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Becoming a Judge
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 12:42 pm
by Miller32
What's the typical route? Clearly most are going to practice for awhile first, but after some time passes what's the typical move to get on the bench? Just be well-connected politically?
Re: Becoming a Judge
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 12:52 pm
by anon168
Miller32 wrote:What's the typical route? Clearly most are going to practice for awhile first, but after some time passes what's the typical move to get on the bench? Just be well-connected politically?
Yup. And throw in a good bit of luck.
Re: Becoming a Judge
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 1:17 pm
by HeavenWood
anon168 wrote:Miller32 wrote:What's the typical route? Clearly most are going to practice for awhile first, but after some time passes what's the typical move to get on the bench? Just be well-connected politically?
Yup. And throw in a good bit of luck.
who you know >>>>>>>>>> what you know
Re: Becoming a Judge
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 1:53 pm
by cinephile
Drop out of law school, get elected as a judge.
Re: Becoming a Judge
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 2:12 pm
by clockwerk
Take a look at some of the judgeship applications online. That'll give you an idea as to what different districts are looking for. The process varies by court -- federal v. state and appointed v. elected, for example. Federal courts tend to favor experienced litigators, and it's unusual for a law clerk to become a federal judge. State courts, I've heard, do have judges who transitioned over from being law clerks.
The caveat to this info is that my limited exposure to judgeship selection is through knowing people who've gone through or are planning to go through the selection process.