Judge Rodney Gilstrap was confirmed in 2011 to serve as United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas (EDTX). Judge Gilstrap holds a BA magna cum laude from Baylor University. He also holds a JD from the Baylor University School of Law where he was an Associate Editor of the Baylor Law Review. Judge Gilstrap received an LLD degree from East Texas Baptist University in 2023. He has served as President of the Baylor Law Alumni Association and in 2018 he was named the "Baylor Lawyer of the year” -- the highest recognition given by his law school. He was also selected as “Jurist of the year” for 2018 by TEX-ABOTA (which comprises all 16 chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates situated in Texas). In 2023, he was recognized with the Outstanding Public Service Award from The New York Intellectual Property Lawyers Association.