US judge Randall Rader, who was a leading figure in patent cases a few weeks ago, has announced that he will resign, after admitting that he committed an ethical "violation" when he sent an e-mail praising a lawyer who frequently appears before his court.
From 2010 until two weeks ago, Rader served as chief judge on the U.S., which hears all patent appeals and administers the nation's patent law. The Washington court is often the final arbiter in some of the world's most high-profile technology battles.
Rader resigned after sending an e-mail to lawyer Ed Reines, a patent attorney at Weil, at Gotshal & Manges, which is often exercised before the trial. In the e-mail, Rader praised Reines's performance in a recent case and encouraged him to share the e-mail with others.
