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title: "Grace Karaffa Obermann | KnowJudges"
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# Grace Karaffa Obermann

Patent Trial and Appeal Board · Administrative Patent Judge

## Profile

- Court: Patent Trial and Appeal Board
- State: Virginia
- Role: Administrative Patent Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-29

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### hearing appearance mode

Scope: courtwide

PTAB hearings are held in person unless the Board finds good cause for a party to appear virtually; one party's approval does not establish good cause for another party.

Evidence excerpt: Starting September 1, 2025, all Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) hearings will be held in person. All parties will be expected to appear in person for hearings absent a showing of good cause.

[PTAB Hearings](https://www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/hearings)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### public hearing access

Scope: courtwide

Members of the public may request virtual or in-person access to a PTAB hearing by contacting PTABHearings@uspto.gov at least three business days before the hearing.

Evidence excerpt: To access a hearing virtually—or in person—submit a request to PTABHearings@uspto.gov at least three business days before the hearing.

[PTAB Hearings](https://www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/hearings)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### aia demonstrative content

Scope: courtwide

AIA-trial demonstratives are aids rather than evidence, must be marked as not evidence, and may not introduce new evidence or arguments.

Evidence excerpt: Demonstrative exhibits used at the oral hearing are aids and not evidence and should be clearly marked as such.

[PTAB Oral Hearing Guide](https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/PTAB-Hearing-Guide.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### appeal demonstrative deadline

Scope: courtwide

For ex parte and reexamination appeals, PowerPoint slides and other demonstratives must be submitted through Patent Center at least 10 days before the hearing and marked as not evidence.

Evidence excerpt: They must be submitted for inclusion into the record at least ten (10) days before the hearing date by submitting them through the USPTO Patent Center.

[PTAB Oral Hearing Guide](https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/PTAB-Hearing-Guide.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### hearing recording and devices

Scope: courtwide

Recording a PTAB hearing is prohibited, and gallery electronic devices are prohibited; devices used for demonstratives at counsel table are excepted.

Evidence excerpt: Recording of any PTAB hearing is prohibited. Please turn off cell phones and electronic devices, except those used for demonstratives at the counsel table.

[PTAB Oral Hearing Guide](https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/PTAB-Hearing-Guide.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### aia demonstrative service deadline

Scope: courtwide

Unless the panel directs otherwise, AIA-trial demonstratives must be served on opposing counsel at least five business days before oral argument and served electronically on the Board by the hearing.

Evidence excerpt: For AIA trials, unless otherwise directed, demonstrative exhibits must be served on opposing counsel at least five business days before the oral argument and a copy served electronically at the Board no later than the time of the oral argument.

[Use of Demonstratives and Exhibits](https://www.uspto.gov/page/use-demonstratives-and-exhibits)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### hearing room equipment

Scope: courtwide

PTAB provides specified presentation equipment, but parties must bring their own laptops, store materials offline because hearing rooms lack internet access, and obtain prior authorization for animation or video demonstratives.

Evidence excerpt: For Microsoft PowerPoint and other computer-based presentations, the party must provide its own laptop. Animation and video demonstratives cannot be presented at a hearing without specific prior authorization.

[Use of Demonstratives and Exhibits](https://www.uspto.gov/page/use-demonstratives-and-exhibits)
Source checked: 2026-07-30

### remote panel demonstrative visibility

Scope: courtwide

Parties must make demonstratives available to every APJ, including judges participating remotely, and identify the demonstrative clearly during argument.

Evidence excerpt: It is incumbent on the parties to ensure that any demonstratives used during an oral hearing are visible and available to all judges on the panel.

[Use of Demonstratives and Exhibits](https://www.uspto.gov/page/use-demonstratives-and-exhibits)
Source checked: 2026-07-30


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/organizational-offices/patent-trial-and-appeal-board?MURL=ContactPTAB)
- [Official roster](https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/organizational-offices/patent-trial-and-appeal-board?MURL=ContactPTAB)
- [U.S. Patent and Trademark Office judicial profile or roster](https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/organizational-offices/patent-trial-and-appeal-board?MURL=ContactPTAB)
- [PTAB Hearings](https://www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/hearings)
- [PTAB Oral Hearing Guide](https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/PTAB-Hearing-Guide.pdf)
- [Use of Demonstratives and Exhibits](https://www.uspto.gov/page/use-demonstratives-and-exhibits)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Legal practice: Associate at Fish & Neave LLP
- Clerkship: Judicial Law Clerk to Hon. Raymond C. Clevenger, III, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- Private practice: Of Counsel at Davidson, Berquist, Jackson & Gowdey, LLP
- Administrative Patent Judge for the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
- Government service: Assistant Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division — lead counsel in high-value IP cases involving patents on bombs, satellites, synthetic fuels, insurance products, and postage stamp art
- In summary, Grace Karaffa Obermann is a distinguished intellectual property lawyer and judge, with a career spanning science, law, government service, private practice, and administrative adjudication

### Education

- with honors — George Washington University Law School; member of The George Washington Law Review — J.D. (1989)
- in Chemistry — Rutgers University — B.A. (1984)

### Additional information

- Judicial role: Since 2012, Administrative Patent Judge for the PTAB, conducting patent trials and overseeing 300+ proceedings.
- Also a nominee for a seat on the United States Court of Federal Claims, though her nomination was withdrawn in 2021.
- 13, 2019; reported out March 5, 2020.
- Nomination: October 30, 2019, by President Donald Trump to replace Judge Susan G. Braden, who took senior status in 2018.
- President Joe Biden withdrew the nomination Feb.
- Early career: Bench chemist at FMC Corporation, designing organic synthesis of insecticidal compounds.
- focusing on federal acquisition issues and government patent practice.
- Outcome: Returned to the President Jan.
- Process: Senate Judiciary Committee heard on Nov.
- While she was nominated for a federal judgeship, she remains active as an Administrative Patent Judge on the PTAB.