Gifting a Judge Forum

(Study Tips, Dealing With Stress, Maintaining a Social Life, Financial Aid, Internships, Bar Exam, Careers in Law . . . )
Norwood

Bronze
Posts: 344
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:13 pm

Gifting a Judge

Post by Norwood » Sun Jul 24, 2011 4:44 am

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

Gold
Posts: 2005
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 10:36 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by 3ThrowAway99 » Sun Jul 24, 2011 4:49 am

Norwood wrote: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.

User avatar
thesealocust

Platinum
Posts: 8525
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:50 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by thesealocust » Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:48 pm

Norwood wrote: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.

User avatar
IrwinM.Fletcher

Silver
Posts: 1268
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2011 2:55 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by IrwinM.Fletcher » Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:37 pm

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

Silver
Posts: 1396
Joined: Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:50 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by NotMyRealName09 » Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:49 pm

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

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


beach_terror

Platinum
Posts: 7921
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:01 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by beach_terror » Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:58 pm

IrwinM.Fletcher wrote: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

New
Posts: 84
Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:05 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by jawsome » Sun Jul 24, 2011 8:01 pm

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

User avatar
crossarmant

Silver
Posts: 1116
Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:01 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by crossarmant » Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:48 am

IrwinM.Fletcher wrote: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.

User avatar
stratocophic

Gold
Posts: 2204
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:24 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by stratocophic » Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:07 am

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.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


User avatar
JamMasterJ

Platinum
Posts: 6649
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:17 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by JamMasterJ » Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:12 am

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

User avatar
crossarmant

Silver
Posts: 1116
Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:01 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by crossarmant » Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:08 pm

stratocophic wrote: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.

User avatar
NeighborGuy

Bronze
Posts: 119
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:51 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by NeighborGuy » Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:35 pm

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

Gold
Posts: 4086
Joined: Sat May 16, 2009 5:27 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by 094320 » Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:38 pm

..

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


die Zauberflote

Bronze
Posts: 120
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:12 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by die Zauberflote » Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:08 pm

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

thesteelers

Bronze
Posts: 217
Joined: Sun May 01, 2011 6:06 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by thesteelers » Sat Jul 30, 2011 9:54 am

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

Gold
Posts: 1610
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 9:08 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by MrAnon » Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:57 am

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

User avatar
SeymourShowz

Bronze
Posts: 164
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:04 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by SeymourShowz » Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:02 pm

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

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


User avatar
Moxie

Silver
Posts: 663
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:27 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by Moxie » Sat Jul 30, 2011 3:56 pm

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

traydeuce

Silver
Posts: 680
Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:07 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by traydeuce » Sat Jul 30, 2011 7:29 pm

Don't do that.

User avatar
Pizon

Bronze
Posts: 138
Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:53 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by Pizon » Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:19 am

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

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

missinglink

Silver
Posts: 946
Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:49 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by missinglink » Fri Aug 05, 2011 4:02 am

SeymourShowz wrote: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.

Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.

Register now, it's still FREE!


User avatar
Renne Walker

Silver
Posts: 545
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 2:12 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by Renne Walker » Sun Aug 07, 2011 8:15 pm

Pizon wrote: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.

User avatar
Pizon

Bronze
Posts: 138
Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:53 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by Pizon » Sun Aug 07, 2011 11:38 pm

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

roothlus

New
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:54 pm

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by roothlus » Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:57 pm

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?

User avatar
TrojanHopeful

Bronze
Posts: 385
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:37 am

Re: Gifting a Judge

Post by TrojanHopeful » Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:06 pm

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

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!


Post Reply

Return to “Forum for Law School Students”