Gifting a Judge Forum

[Norwood]

I'm finishing up an judicial externship in a week and I was wondering whether it is appropriate to give a judge a gift. I've heard that judges aren't allowed to accept gifts. Is this true?

Does this apply to externs? If not, any suggestions on what an appropriate gift would be great!

[3ThrowAway99]

I'm finishing up an judicial externship in a week and I was wondering whether it is appropriate to give a judge a gift. I've heard that judges aren't allowed to accept gifts. Is this true?

Does this apply to externs? If not, any suggestions on what an appropriate gift would be great!

I think federal judges can accept certain gifts, but there are strict guidelines. I'm not positive about this though. If you worked for a federal judge I would contact the HR department (person who did your initial paperwork) to see what the guidelines are. You could make also ask one of the clerks, or perhaps even run it by the judge him/herself--though obviously you are probably trying to avoid that.

If its a state-level externship, you might want to try a similar approach. People on here can give feedback, but I think checking directly with an official at the Court is the best way to be sure.

[thesealocust]

I'm finishing up an judicial externship in a week and I was wondering whether it is appropriate to give a judge a gift.

It isn't. That would be true if your summer legal employer were anybody other than a judge as well.

[IrwinM.Fletcher]

Yes, thank you for letting me work approximately 500 hours this summer for free. Please accept this as a token of my gratitude.

Really?

[NotMyRealName09]

No, don't give a gift to a Judge.

[beach_terror]

Yes, thank you for letting me work approximately 500 hours this summer for free. Please accept this as a token of my gratitude.

Really?

lol'd

[jawsome]

You should just write a thoughtful thank you letter. I'm sure it will be more appreciated and is unquestionably appropriate.

[crossarmant]

Yes, thank you for letting me work approximately 500 hours this summer for free. Please accept this as a token of my gratitude.

Really?

Hilarious.

[stratocophic]

I probably wouldn't accept it even if offered, personally. You should first take into account whether the recipient actually has the space and disposable income to properly feed and house one.

[JamMasterJ]

He/she's not your 5th grade teacher so, no

[crossarmant]

I probably wouldn't accept it even if offered, personally. You should first take into account whether the recipient actually has the space and disposable income to properly feed and house one.

I've also heard that judges can be quite temperamental, like to scratch the furniture, and don't handle households with small children well. Housebreaking a judge can be truly miserable.

[NeighborGuy]

It's never appropriate to give a gift to someone of obviously higher status than you, particularly your boss.

Think about how you would feel if you were a partner at a law firm and one of the new summers, out of the kindness of his heart, bought you toaster or something. Think about what kind of signals that sends.

[094320]

..

[die Zauberflote]

HAVEN'T YOU SEEN A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS???? NO; DON'T GIFT A JUDGE! HE'LL END UP IN THE BLOODY TOWER!

[thesteelers]

How is it not appropriate to give a gift when this is just a summer employment thing? Granted I'm a 0L and I don't know etiquette with the judiciary or biglaw, but as an undergrad I did a couple of high-profile internships. I gave my boss a modest gift at the end of each internship (cupcakes from a famous local bakery, a box of chocolates, etc) and it was always received with pleasure. And all the interns who preceded me in those offices gave gifts as well, some of them more expensive (like a fancy pen). People I knew in other similar internships also gave gifts at the end of the internship.

Once you're permanently employed, I can see how it would be inappropriate. I wouldn't give gifts either in that case. But you're a student and this is summer work, and as long as the gift is something MODEST and casual, I think it should be fine.

[MrAnon]

It seems silly. I have never seen an underling buy a gift for the boss, except maybe some token then around christmas.

[SeymourShowz]

Don't do it. If anything, the judge should buy you a gift. A firm handshake and a thank you should be just fine.

[Moxie]

Write a thank you note, and leave it at that.

[traydeuce]

Don't do that.

[Pizon]

It's never appropriate to give a gift to someone of obviously higher status than you, particularly your boss.

Also, stay at least six feet behind them and never look them directly in the eye.

[missinglink]

Don't do it. If anything, the judge should buy you a gift. A firm handshake and a thank you should be just fine.

That's how I ended my summer internship, and it seemed fine all around. I'd advise against the gift as well.

[Renne Walker]

Also, stay at least six feet behind them and never look them directly in the eye.

And when you standup, make certain that your head never goes higher than theirs . . . ohhh wait, maybe that’s when I was working for the King.

[Pizon]

Nah, that's when you were working for the pharmacist.

[roothlus]

Why specifically is it inappropriate to give a modest and thoughtful gift to a judge as a way of thanking him for a tremendous learning experience? What is the negative message that it sends?

[TrojanHopeful]

Give him the gift along with a note that states "if I ever practice in your courtroom, I hope you remember this when ruling."