Do Judges Write Letters of Recommendation? Forum

[nachosrgood]

Do judges write letters of recommendation or just provide a oral review if they are called via phone?

2L here. I Interned at a state appellate level last summer. I am thinking of asking him to write me one for a appellate clinic application at my school. Figure that would help me get the clinic for 3L year and can be sent next year for clerkships I apply for next year. Sounds reasonable, right?

[ilikebaseball]

one of my LOR's was a judge who also happened to be my professor.

[A. Nony Mouse]

You will have to ask. I know of judges who have written letters, but I know many who won't, on the grounds that it looks like they're using their judicial position improperly. I think it may be easier to get a letter if it's going to go to someone who's never possibly going to appear in front of the judge (e.g. another judge), but really, you will need to ask the judge to see how they feel about it.

[hiima3L]

Some do, some don't.

[victortsoi]

they do just like any other employer, the only rub is that they have to be sure there isn't a conflict of interest, and in a big city, those are easier to find. For example, a judge might not write a letter to a DA or PD office in the same county where they sit. Things like that. What they generally all do is, if you list them as references, they may provide a letter or pick up the phone when contacted FIRST by the employer.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Some just don't write at all.