Here is a report on recent news and commentary related to the Federal Circuit and its cases. Today we highlight:
- an obituary discussing the life of George Hutchinson, the Federal Circuit’s first clerk;
- an article highlighting “major [patent] decisions from the beginning of 2026”; and
- an article suggesting a recent Supreme Court decision “may affect where” a federal government employees’ “case is decided more than whether the employees ultimately prevail.”
Cole Reynolds wrote an obituary for the Washington Post discussing the life of George Hutchinson, the Federal Circuit’s first clerk. Reynolds highlights how “Mr. Hutchinson, who died June 14 at 102, was the last crier of the U.S. Supreme Court, tasked with carrying out ceremonial duties that were later turned over to the court marshal.” Reynolds notes how, “[a]fter leaving the court in 1962, he became the marshal and then the clerk of the U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals, where he was charged with saying ‘Hear ye’ instead of ‘Oyez.'” As explained by Reynolds, “[t]wo decades later, when the court merged with the Court of Claims to become the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, he was named its first clerk.”
Dani Kass authored an article for Law 360 highlighting “major [patent] decisions from the beginning of 2026.” Kass notes how the “Supreme Court clarified the pleading standard for induced infringement of skinny labels” and the “Federal Circuit opened the door to increased damages for patent owners.”
Ralph Smith published an article for FedSmith.com suggesting a recent Supreme Court decision “may affect where” a federal government employees’ “case is decided more than whether the employees ultimately prevail.” In particular, Smith suggests the decision “would likely shift the primary dispute to the MSPB and, if necessary, later to the Federal Circuit.”