Katherine A. Helm Interviewed by Law.com About Courts Resuming Patent Jury Trials Amid the Pandemic

Dechert IP and litigation partner Katherine A. (Kassie) Helm, Ph.D. was interviewed in a recent Law.com article about patent trials resuming and federal courts starting to reopen their doors after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To prepare, judges are getting creative with ways to provide safe environments for participants and jurors. These include larger jury assembly rooms, plexiglas shields for testifying witnesses, taped floors to indicate where participants can sit and stand, and hybrid trials that are held partially in court and partially in a virtual format.

However, while some regions are already scheduled to resume with best practices, others are not ready and will cautiously consider reopening at their own pace. “The judges take personal pride in the management and running of their courts,” Dr. Helm commented. 

Many judges continue to brainstorm ideas so that proceedings can resume amid the pandemic.

Read the full article titled “Judges Get Creative as Patent Jury Trials Gear Back Up to Resume.”