David Folsom
| David Folsom | |
| Current Court Information: | |
| United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas | |
| Title: | Former Judge |
| Position: | Seat #2 |
| Service: | |
| Appointed by: | Bill Clinton |
| Active: | 3/17/1995 - 3/17/2012 |
| Chief: | 2009 - 2012 |
| Preceded by: | Sam Hall |
| Personal History | |
| Born: | 1947 |
| Home State: | Murfreesboro, AR |
| Bachelors: | U. of Arkansas, B.A., 1969 |
| Law School: | U. of Arkansas School of Law, J.D., 1974 |
Contents |
David Folsom was an Article III federal judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. He joined the court in 1995 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton. Folsom was the Chief Judge of the Court, taking over the role as the court's lead judicial administrative officer from Thad Heartfield from 2009-2012. He retired from the court on March 17, 2012.[1]
Early life and education
An Arkansas native, Folsom graduated from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville with his Bachelor's Degree in 1969 and later graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law with a Juris Doctor Degree in 1974.[1]
Professional career
Folsom, started out as a private practice attorney licensed in the States of Texas and Arkansas from 1974 to 1995. Also, Folsom served as a Deputy prosecuting attorney in Layfayette County in Western Arkansas on the Texas-Arkansas border from 1978 to 1981.[1]
Judicial career
Eastern District of Texas
Folsom was nominated by Bill Clinton on January 11, 1995 to a seat vacated by Sam Hall who assumed senior status. Folsom was confirmed by the Senate on March 17, 1995 on a Senate vote and received commission on March 17, 1995. [1] Folsom became the Chief Judge of the Court effective January 1, 2009 contingent upon approval from the US Judicial Conference and served until 2012.[2]. He retired from the court on March 17, 2012.
Notable cases
TiVO case
| United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas |
|---|
| Judge Folsom presided in the case of TiVO in which the DVR manufacturer is seeking almost $1 billion from its opponent Dish Network for contempt a 5 year plus patent battle, according to a court filing. Dish Network faces contempt sanctions for infringing a TiVo patent after being ordered to stop providing DVR service. Dish had argued it altered the service to work around the patent but Judge Folsom disagreed in a June 2009 ruling.[3]
Dish Network filed on July 13, 2009 to delay a sanctions hearing until after the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rules on Dish’s challenge to the contempt finding. Judge Folsom on July 14, 2009 denied the request and a separate hearing is scheduled for July 28, 2009 in the Eastern District of Texas.[3] The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals put on hold Judge Folsom’s June 2, 2009 order that Dish and EchoStar shut down their DVR service until the appeal is decided.[3] “Judicial economy is best served by having the benefit of any sanction ruling before the Circuit when it decides EchoStar’s appeal,” Judge Folsom ruled. Judge Folsom ruled he'd delay any enforcement of the sanctions until the appeal is decided.[3] |
See also
External links
- Judge Folsom's Webpage at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- The Robing Room- Rate Judge Folsom
- Judge Folsom's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center
References
| Federal judicial offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Sam Hall |
Eastern District of Texas 1995–2012 Seat #2 |
Succeeded by: ' |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Active judges |
Chief Judge: Leonard Davis • Ron Clark • Marcia Crone • Richard Schell • Michael Schneider • James Gilstrap | ||
| Senior judges | |||
| Magistrate judges | Amos Mazzant • Don Bush • Caroline Craven • Keith Giblin • Judith Guthrie • John Love • Zack Hawthorn • Roy Payne • | ||
| Former Article III judges |
John Charles Watrous • Amos Morrill • Joel Winch • Chauncey Brewer Sabin • Robert Parker • David Ezekiel Bryant • Gordon James Russell • William Lee Estes • David Folsom • T. John Ward • William Justice • Randolph Bryant • Paul Brown • Lamar Cecil • Howell Cobb • Joseph Fisher • Sam Hall • John H. Hannah • Joseph Sheehy • William Steger • | ||
| Former Chief judges |
Robert Parker • Thad Heartfield • David Folsom • Richard Schell • William Justice • Joseph Fisher • John H. Hannah • Joseph Sheehy • | ||
