Senior (semi-retired) Judge Bryson was taking district level cases by designation in East Texas ... because that's where abusive patent cases get filed. Bryson doesn't have as much impact as a full time CAFC judge, and can't vote in essential en banc cases.

And two of the CAFC cases were rump panels with Taranto and Hughes. Rader's retirement left the panels short.

But I hope it's a trend!