Randall Ray Rader
Encyclopedia
Randall R. Rader (Born April 21, 1949) is the Chief Judge
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
.
, Rader received a B.A.
in English from Brigham Young University
in 1974 and a J.D.
from The George Washington University Law School
in 1978. Judge Rader served in staff positions on the House of Representatives from 1975 to 1980, first as a legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Virginia Smith from 1975 to 1978, then as counsel to U.S. Rep. Philip Crane, and legislative director of the United States House Committee on Ways and Means
from 1978 to 1981. He then served as counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
from 1980 to 1988. While counsel to the Judiciary Committee, he was Chief Counsel or Minority Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on the Constitution and the Subcommittee on Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights.
appointed Rader to the United States Court of Federal Claims
in 1988, to succeed Robert M. M. Seto. The United States Senate
confirmed the nomination by unanimous consent
on August 11, 1988. On June 12, 1990, Rader was nominated by President George H. W. Bush
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
vacated by Jean Galloway Bissell
. Rader was confirmed by the Senate on August 3, 1990, and received his commission on August 9, 1990.
While on the Federal Circuit, Judge Rader has served as a law professor, having taught patent law and advanced intellectual property courses at the University of Virginia School of Law
, Georgetown University Law Center
, Washington, DC, the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center
, and The George Washington University Law School
, Washington, DC. Judge Rader is co-author of a casebook
on patent law used at over sixty-five law schools. He has received many awards, including the J. William Fulbright
Award for Distinguished Public Service, 2000. As an appellate judge, Judge Rader has also led or participated in over sixty delegations to foreign nations, usually to teach rule of law
or intellectual property
concepts in developing nations.
Judge Rader became Chief Judge
of the Federal Circuit after former Chief Judge Paul Michel
retired in 2010. Despite his new administrative duties, Judge Rader continues to speak at law schools and at international conferences.
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
.
Early life, education, and career
Born in Hastings, NebraskaHastings, Nebraska
Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States. It is the principal city of the Hastings, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Adams and Clay counties. The population was 24,907 at the 2010 census...
, Rader received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
in 1974 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
in 1978. Judge Rader served in staff positions on the House of Representatives from 1975 to 1980, first as a legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Virginia Smith from 1975 to 1978, then as counsel to U.S. Rep. Philip Crane, and legislative director of the United States House Committee on Ways and Means
United States House Committee on Ways and Means
The Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committees unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership...
from 1978 to 1981. He then served as counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
from 1980 to 1988. While counsel to the Judiciary Committee, he was Chief Counsel or Minority Chief Counsel for the Subcommittee on the Constitution and the Subcommittee on Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights.
Federal judicial service
President Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
appointed Rader to the United States Court of Federal Claims
United States Court of Federal Claims
The United States Court of Federal Claims is a United States federal court that hears monetary claims against the U.S. government. The court is established pursuant to Congress's authority under Article One of the United States Constitution...
in 1988, to succeed Robert M. M. Seto. The United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
confirmed the nomination by unanimous consent
Unanimous consent
In parliamentary procedure, unanimous consent, also known as general consent, or in the case of the parliaments under the Westminster system, leave of the house, is a situation in which no one present objects to a proposal. The chair may state, for instance: "If there is no objection, the motion...
on August 11, 1988. On June 12, 1990, Rader was nominated by President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
-Vacancies and pending nominations:-List of former judges:-Chief judges:Notwithstanding the foregoing, when the court was initially created, Congress had to resolve which chief judge of the predecessor courts would become the first chief judge...
vacated by Jean Galloway Bissell
Jean Galloway Bissell
Jean Galloway Bissell was a South Carolina attorney who became a high-ranking bank executive, and later a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.- Early life and education :...
. Rader was confirmed by the Senate on August 3, 1990, and received his commission on August 9, 1990.
While on the Federal Circuit, Judge Rader has served as a law professor, having taught patent law and advanced intellectual property courses at the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
, Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
, Washington, DC, the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center
Munich Intellectual Property Law Center
The Munich Intellectual Property Law Center is a center for both research and education in intellectual property, founded in 2003 and based in Munich, Germany. The MIPLC is a project of the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property and Competition Law, the University of Augsburg, the...
, and The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
, Washington, DC. Judge Rader is co-author of a casebook
Casebook
A casebook is a type of textbook used primarily by students in law schools. Rather than simply laying out the legal doctrine in a particular area of study, a casebook contains excerpts from legal cases in which the law of that area was applied. It is then up to the student to analyze the language...
on patent law used at over sixty-five law schools. He has received many awards, including the J. William Fulbright
J. William Fulbright
James William Fulbright was a United States Senator representing Arkansas from 1945 to 1975.Fulbright was a Southern Democrat and a staunch multilateralist who supported the creation of the United Nations and the longest serving chairman in the history of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee...
Award for Distinguished Public Service, 2000. As an appellate judge, Judge Rader has also led or participated in over sixty delegations to foreign nations, usually to teach rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
or intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
concepts in developing nations.
Judge Rader became Chief Judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
of the Federal Circuit after former Chief Judge Paul Michel
Paul Redmond Michel
Paul Redmond Michel was an American federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from 1988 until 2010, and served as its chief judge from 2004 until his retirement....
retired in 2010. Despite his new administrative duties, Judge Rader continues to speak at law schools and at international conferences.