American University Law Review Hosts 33rd Annual Federal Circuit Symposium Featuring Chief Judge Sharon Prost ’79
Feb. 1, 2018
On January 26, 2018, the American University Law Review (AULR) was honored to host its annual Federal Circuit Symposium. The Federal Circuit Symposium is the nation’s first and only academic symposium that is dedicated exclusively to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. AULR began dedicating an issue to the Federal Circuit in 1985 (34 Am. U. L. Rev. 593 (1985)). Since then, AULR has continued this tradition of publishing insightful and relevant articles from esteemed scholars, practitioners, and members of the judiciary that highlight and analyze developments at the Federal Circuit.
This year marked the 33rd year of the symposium, which featured revered legal scholars, practitioners, and judges who offered diverse analyses on developments in the areas of patents, government contracts, and international trade. AULR was privileged to welcome distinguished American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) alumni, including the Honorable Sharon Prost ’79, the Honorable Robert W. Schroeder III 94), the Honorable Jeri K. Sommers ’86, Robert E. DeFrancesco, III ’01, Rachel Weiner Cohen ’08, and Brian Stanford ’08 to the symposium’s panels.
The keynote interview, which featured Chief Judge Sharon Prost, was conducted by WilmerHale counsel and former clerk to the judge, Rachel Weiner Cohen, along with AUWCL Professor Christine Haight Farley. The discussion covered the judge’s early career as a labor attorney to how the Federal Circuit has changed over her past 17 years on the bench.
“We were honored to welcome Chief Judge Prost back to her alma mater,” said Professor Farley. “We are indebted to her for the insights she shared with us about this unique court and the important role it plays in the development of patent law. Chief Judge Prost has a reputation for being both gracious and astute, and that was certainly on display during the interview. But her candid answers to questions about the court’s reversals by the Supreme Court and about recent changes in the law and in practice before the court were literally newsworthy.”
Watch Judge Prost's interview here.
Read additional coverage via LAW360.
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Founded in 1952, American University Law Review is the oldest and largest student-run publication at American University, publishing six issues each year. According to recent statistics, AULR is ranked forty-sixth in the nation by Washington & Lee Law Journal Rankings.