Haldane Robert Mayer
How Judge Mayer rules, drawn from 48 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Mayer
Haldane Robert Mayer is a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan, Judge Mayer received a commission on June 15, 1987. Judge Mayer assumed senior status on June 30, 2010.
Judge Mayer's practices and standing orders
The court's website lists no individual practices or standing orders of Judge Mayer's own (checked October 11, 2026), so the court's local rules and general orders are the place to look (court page ↗).
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 11, 2026).
How Judge Mayer decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Becton, Dickinson & Co. v. Tyco Healthcare Group, Mayer reversed an infringement judgment because the district court misconstrued the “spring means” patent limitation and erred in denying judgment as a matter of law.
“Because we conclude that the district court incorrectly construed the ‘spring means’ limitation of the asserted claims and erred in denying Tyco’s motion for judgment as a matter of law (‘JMOL’), we reverse.”
He requires the patent appeals board to expose the reasoning supporting its decision so appellate review does not depend on guessing at the agency's theory.
“Under the APA, the board is obligated not only to come to a sound decision, but to fully and particularly set out the bases upon which it reached that decision.”
In Merck & Cie v. Watson Laboratories, he treated Martin's fax stating price, delivery, and payment terms as a commercial offer for sale in the patent on-sale-bar dispute.
“Martin’s detailed fax—providing essential price, delivery, and payment terms—contained all the required elements to qualify as a commercial offer for sale.”
He begins preliminary-injunction review from the premise that the remedy is exceptional and must be justified rather than presumed.
“A preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy never awarded as of right.”
In Uniloc 2017 v. Apple, he distinguished Uniloc's overbroad sealing request from the interests of third-party licensees, whose confidential information called for separate analysis.
“Such third parties were not responsible for Uniloc’s filing of an overbroad sealing request.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Accordingly, the judgment of the Claims Court is affirmed.”
“Accordingly, the decision of the board is reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
“Accordingly, the judgment of the Court of Federal Claims is reversed in-part and vacated in-part, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
“Accordingly, the decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board is affirmed.”
“Accordingly, the decision of the General Services Administration Board of Contract Appeals is affirmed.”
“Accordingly, the judgment of the Court of International Trade is reversed.”
“Accordingly, the decision of the Army Corps of Engineers Board of Contract Appeals’ judgment is affirmed.”
“Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.”
“Accordingly, the decision of the board is reversed and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
“Accordingly, the judgment of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan is affirmed.”
“Accordingly, the judgment of the Court of International Trade is reversed and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.”
“we affirm-in-part, reverse-in-part, vacate-in-part, and remand.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Circuit judges do not carry a trial caseload; not enumerated.
Draft for Judge Mayer with the record in hand
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