Clerks: Background Check Forum

[Anonymous User]

I found a number of threads that discuss this, but not in great detail. For current clerks, how extensive was your background check? Did it also involve a credit check? Was it an SF-86 form requiring employment and references all the way back until your 18th birthday? When did they conduct the background check and how long did it take? Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Not extensive at all - in fact, I'm not sure they actually checked anything. The only thing I know they did was run my fingerprints. Otherwise, I filled out an AO-78 form, which asks about convictions, being fired, and being delinquent on a federal debt. I submitted it a little less than a month before I started. I can't find anything that suggests a credit check was involved.

[imchuckbass58]

Not extensive at all - in fact, I'm not sure they actually checked anything. The only thing I know they did was run my fingerprints. Otherwise, I filled out an AO-78 form, which asks about convictions, being fired, and being delinquent on a federal debt. I submitted it a little less than a month before I started. I can't find anything that suggests a credit check was involved.

This is correct for the most part. The one exception is if you'll be clerking for a judge who has a terrorism case docketed, or routinely handles cases involving national security, you'll be subjected to an SF-86 and the whole shebang (FBI interview, government calls everyone you list as having known you at past addresses, asked about drug history, etc).

But that's relatively rare - happens occasionally in DC, and sometimes in NY, not really anywhere else for the most part.

[Anonymous User]

Not extensive at all - in fact, I'm not sure they actually checked anything. The only thing I know they did was run my fingerprints. Otherwise, I filled out an AO-78 form, which asks about convictions, being fired, and being delinquent on a federal debt. I submitted it a little less than a month before I started. I can't find anything that suggests a credit check was involved.

This is correct for the most part. The one exception is if you'll be clerking for a judge who has a terrorism case docketed, or routinely handles cases involving national security, you'll be subjected to an SF-86 and the whole shebang (FBI interview, government calls everyone you list as having known you at past addresses, asked about drug history, etc).

But that's relatively rare - happens occasionally in DC, and sometimes in NY, not really anywhere else for the most part.

A judge can opt to have a credit check ran. Some do, most don't.

[Anonymous User]

Not extensive at all - in fact, I'm not sure they actually checked anything. The only thing I know they did was run my fingerprints. Otherwise, I filled out an AO-78 form, which asks about convictions, being fired, and being delinquent on a federal debt. I submitted it a little less than a month before I started. I can't find anything that suggests a credit check was involved.

This is correct for the most part. The one exception is if you'll be clerking for a judge who has a terrorism case docketed, or routinely handles cases involving national security, you'll be subjected to an SF-86 and the whole shebang (FBI interview, government calls everyone you list as having known you at past addresses, asked about drug history, etc).

But that's relatively rare - happens occasionally in DC, and sometimes in NY, not really anywhere else for the most part.

True. My chambers has a relevant case pending (not in NY or DC). However, because it's expensive to get a clearance, and very little on the case is likely to happen this year, and my co-clerk is permanent, my judge decided not to have me get a clearance. As with so many other things, depends on the judge/chambers!