James Rodney Gilstrap

Quick Facts

Full Name	James Rodney Gilstrap
Occupation	Lawyer
Date Of Birth	May 1, 1957(1957-05-01)
Age	67
Country	United States
Birth City	Pensacola
Horoscope	Taurus

James Rodney Gilstrap Biography

James Rodney Gilstrap is one of the most popular and richest Lawyer who was born on May 1, 1957 in Pensacola, United States. James Rodney Gilstrap, also known as J. Rodney Gilstrap and Rodney Gilstrap, is the Chief United States District Court Judge of the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Texas. He was born May 1, 1957. He is known for presidering over more than 25% of all patent infringement cases in the country and is frequently referred to as the “busiest” patent judge in the country by different sources.

TQP Development v. Newegg was a case in which Judge Gilstrap presided. Newegg was ordered to pay $2.3million for violating four claims in a patent involving modem technology and Internet security systems like SSL or TLS, as well as the RC4 Cipher. In 2015 Judge Gilstrap declared that Newegg had not violated TQP Development’s patent and overturned the verdict.

In 2015, Judge Gilstrap ordered 35 U.S.C. 285 “exceptional case” fees to be levied against a notorious Non practicing entity (the worst of them known as Patent trolls), eDekka LLC. He ruled that the case was “objectively unreasonable” after previously invalidating eDekka’s patent under the U.S. Supreme Court case of Alice v. CLS Bank International.

Also in 2015, Judge Gilstrap denied a request by ZTE Corporation for a new trial after a jury found that it infringed two patents owned by DataQuill covering data entry technology and awarded DataQuill $31.5 Million.

Gilstrap was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as a United States District Court for Eastern District of Texas. “Throughout their careers these nominees have shown unwavering commitment towards justice and integrity,” President Obama stated in a press release regarding Judge Gilstrap’s nominating. “[T]heir records of public service [are distinguished and impressive] and I am confident they will serve America well from the United States Court bench.” It is an honor to nominate them. The American Bar Association rated Gilstrap as Unanimously Qualified. He was heard before the Senate Judiciary Committee July 28, 2011. The Senate Judiciary Committee submitted his nomination by voice vote to the Senate floor on September 15, 2011. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate via voice vote on December 5, 2011. His commission was granted to him on December 6, 2011. After Ron Clark’s senior status, he was made the Chief Judge.

James Rodney Gilstrap Net Worth

James Rodney Gilstrap is one of the richest Lawyer from United States. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, James Rodney Gilstrap 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

Gilstrap was born near Pensacola in Florida. He is an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor in Arts in 1978. He was an undergraduate inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. In 1981, he also received a Juris Doctor degree from Baylor Law School. He was also associate editor of Baylor Law Review. He also published Video Recorders Copyright Infringement while working on the Baylor Law Review, 33 Baylor Law Review 695 (1981). Later, Gilstrap served as the president of Baylor Law Alumni Association.

Gilstrap graduated from law school and began private practice in Marshall, Texas, as an Associate at the firm Abney, Baldwin & Searcy between 1981-1984. From 1984 to 1989, he was a founding partner of Smith & Gilstrap Marshall. His practice included oil and gas, real-estate, and sometimes patent cases. Among the patent cases Gilstrap was involved in were the defense of Capital One Financial Corporation against a lawsuit brought by LML Patent Corporation claiming patent infringement by several banks. He also represented Bluestone Innovations Texas in a suit for patent infringement against a variety of foreign companies using Light-emitting Diodes (or LEDs) technology. From 1989 to 2002, Gilstrap was a Harrison County judge. Judge Gilstrap was also a Marshall Courthouse Preservation Council member for 16 years. He also served as Chair of the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee of the State Bar of Texas. Leland dela Garza and Judge Gilstrap wrote an article in 2004 entitled UPL: Unlicensed Unwanted, Unwelcome 67 Texas Bar Journal798 (2004). After his time as a Harrison County Judge Gilstrap worked at Smith & Gilstrap, until he was appointed to the federal bench.

