned judge with “sufficient legal and factual justification.” Albright, known for his extensive experience in patent law, has received almost a third of the nearly 500 patent suits filed in the Western District of Texas.
This new order aims to distribute the growing number of patent cases more evenly across the district. It reflects an ongoing effort to ensure fairness and efficiency in case management, addressing concerns about forum shopping, a practice wherein plaintiffs seek to file cases in courts they deem more favorable.
The complete text and further details of the order can be read here.