Let's Talk 8th Circuit! Forum

[Anonymous User]

Overheard that Gruender is scheduling interviews for 2026-2028, FYI.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know why Judge Gruender asks for LSAT score? Is there a specific cutoff or is he trying to get other information from the LSAT score?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know why Judge Gruender asks for LSAT score? Is there a specific cutoff or is he trying to get other information from the LSAT score?

I think the point is so he can know if you had the option to go to a higher ranked law school but chose to go to a lower ranked school with a bigger scholarship.

[Anonymous User]

With the former being held against you but the latter not? As in, not having the option to go to a higher ranked school would be held against you?

[Anonymous User]

With the former being held against you but the latter not? As in, not having the option to go to a higher ranked school would be held against you?

He's very grade focused, even to the point of looking at ur college credentials. So anything signaling academic achievement, including LSAT, matters. Not sure re: school selectivity but his clerks generally come from T6 (he doesn't take WUSTL clerks for example which is odd).

[Anonymous User]

With the former being held against you but the latter not? As in, not having the option to go to a higher ranked school would be held against you?

He's very grade focused, even to the point of looking at ur college credentials. So anything signaling academic achievement, including LSAT, matters. Not sure re: school selectivity but his clerks generally come from T6 (he doesn't take WUSTL clerks for example which is odd).

Eh, not that grade focused. I had an interview with him with objectively mid-tier grades at HYS (and downright meh grades in undergrad, at least compared to other people from my school). His clerks were very clearly focused on political questions, though.

[Anonymous User]

With the former being held against you but the latter not? As in, not having the option to go to a higher ranked school would be held against you?

He's very grade focused, even to the point of looking at ur college credentials. So anything signaling academic achievement, including LSAT, matters. Not sure re: school selectivity but his clerks generally come from T6 (he doesn't take WUSTL clerks for example which is odd).

Eh, not that grade focused. I had an interview with him with objectively mid-tier grades at HYS (and downright meh grades in undergrad, at least compared to other people from my school). His clerks were very clearly focused on political questions, though.

Maybe he treats HYS differently, IDK? A fried of mine at UChi told me he was scanning the grades closely and mentioned them during interview.

[Anonymous User]

With the former being held against you but the latter not? As in, not having the option to go to a higher ranked school would be held against you?

He's very grade focused, even to the point of looking at ur college credentials. So anything signaling academic achievement, including LSAT, matters. Not sure re: school selectivity but his clerks generally come from T6 (he doesn't take WUSTL clerks for example which is odd).

A WUSTL grad clerked for Gruender just in the last couple years. He doesn’t hire his interns is all.

[Anonymous User]

With the former being held against you but the latter not? As in, not having the option to go to a higher ranked school would be held against you?

He's very grade focused, even to the point of looking at ur college credentials. So anything signaling academic achievement, including LSAT, matters. Not sure re: school selectivity but his clerks generally come from T6 (he doesn't take WUSTL clerks for example which is odd).

Didn't really get the impression gruender was grade focused. Maybe more so than others, but he hires a ton of T6 clerks that are outside the top 10% of the class.

[Anonymous User]

Thirding that Gruender doesn’t seem especially grade-focused for T6 clerks. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is for Wash U students, but just about every circuit judge will be. Also I can confirm he hires from Wash U.

[Anonymous User]

Does top 15-20% at T6 have a chance at Judge Shepherd? Also, does Shepherd hire straight out of law school or just for grads that would have had a year or two of WE?

[Anonymous User]

Does top 15-20% at T6 have a chance at Judge Shepherd? Also, does Shepherd hire straight out of law school or just for grads that would have had a year or two of WE?

absolutely. Though, as always, nothing is guaranteed. But with those stats, I think you have a legitimate shot at a lot of COA judges. Just a matter of whether you get the opportunity or not.

[Anonymous User]

Does top 15-20% at T6 have a chance at Judge Shepherd? Also, does Shepherd hire straight out of law school or just for grads that would have had a year or two of WE?

He has hired straight out.

[Anonymous User]

Shepherd is very attainable if you have those grades and Arkansas ties.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any info on clerking for Erickson? The earlier posts in the thread weren’t conclusive on how he is as a boss or really how he is regarded by other judges in the circuit.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any info on clerking for Erickson? The earlier posts in the thread weren’t conclusive on how he is as a boss or really how he is regarded by other judges in the circuit.

highly regarded by other judges. His clerks seem to like him.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any info on clerking for Erickson? The earlier posts in the thread weren’t conclusive on how he is as a boss or really how he is regarded by other judges in the circuit.

highly regarded by other judges. His clerks seem to like him.

Good to hear. I know someone clerking for him soon and am glad their experience will be good.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know anything about Judge Menendez from District Minnesota? Relatively new but curious if anyone has any info

[Anonymous User]

Any info re hiring preferences for Judge Loken? Grades, school, etc

[Anonymous User]

Any info re hiring preferences for Judge Loken? Grades, school, etc

At UChicago he's one of the more selective judges on the Eighth Circuit (not saying much tbh) and seems to have a strong preference for people from Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know if Judge Kelly has hired for 2025-2026 term?