Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation

The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML or the Panel) is a special body within the United States federal court system. It was established by Congress in 1968 and has the authority to determine whether civil actions pending in two or more federal judicial districts should be transferred to a single federal district court for pretrial proceedings. If such cases are determined to involve one or more common questions of fact and are transferred, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation will then select the district court and assign a judge or judges to preside over the litigation. The purpose of the transfer or "centralization" process is to conserve the resources of the parties and their counsel, as well as the judiciary, thus avoiding duplication of discovery and preventing inconsistent pretrial rulings.

The Chief Justice of the United States appoints the members of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, which is composed of seven district or court of appeals judges, each of whom must be from a different judicial circuit. In addition to their participation on the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, the members continue to serve as judges for the courts to which they were originally appointed. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation convenes hearings in various locations around the country to facilitate the participation of parties and their counsel. Washington, D. C. is the location of the Office of the Clerk of the Panel.

As of September 30, 2009, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation had transferred more than 320,000 lawsuits in more than 2,100 multidistrict litigations. These dockets encompass litigation categories as diverse as securities fraud, drugs and other products liability cases, intellectual property infringement, airplane crashes and employment practices.

The international law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. (SHB) has extensive experience working with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. With an office in Washington, D. C. and eight others strategically located around the world, our Government Enforcement & Compliance Practice draws on the experience and expertise of the most sought after litigators.

SHB attorneys are known for taking an active role in issues such as those involving the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. An SHB Partner recently testified before the West Virginia Independent Commission on Judicial Reform during a hearing on ?The Structure of Our Judicial Branch,? addressing concerns about the lack of a guaranteed right to appeal a trial court in West Virginia.

To learn more about our involvement with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation contact us at any of our offices today.

Geneva | Houston | London | Miami | Orange County | San Francisco | Tampa | Washington, D.C.