Crystal S. Wildeman

Judge Profile: Crystal S. Wildeman

Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Position: Magistrate Judge
Date of Appointment: September 1, 2023

Judge Overview

Crystal S. Wildeman was appointed as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Indiana, sitting in the Evansville Division, on September 1, 2023. She filled the vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Matthew P. Brookman to a district judgeship. Prior to her appointment, Judge Wildeman had an extensive career in private practice. She was a partner at Barber & Bauer, LLP, a litigation partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP (formerly Wooden McLaughlin LLP), and an associate at Kahn Dees Donovan & Kahn, LLP. Her practice focused on general civil litigation, representing businesses and individuals in a range of areas including employment, contract, and personal injury law. Judge Wildeman is also a certified mediator.

Patent Docket

As a relatively new magistrate judge, Judge Wildeman’s patent docket is still developing. She presides over pretrial matters in civil cases, including intellectual property disputes. While she has been assigned to several IP-related cases, public records do not yet indicate a high volume of patent-specific litigation or specialization in any particular technology area. In her capacity, she manages cases in accordance with the Southern District of Indiana's detailed Patent Case Management Plan. This plan governs the timeline of patent cases, setting deadlines for initial disclosures, the service of preliminary infringement and invalidity contentions, and the exchange of claim terms for construction.

Notable Rulings and Trends

Given her recent appointment to the bench, Judge Wildeman has not yet authored significant published opinions in patent law or established a public record of notable rulings in this area. The single tracked patent case involving Judge Wildeman, Benjamin Booher, JR. et al. v. Schutt Sports Inc., was only recently filed on April 22, 2026, and remains in its early stages. Due to the preliminary nature of her docket, no discernible trends in her handling of patent litigation, such as tendencies in claim construction or summary judgment, have emerged.

Local Rules and Procedures

Judge Wildeman operates under the Southern District of Indiana's local rules and its established Patent Case Management Plan, which is intended to provide a realistic and structured schedule for complex patent litigation. Key features of this plan include an "Anchor Date" (the date the case was filed or removed) from which most deadlines are calculated, and a phased disclosure of infringement and invalidity contentions. The court also has a uniform protective order available for use in cases before any judge in the district. Judge Wildeman's official court profile provides guidance for counsel on procedures for protective orders and filing documents under seal, and it outlines her expectations for attorneys, including a policy to encourage the participation of less experienced lawyers in oral arguments. There are no standing orders specific to Judge Wildeman for patent cases that deviate from the district's comprehensive plan.