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HR 5418 109th Congress House Law Agriculture and Food Congressional reporting requirements Continuing education District courts Education Governmental investigations Higher education Intellectual property Judges Judicial officers Legal education Patents Plant breeding Pretrial procedure Seeds

To establish a pilot program in certain United States district courts to encourage enhancement of expertise in patent cases among district judges.

Introduced: May 18, 2006 Introduced by: Issa, Darrell Republican · California See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 17 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 13, 2006
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 29, 2006
Received in the Senate.
Sep 28, 2006
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 28, 2006
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7851)
Sep 28, 2006
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7851)
Sep 28, 2006
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5418.
Sep 28, 2006
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7851-7853)
Sep 28, 2006
Mr. Sensenbrenner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Sep 21, 2006
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 402.
Sep 21, 2006
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 109-673.
Sep 13, 2006
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 13, 2006
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 27, 2006
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
Jul 27, 2006
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 5, 2006
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.
May 18, 2006
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 18, 2006
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Establishes a 10-year pilot program in certain U.S. district courts under which: (1) those district judges who request to hear cases involving patent or plant variety protection issues are designated by the chief judge to hear them; (2) such cases are randomly assigned to the district court judges, regardless of whether they are designated; (3) a judge not designated to whom such a case is assigned may decline to accept the case; and (4) a case so declined is randomly reassigned to one of those judges so designated.

Requires the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to designate at least five U.S. district courts, in at least three different judicial circuits, to carry out the pilot program. Requires such courts to be among the 15 district courts in which the largest number of such cases were filed in the most recent calendar year. States that the Director may only designate a court in which: (1) at least 10 district judges are authorized for presidential appointment; and (2) at least three judges request such cases.

Requires periodic reports on the program to specified congressional committees.

Authorizes appropriations for: (1) educational and professional development of those district judges designated under this Act; and (2) compensation of law clerks with expertise in technical matters arising in patent and plant variety protection cases who are appointed to assist courts in such cases.

What's happening now November 13, 2006

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 3923 Identical bill A bill to establish a pilot program in certain United States district courts to encourage enhancement of expertise in p…
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · May 18, 2006
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5418: To establish a pilot program in certain United States district courts to encourage enhancement of expertise in patent cases among district judges.. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-5418/
MLA
"H.R. 5418: To establish a pilot program in certain United States district courts to encourage enhancement of expertise in patent cases among district judges.." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-5418/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5418, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-5418/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5418: To establish a pilot program in certain United States district courts to encourage enhancement of expertise in patent cases among district judges.](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-5418/)
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