--- title: "Linda E. Horner | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/linda-e-horner-administrative-patent-judge" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-08" --- # Linda E. Horner 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) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/linda-e-horner-administrative-patent-judge", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/linda-e-horner-administrative-patent-judge", "name": "Linda E. 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Horner is a seasoned intellectual property adjudicator with a long career in patent law, now leading the PTAB’s most senior judicial role and shaping USPTO policy on competition and innovation - Prior to USPTO, she was a partner at a Washington, D.C. law firm ### Education - Boston University School of Law — J.D. (1994) - in Mechanical Engineering — Cornell University — B.S. ### Additional information - Appointed to the PTAB in 2006 as an Administrative Patent Judge. - Admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1994, and to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 1999, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000. - Held roles as Senior Legal Advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. - representing clients in patent matters before the USPTO and federal courts. - overseeing patent appeals and leading initiatives on competition policy. - Acting Senior Lead Administrative Patent Judge on the PTAB, a body that adjudicates patent appeals, including inter partes review (IPR) and other post‐grant proceedings. - Judge Horner’s expertise spans intellectual property law, including patents, patent litigation, appeals, and portfolio management. - Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. - held the role of Acting Vice Chief Judge of the PTAB. - In this capacity, she also leads USPTO collaboration efforts with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and advances President Biden’s Executive Order on “Promoting Competition in the American Economy”. - Before joining the USPTO, Judge Horner’s legal career included high‐level patent advocacy in the private sector, and her USPTO service has included leadership in policy, legal advisory, and judicial review.