business | February 14, 2026

James Rodney Gilstrap - Net Worth, Age, Height, Birthday, Bio, Wiki!

Explore James Rodney Gilstrap net worth, age, height, bio, birthday, wiki, and salary! James Rodney Gilstrap, also known as J. Rodney Gilstrap and Rodney Gilstrap, is the Chief United States District Court Judge of the United States District Court in the Eastern District of Texas. He was born May 1, 1957. He is known for presidering over more than 25% of all patent infringement cases in the country and is frequently referred to as the “busiest” patent judge in the country by different sources. In this article, we will discover how old is James Rodney Gilstrap? Who is James Rodney Gilstrap dating now & how much money does James Rodney Gilstrap have?

NameJames Rodney Gilstrap
First NameJames
Last NameGilstrap
OccupationLawyer
BirthdayMay 1
Birth Year1957
Place of Birth
Home TownPensacola
Birth CountryUnited States
Birth SignTaurus
Full/Birth Name
FatherNot Available
MotherNot Available
SiblingsNot Available
SpouseNot Known
Children(s)Not Available

James Rodney Gilstrap Biography

James Rodney Gilstrap is one of the most popular and richest Lawyer who was born on May 1, 1957 in Pensacola, United States. TQP Development v. Newegg was a case in which Judge Gilstrap presided. Newegg was ordered to pay $2.3million for violating four claims in a patent involving modem technology and Internet security systems like SSL or TLS, as well as the RC4 Cipher. In 2015 Judge Gilstrap declared that Newegg had not violated TQP Development’s patent and overturned the verdict.

In 2015, Judge Gilstrap ordered 35 U.S.C. 285 “exceptional case” fees to be levied against a notorious Non practicing entity (the worst of them known as Patent trolls), eDekka LLC. He ruled that the case was “objectively unreasonable” after previously invalidating eDekka’s patent under the U.S. Supreme Court case of Alice v. CLS Bank International.

Also in 2015, Judge Gilstrap denied a request by ZTE Corporation for a new trial after a jury found that it infringed two patents owned by DataQuill covering data entry technology and awarded DataQuill $31.5 Million.

Gilstrap was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as a United States District Court for Eastern District of Texas. “Throughout their careers these nominees have shown unwavering commitment towards justice and integrity,” President Obama stated in a press release regarding Judge Gilstrap’s nominating. “[T]heir records of public service [are distinguished and impressive] and I am confident they will serve America well from the United States Court bench.” It is an honor to nominate them. The American Bar Association rated Gilstrap as Unanimously Qualified. He was heard before the Senate Judiciary Committee July 28, 2011. The Senate Judiciary Committee submitted his nomination by voice vote to the Senate floor on September 15, 2011. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate via voice vote on December 5, 2011. His commission was granted to him on December 6, 2011. After Ron Clark’s senior status, he was made the Chief Judge.

Gilstrap graduated from law school and began private practice in Marshall, Texas, as an Associate at the firm Abney, Baldwin & Searcy between 1981-1984. From 1984 to 1989, he was a founding partner of Smith & Gilstrap Marshall. His practice included oil and gas, real-estate, and sometimes patent cases. Among the patent cases Gilstrap was involved in were the defense of Capital One Financial Corporation against a lawsuit brought by LML Patent Corporation claiming patent infringement by several banks. He also represented Bluestone Innovations Texas in a suit for patent infringement against a variety of foreign companies using Light-emitting Diodes (or LEDs) technology. From 1989 to 2002, Gilstrap was a Harrison County judge. Judge Gilstrap was also a Marshall Courthouse Preservation Council member for 16 years. He also served as Chair of the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee of the State Bar of Texas. Leland dela Garza and Judge Gilstrap wrote an article in 2004 entitled UPL: Unlicensed Unwanted, Unwelcome 67 Texas Bar Journal798 (2004). After his time as a Harrison County Judge Gilstrap worked at Smith & Gilstrap, until he was appointed to the federal bench.

From 2014 to 2015, Judge Gilstrap was ranked first amongst all federal judges (either United States District Judge or United States Magistrate Judge) with the most patent cases filed before him. According to Docket Navigator, in 2015 Judge Gilstrap was also ranked first as to the single federal judge having to preside over the highest number of filed cases, the highest number of litigants, and the highest number of accusations. Also according to Docket Navigator, Judge Gilstrap is the top ranked (#1) most active federal judge (either District or Magistrate judge) by number of parties, number of orders and by number of cases from the years of 2014 to 2008 (even though he came on the bench in 2011) for patent litigation.

James Rodney Gilstrap Net Worth

James is one of the richest Lawyer from United States. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, James Rodney Gilstrap's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: January 13, 2024)

Gilstrap was born near Pensacola in Florida. He is an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor in Arts in 1978. He was an undergraduate inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. In 1981, he also received a Juris Doctor degree from Baylor Law School. He was also associate editor of Baylor Law Review. He also published Video Recorders Copyright Infringement while working on the Baylor Law Review, 33 Baylor Law Review 695 (1981). Later, Gilstrap served as the president of Baylor Law Alumni Association.

Net Worth$5 Million
SalaryUnder Review
Source of IncomeLawyer
CarsNot Available
HouseLiving in own house.

