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Comment by dmurray | Hacker News Reader

What's in it for him?

It seems obvious that this guy is corrupt, but exactly how? Presumably the federal government doesnt pay per case. Does he have an interest in a local law firm? Does he get kickbacks in cash? Or is he planning on returning to practicing law in a few years through the revolving door and this will raise his profile?

I guess we shouldn't rule out the possibility that he just feels passionately about patent law and shaping the American legal landscape to his own opinions. The late Justice Ginsberg was widely praised for the same. But somehow it's harder to believe in this field.

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After reading inky the article, I would have agreed. After reading the other comments, it is no longer obvious he is corrupt.

I also now agree. There's a lot wrong with a system which allows plaintiffs to choose their judge, and a lot wrong with US patent law, but in principle it's not a bad thing to have a judge who is expert in one area of law and a judicial system that prioritizes speedy trials - and there are no claims that Albright in particular is being unjustly enriched.

The judge who originally made East Texas a haven for patent trolls, T. John Ward, on the other hand, certainly did act improperly. In particular, his son owned a law firm which specialises in representing plaintiffs in his father's court. That firm now employs Ward senior.

https://thepriorart.typepad.com/the_prior_art/2008/03/judge-...

This is exactly my question. Why? Do they get paid per case or something? Are there kickbacks?

You really don't see it?

Stare decisis. He can load whatever judicial circuit he's in with patent troll friendly precedent. The only way to undo it is at the appellate or Supreme Court.

If you can't see where the conflict there is, I'm not sure I can make it any clearer. That he actively advertised to attract court traffic to his jurisdiction should be quite alarming. That he's already "telegraphed" his proclivities should be grounds for at a minimum an ethics inquest.

A blatantly prejudiced judge bodes well for no one.

They are asking specifically what the judge will get out of it.

I think you are implying that he will get back into the private sector after having granted some valuable patents to some of his friends, hopefully landing a great consulting gig or job with them? Or just start his own?

> They are asking specifically what the judge will get out of it.

To me this is a red herring. What this judge is doing has all kinds of problems regardless of what his motive is. Even if the judge thinks he's doing it for the good of the legal system and won't accept any personal gain at all, he's still wrong and he should be stopped.

That doesn’t take us all the way there. Like the grandfather post asked, what is the endgame where he actually profits? Does he have some clandestine interests in this now, or does he plan to benefit in the future somehow?

Some additional hypotheticals:

- Owns a stake (or has family who does) in a local patent-focused lawfirm

- Plans to return to private practice after precedent is set and expects precedent to increase income

- Seeks future political influence with people who would benefit from biased opinions on cases

OK... so how does he make money?

District judges receive an annual salary currently $216,400 for 2020. [0] When judges retire, they receive an annuity equal to their salary at the time of retirement for the remainder of their lives. [1]

[0] https://www.uscourts.gov/judges-judgeships/judicial-compensa...

[1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/371

Stare decisis means almost nothing at the trial court level. His decisions aren’t binding on any other court.

What if he just wants to help out all his ol’ buddies? I’m not saying he’s not corrupt, by the way - I’m saying that the motive doesn’t have to be strictly material return. We all enjoy social prestige; who knows what kind of whacky culture the patent trolls have...

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