agreed, it doesn't seem like it should be a jury trial, but instead should be just a hearing in front of matter experts.
What does joe schmoe know about the nuances around patent law? There is a reason there are lawyers who specialize their entire practice just around patent law.
Experts are employed in most (probably closer to all) patent trials, but they tend to have an offsetting effect (or at least that is the opinion).
I think a system of appointed masters has its issues too. Theoretically, that is the PTOs role right?
The closest idea I've been able to think of is a modification to the jury system so that the base pool that jurors are randomly selected from consists of people with experience in that field. Essentially, the base pool is of persons of ordinary skill in the art. I have no idea how to practically implement that though.
Too much room for bias. Remember, "experts" doesn't just mean people who know to apply heavy skepticism to ignore frivolous patents; it also includes people who wholeheartedly support patents and believe most of them have merit.
What does joe schmoe know about the nuances around patent law? There is a reason there are lawyers who specialize their entire practice just around patent law.