Compensation doesn't always come in direct form.

Marshall, Tx has a population of about 25k. Yet, the city continues to get donations from Samsung which has patent cases in the district[0][1]. My own hometown was quite a bit larger than 25k, but I don't ever recall having major corporate sponsors of a wide variety of activities.

While I don't know the thoughts of Samsung or Judge Gilstrap, I imagine he's very popular for bring so much business to town.

[0] - https://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/2012/oct/20/samsu... TVs, MP3 players, athletic sponsor, library, habitat for humanity, boys and girls club, fire department, etc.

[1] - http://www.marshalltexas.net/uploads/pdf/Community_Update_10... Returning attractions include the Samsung ice rink

It's interesting then what makes Gilstrap so energetic in his efforts to keep those patent-cases coming. Assuming there are no direct monetary payments from patent trolls coming his way, what is is incentive? Does he get "favors" from patent trolls, or does he have a relatives or friends who benefit from his practices? Always follow the money, is what I heard :).

The tradition in the Texas was to have son create and run patent law practices while the judges serve in the court to get around the direct benefit technicality. Then when the judge retires he joins a patent law practice.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/04/east-texas-judge...

Money is far from the only thing that motivates people to do bad stuff. Plus, consider, he may not even think of what he's doing as at all bad.