Professor Campbell received the Catherine C. Blake Exceptional Service Award, a prestigious recognition of her contributions to the federal judiciary. She was recently honored at the federal Thirteenth Bench-Bar Conference held on Friday, April 24, at the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt.
Named after intellectual leader and former Maryland U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake, who recently passed in March 2026, the award specifically acknowledges her valuable work on the district’s Maryland Patent Local Rules Committee during the 2024-25 term. This committee was tasked with a comprehensive evaluation and restructuring of the rules governing patent infringement litigation, aimed at modernizing patent proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Professor Campbell was appointed to the committee by the Honorable Lydia K. Griggsby, U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland. Other committee members included Robert Brennen (chair), Jodie Cheng, Ahmed Davis, and Larry Thompson Jr. The significance of their contribution is underscored by the court’s reception of the committee's work; the proposed revisions were adopted by the Court in their entirety, without modification. These new rules took effect in July 2025.
Following the award ceremony, the conference pivoted to the burgeoning intersection of technology and the law. Chief Judge Fader of the Supreme Court of Maryland delivered a keynote address concerning the integration of Artificial Intelligence in both civil and criminal litigation. Judge Fader’s analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing the legal profession highlights the importance of the work of scholars like Professor Campbell and other members of our Intellectual Property Law Program who strive to ensure that the foundational rules of our courts remain current with technological advancements.
The Intellectual Property Law Program extends its congratulations to Professor Campbell for this well-earned distinction and for her continued commitment to the advancement of legal practice.