Judge Kathleen O'Malley, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Courtesy photo

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will lose its first and so far only former federal district court judge next year.

Judge Kathleen O'Malley will be retiring from the court as of next March, according to a federal court website on future judicial vacancies. Over her 11 years at the Federal Circuit, O'Malley has developed a reputation as a diligent, evenhanded jurist who maintains deference for district court decision making when warranted but is also unafraid to criticize practices she believes fall short of her standards.