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U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge to hold oral argument at Akron Law
U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Ryan T. Holte is holding oral argument at The University of Akron School of Law on Feb. 3. Judge Holte currently serves as jurist-in-residence at Akron Law. Pictured here at the court from the left are future court clerk Emily Rich (Akron Law 21), Judge Ryan T. Holte and current court clerks and Akron Law graduates Nick Buchmuller ‘18 and Matt Modderman ‘21. (Photo courtesy of The University of Akron School of Law).
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: February 2, 2022
Ever since he left The University of Akron School of Law to take his seat on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in the summer of 2019, Judge Ryan T. Holte has maintained close ties with the law school.
In his role as jurist-in-residence, Judge Holte continues to teach an IP law course remotely, hires Akron Law graduates as law clerks and oversees a Washington D.C. externship program for current students.
Now Judge Holte is holding oral argument at the law school, providing students, faculty members and others with an up-close look at some of the court’s inner workings.
The event takes place tomorrow, Feb. 3, at the C. Blake McDowell Law Center in the David and Ann Amer Brennan Courtroom.
Oral argument is expected to last about four hours, with Judge Holte hearing four cross-motions in limine in the case of Spectre v. United States, No. 16-932, which involves disputes over patent licensing agreements with NASA.
It’s the first time Akron Law has ever hosted the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and educators and administrators are very excited about the event.
“This is a great opportunity for Akron Law students to see this very important court in action,” said outgoing Akron Law Dean Christopher J. (C.J.) Peters.
“The court does not usually hear cases outside Washington D.C., so this is a special privilege for us,” said Peters. “Judge Holte also serves as a distinguished jurist-in-residence at our law school and we are grateful to him for making this possible.”
“This in-person public hearing will provide our students, faculty, alumni and members of the legal community with the rare chance to witness a federal trial court handle evidentiary disputes pertaining to expert witness testimony, damages and patent licensing agreements,” said Alisa Benedict O’Brien, assistant dean of career services at Akron Law.
“Anytime we are able to have an in-person hearing at the law school, it presents a unique learning opportunity for our students, alumni and local attorneys to broaden their legal knowledge.”
Prior to his confirmation, Judge Holte served as associate professor of law, David L. Brennan Endowed Chair in Law and as the director of Akron Law’s Center for Intellectual Property Law and Technology.
Tomorrow’s event begins at 9 a.m. with a light breakfast and is expected to run until 3:15 p.m. Anyone who wants to attend is asked to arrive at least 15 minutes before the hearing’s scheduled start time at 10 a.m.