According to Lex Machina and other sources, Judge Gilstrap is the United States District Judge that hears the most patent cases in the country and has been referred to by many sources as the nation’s single “busiest patent judge”. In 2016, for example, 1,119 cases were brought before Judge Gilstrap, who saw more new cases than the next 10 highest ranking judges – 2016 was also the fourth year in a row where Judge Gilstrap had more patent cases than any other federal judge. In 2015, over 28% of the nation’s patent cases were filed before him. Judge Gilstrap and United States Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne, who are the only two judges based out of the Marshall division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, also have the most patent cases filed before them out of the predominant share of the nation’s patent cases that are filed in the Eastern District of Texas.

In June 2017, Judge Gilstrap provided a four-part test in determining venue after the U.S. Supreme Court case of TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC in the case of Raytheon v. Cray, but in September 2017 was overturned by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in response to a petition for writ of mandamus by Cray.

Ethnicity, religion & political views

Many peoples want to know what is James Rodney Gilstrap ethnicity, nationality, Ancestry & Race? Let's check it out! As per public resource, IMDb & Wikipedia, James Rodney Gilstrap's ethnicity is Not Known. We will update James Rodney Gilstrap's religion & political views in this article. Please check the article again after few days.

In 2016, Judge Gilstrap enhanced damages based on a jury verdict that LG willfully infringed two Standard essential patents (SEPs) owned by Core Wireless covering cellular standards. He previously denied LG’s motion for summary judgement that the SEPs were not willfully infringed, letting that issue go to the jury.

Who is James Rodney Gilstrap Dating?

According to our records, James Rodney Gilstrap is possibily single & has not been previously engaged. As of January 13, 2024, James Rodney Gilstrap’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record: We have no records of past relationships for James Rodney Gilstrap. You may help us to build the dating records for James Rodney Gilstrap!

In 2017, Judge Gilstrap levied sanctions against Patent assertion entity Iris Connex, which had a patent covering phone technology used to take “selfies”. In his Order, Judge Gilstrap mentioned that due to the misconduct of the parties, this was “the clearest example of an exceptional case to yet come before” him.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

James Rodney Gilstrap height Not available right now. James weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

HeightUnknown
WeightNot Known
Body MeasurementsUnder Review
Eye ColorNot Available
Hair ColorNot Available
Feet/Shoe SizeNot Available

In 2015, Judge Gilstrap ruled that a $533 Million jury verdict (the largest ever for a Patent assertion entity, Smartflash) in Smartflash, Inc. v. Apple be thrown out due to a faulty jury instruction, and ordered a new trial just on the issue of damages.

In September 2019, Judge Gilstrap presided over the first trial on patent-eligible subject matter in the history of the United States. Judge Gilstrap previously denied a motion for summary judgment that the asserted patents—banking patents directed to the electronic transmission of check images—were invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 101. PPS Data, LLC v. Jack Henry & Assocs., Inc., 404 F. Supp. 3d 1021 (E.D. Tex. 2019).

Facts & Trivia

James Ranked on the list of most popular Lawyer. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in United States. James Rodney Gilstrap celebrates birthday on May 1 of every year.

In February 2020, Judge Gilstrap determined that tobacco manufacturer R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company must continue making its full portion of an $8 billion dollar annual payment to the State of Texas pursuant to a 1998 Settlement Agreement. In 1996, Texas brought historic litigation against all major tobacco manufacturers, including Reynolds, asserting that their products injured both Texas citizens and Texas itself, which had to expend money on healthcare for citizens who suffer from tobacco-related illnesses. On the eve of trial in 1998, in exchange for a perpetual release of liability for all claims, Reynolds promised to make an annual payment in perpetuity to compensate Texas for its healthcare costs. However, in 2015, Reynolds sold off several major brands which were subject to the 1998 Settlement Agreement and argued that its sale of the brands extinguished its liability under the settlement. The purchaser of the brands, Imperial Tobacco Group LLC, also denied that it was liable for payments on the brands. Texas argued that a party cannot unilaterally extinguish its contract obligations via an assignment of the contract’s subject matter—otherwise, reimbursement for the billions of cigarettes sold every year under the brands would “go up in smoke,” to the detriment of the Texas citizenry. Judge Gilstrap agreed with Texas, and held that Reynolds remained liable for its full portion of the $8 billion dollar annual payment to Texas. “Reynolds accepted a perpetual release in return for agreeing to make perpetual payments. Nothing that has intervened since then has lessened that obligation. Reynolds remains as liable today as it was when it entered into the Texas Settlement in 1998.” Texas v. American Tobacco Co., Case No. 5:96-cv-91-JRG (E.D. Tex. Feb. 25, 2020).

Who appointed US District Judge Rodney Gilstrap?

James Rodney Gilstrap
Appointed byBarack Obama
Preceded byThad Heartfield
Personal details
BornMay 1, 1957 Pensacola, Florida

Who is the chief district judge for the Eastern District of Texas?

Chief District Judge Rodney Gilstrap | Eastern District of Texas | United States District Court.

Who is the judge in Marshall Texas?

Charlene Graff, Judicial Admin. Asst. You are invited to attend our Harrison County Commissioner’s Court Meetings which are held every other Wednesday as it appears on the Court Schedule at 9:00 a.m. Meetings are held in the Historic Courthouse Courtroom, Marshall, Texas.

How many district judges are there for the Eastern District of Texas?

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
Appeals toFifth Circuit
EstablishedFebruary 21, 1857
Judges8
Chief JudgeJames Rodney Gilstrap

Who is the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas?

Brit Featherston has taken the oath of office, on November 16 2021, to become the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. Featherston was appointed to the position by Attorney General Merrick Garland and took the oath of office from Chief U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.

You may read full biography about James Rodney Gilstrap from Wikipedia.