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I interned this spring with a Judge who is a State Supreme Court justice but has senior status meaning she is retired and mostly hears a part-time load of intermediate appeals. They can always use more judges for the immediate appeals whereas she would only hear a Supreme Court case when there is a recusal, which is more rare. The Judge is great and everything and our relationship is fine but she almost exclusively works from home and I only spent less than five actual days with her. Even though our relationship was fine, we did not super gel. People have been encouraging me to get a letter of recommendation and to try and get her to give me a copy of it now in case she decides to ride off into the sunset for real in terms of her retirement.

It almost seems like a stretch to me to ask for just a regular reference because we had so little interaction and most of my work was with the full-time clerk. He has said he is happy to be reference but encouraged me to ask the judge. At the same time, if it really is normal for her to do this, I am sure she will. I am so confused how to handle, though, and just trying to get a sense of what the normal practice is. I will be asking over e-mail, too, (I don't have a phone number) which makes it more awkward.

You should definitely ask. The worst that will happen is the judge says no; which is no big deal.

depends on the nature of the letter, is this letter gonna matter to your clerkship/ job hunting, or this is merely for the bar application.

she cannot possibly be a strong letter as she barely knows you. you kinda need to impress someone major to have a good letter. also sounds like she has checked out. just dont do this on everybody. unless you need to and have no others then ask her and let her know that she is the last resort.