From 2014 to 2015, Judge Gilstrap was ranked first amongst all federal judges (either United States District Judge or United States Magistrate Judge) with the most patent cases filed before him. According to Docket Navigator, in 2015 Judge Gilstrap was also ranked first as to the single federal judge having to preside over the highest number of filed cases, the highest number of litigants, and the highest number of accusations. Also according to Docket Navigator, Judge Gilstrap is the top ranked (#1) most active federal judge (either District or Magistrate judge) by number of parties, number of orders and by number of cases from the years of 2014 to 2008 (even though he came on the bench in 2011) for patent litigation.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

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Who is James Rodney Gilstrap Dating?

According to our records, James Rodney Gilstrap is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of December 1, 2023, James Rodney Gilstrap’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for James Rodney Gilstrap. You may help us to build the dating records for James Rodney Gilstrap!

In 2017, Judge Gilstrap levied sanctions against Patent assertion entity Iris Connex, which had a patent covering phone technology used to take “selfies”. In his Order, Judge Gilstrap mentioned that due to the misconduct of the parties, this was “the clearest example of an exceptional case to yet come before” him.

Facts & Trivia

James Ranked on the list of most popular Lawyer. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in United States. James Rodney Gilstrap celebrates birthday on May 1 of every year.

In February 2020, Judge Gilstrap determined that tobacco manufacturer R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company must continue making its full portion of an $8 billion dollar annual payment to the State of Texas pursuant to a 1998 Settlement Agreement. In 1996, Texas brought historic litigation against all major tobacco manufacturers, including Reynolds, asserting that their products injured both Texas citizens and Texas itself, which had to expend money on healthcare for citizens who suffer from tobacco-related illnesses. On the eve of trial in 1998, in exchange for a perpetual release of liability for all claims, Reynolds promised to make an annual payment in perpetuity to compensate Texas for its healthcare costs. However, in 2015, Reynolds sold off several major brands which were subject to the 1998 Settlement Agreement and argued that its sale of the brands extinguished its liability under the settlement. The purchaser of the brands, Imperial Tobacco Group LLC, also denied that it was liable for payments on the brands. Texas argued that a party cannot unilaterally extinguish its contract obligations via an assignment of the contract’s subject matter—otherwise, reimbursement for the billions of cigarettes sold every year under the brands would “go up in smoke,” to the detriment of the Texas citizenry. Judge Gilstrap agreed with Texas, and held that Reynolds remained liable for its full portion of the $8 billion dollar annual payment to Texas. “Reynolds accepted a perpetual release in return for agreeing to make perpetual payments. Nothing that has intervened since then has lessened that obligation. Reynolds remains as liable today as it was when it entered into the Texas Settlement in 1998.” Texas v. American Tobacco Co., Case No. 5:96-cv-91-JRG (E.D. Tex. Feb. 25, 2020).

Who appointed US District Judge Rodney Gilstrap?

James Rodney Gilstrap
Appointed by| Barack Obama
Preceded by| Thad Heartfield
Personal details
Born| May 1, 1957 Pensacola, Florida

Who is the chief district judge for the Eastern District of Texas?

Chief District Judge Rodney Gilstrap | Eastern District of Texas | United States District Court.

Who is the judge in Marshall Texas?

Charlene Graff , Judicial Admin. Asst. You are invited to attend our Harrison County Commissioner’s Court Meetings which are held every other Wednesday as it appears on the Court Schedule at 9:00 a.m. Meetings are held in the Historic Courthouse Courtroom, Marshall, Texas.

How many district judges are there for the Eastern District of Texas?

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Appeals to| Fifth Circuit
Established| February 21, 1857
Judges| 8
Chief Judge| James Rodney Gilstrap

Who is the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas?

Brit Featherston has taken the oath of office, on November 16 2021, to become the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. Featherston was appointed to the position by Attorney General Merrick Garland and took the oath of office from Chief U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.