Barton v. Barr
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Barton v. Barr and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Barton v. Barr.
In Barton v. Barr, the Supreme Court addressed whether the agency's decision to institute inter partes review is subject to judicial review. The Court concluded that Section 314(d) of the statute precludes judicial review of the agency's application of Section 315(b)'s time prescription. This decision reinforces the statute's purpose to efficiently weed out bad patent claims.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Barton v. Barr.
The Court held that Section 314(d) precludes judicial review of the agency's application of Section 315(b)'s time prescription.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Barton v. Barr. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Administrative Law is relevant to Barton v. Barr
The case primarily involves the limits of judicial review over agency decisions, specifically the Patent Office's decision to institute inter partes review.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Section 314(d) precludes judicial review of the agency's application of § 315(b)'s time prescription.
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Why Judicial Review is relevant to Barton v. Barr
The Court's decision focuses on whether the agency's decision to institute inter partes review is subject to judicial review.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)A party generally cannot contend on appeal that the agency should have refused 'to institute an inter partes review.'
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Why Preemption is relevant to Barton v. Barr
The case involves the question of whether federal law (the statute governing inter partes review) precludes judicial review of certain agency decisions.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Section 314(d) bars review at least of matters 'closely tied to the application and interpretation of statutes related to' the institution decision.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Barton v. Barr that support the summary and concepts above.
Section 314(d) precludes judicial review of the agency's application of § 315(b)'s time prescription.
A party generally cannot contend on appeal that the agency should have refused 'to institute an inter partes review.'
Congress designed inter partes review to weed out bad patent claims efficiently.
