Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/3700

 124 STAT. 3674 PUBLIC LAW 111–349—JAN. 4, 2011 Public Law 111–349 111th Congress An Act To establish a pilot program in certain United States district courts to encourage enhancement of expertise in patent cases among district judges. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. PILOT PROGRAM IN CERTAIN DISTRICT COURTS. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— (1) IN GENERAL.—There is established a program, in each of the United States district courts designated under subsection (b), under which— (A) those district judges of that district court who request to hear cases under which 1 or more issues arising under any Act of Congress relating to patents or plant variety protection are required to be decided, are designated by the chief judge of the court to hear those cases; (B) cases described in subparagraph (A) are randomly assigned to the judges of the district court, regardless of whether the judges are designated under subparagraph (A); (C) a judge not designated under subparagraph (A) to whom a case is assigned under subparagraph (B) may decline to accept the case; and (D) a case declined under subparagraph (C) is randomly reassigned to 1 of those judges of the court designated under subparagraph (A). (2) SENIOR JUDGES.—Senior judges of a district court may be designated under paragraph (1)(A) if at least 1 judge of the court in regular active service is also so designated. (3) RIGHT TO TRANSFER CASES PRESERVED.—This section shall not be construed to limit the ability of a judge to request the reassignment of or otherwise transfer a case to which the judge is assigned under this section, in accordance with otherwise applicable rules of the court. (b) DESIGNATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall designate not less than 6 United States district courts, in at least 3 different judicial circuits, in which the program established under sub- section (a) will be carried out. (2) CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATIONS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall make designations under paragraph (1) from— Deadline. 28 USC 137 note. Jan. 4, 2011 [H.R. 628]