Haldane Mayer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senior Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2010 | |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit | |
| In office December 24, 1997 – December 25, 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Glenn L. Archer Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Paul Redmond Michel |
| Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit | |
| In office June 15, 1987 – June 30, 2010 | |
| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Marion T. Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Jimmie V. Reyna |
| Judge of theUnited States Claims Court | |
| In office December 10, 1982 – June 19, 1987 | |
| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | James T. Turner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Haldane Robert Mayer (1941-02-21)February 21, 1941 (age 84) Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Education | United States Military Academy (BS) College of William and Mary (JD) |
Haldane Robert Mayer (born February 21, 1941)[1] is aseniorUnited States circuit judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Mayer was born inBuffalo, New York, to Haldane and Myrtle Mayer.[2] He was educated in the public schools of Lockport, New York.[2] Mayer was appointed to theUnited States Military Academy by RepresentativeWilliam E. Miller, and received aBachelor of Science degree in 1963. Mayer served in theUnited States Army from 1963 to 1975. He was awarded theBronze Star,Meritorious Service, and ArmyCommendation Medals, theCombat Infantryman Badge,Parachutist Badge,Ranger Tab, and Ranger Combat Badge for his service during theVietnam War. He took leave from the Army to attend theWilliam & Mary Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of theWilliam and Mary Law Review. He graduated first in his class and received hisJuris Doctor in 1971.[3][4] He attendedThe Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School at theUniversity of Virginia.
Mayer served as special assistant to the Chief Justice of the United States,Warren E. Burger, for three years, and aslaw clerk to JudgeJohn D. Butzner Jr., of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He was in private practice inCharlottesville,Virginia, in the 1970s, and inWashington, D.C., in 1980 and 1981. He was Deputy and Acting Special Counsel at theUnited States Merit Systems Protection Board from 1981 to 1982.[5]
PresidentRonald Reagan appointed him to theUnited States Claims Court in 1982, where he served until 1987. Mayer was nominated by PresidentRonald Reagan on February 3, 1987, to a seat on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated by JudgeMarion T. Bennett. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on June 11, 1987, and received commission on June 15, 1987.[5] He served as Chief Judge from 1997 to 2004.[5] Mayer assumedsenior status on June 30, 2010.[5][3][4] He was an adjunct professor at theGeorge Washington University Law School and theUniversity of Virginia School of Law.[3][4][6] He was a member of theJudicial Conference of the United States from 1997 to 2004.[2]
Mayer wrote a concurring opinion inIntellectual Ventures v. Symantec,[7] that controversially argues that "(1) patents constricting the essential channels of online communication run afoul of the First Amendment; and (2) claims directed to software implemented on a generic computer are categorically not eligible for patent."[8][9]
Mayer married Mary Anne McCurdy on August 13, 1966. They had two daughters, Anne Christian and Rebecca Paige.[2]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New seat | Judge of theUnited States Claims Court 1982–1987 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 1987–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 1997–2004 | Succeeded by |