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I keep reading "feeder judge" around the internet, what exactly does this mean?

(a judge whose clerks are more likely to get SCOTUS clerkships afterwards?)

Certain judges place a large number of their clerks in the SCOUTS. They usually know SCOTUS justices and the justices trust their judgment about people.

It's increasingly the case that the SCOTUS doesn't take many people right out of law school, so a feeder judge clerkship is necessary to have a shot.

nealric wrote:Certain judges place a large number of their clerks in the SCOUTS. They usually know SCOTUS justices and the justices trust their judgment about people.

It's increasingly the case that the SCOTUS doesn't take many people right out of law school, so a feeder judge clerkship is necessary to have a shot.

Thank you so much!

nealric wrote:Certain judges place a large number of their clerks in the SCOUTS. They usually know SCOTUS justices and the justices trust their judgment about people.

It's increasingly the case that the SCOTUS doesn't take many people right out of law school, so a feeder judge clerkship is necessary to have a shot.

I'm almost certain the Supreme Court Justices don't take anyone straight out of law school.

I'm also pretty sure the feeder judges are all at the U.S. Court of Appeals level.