Local Patent Rules in the EDVA?

A group of local patent litigation practitioners has begun crafting a set of "local rules" for patent cases in the Eastern District of Virginia. At least one prominent judge in the district has indicated his willingness to support local patent rules, as long as they maintain the ability of each individual judge to exercise his or her discretion in modifying and adapting default rules and procedures. The first draft of the group’s work -- which essentially compiles certain of the practices and procedures some of the judges in the district currently use in patent litigation cases -- is attached here at /files/Uploads/Documents/draft edva local patent rules.pdf. The group is currently soliciting the opinion of various judges and local IP bar associations, and plans to present its proposed set of local patent rules to the judges on the Local Rules Committee at the end of May or the beginning of June.