Harvard Grades 9th Circuit Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have worse grades than the previous poster, but does anyone have thoughts about me for COA? I am going to try for DC Cir and feeders/semi-feeders (though I don't actually know who falls in those categories yet), but I wouldn't mind having a non-feeder COA in a less desirable circuit (10th?). 2DS/5H/3P, already have my recommenders lined up and one is very good, though of a different political persuasion than me, so perhaps not super helpful. Suppose I also have an advanced degree that might be of interest to COA judges.

[Anonymous User]

I have worse grades than the previous poster, but does anyone have thoughts about me for COA? I am going to try for DC Cir and feeders/semi-feeders (though I don't actually know who falls in those categories yet), but I wouldn't mind having a non-feeder COA in a less desirable circuit (10th?). 2DS/5H/3P, already have my recommenders lined up and one is very good, though of a different political persuasion than me, so perhaps not super helpful. Suppose I also have an advanced degree that might be of interest to COA judges.

You're sitting at -1 (1 more P than DS, rest H), which is probably in or real close to magna territory after 1L. You should be competitive most everywhere (especially as things can be somewhat of a crapshoot), but I would think you have an uphill shot at the D.C. Circuit and feeders. You should have a shot at some of the "semi-feeders" (not sure when this became a term, I like "occasional sends a clerk to SCOTUS" or something like that) and should be competitive for the non-feeders.

Slightly out of date: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4#p6326869

*UPDATED 3/5*

Below is the updated list of SCOTUS clerks by judge from OT 2009 to present (including the partially filled OT 2013 and 2014 classes). I included updates from the new ATL post and extended the list to include judges mentioned in this thread who had sent two clerks to the SCOTUS.

Also, I added the number of clerks each judge has sent to the Bristow Fellowship in the last four Bristow classes (only for judges already on the list). However, the rankings still only reflect the number of SCOTUS clerks.

1. Garland (D.C. Cir.), 20 + 1 Bristow
2. Kavanaugh (D.C. Cir.), 18 + 1 Bristow
3. Wilkinson (4th Cir.), 14 + 2 Bristows
4. Kozinski (9th Cir.), 10
4. Sutton (6th Cir.), 10 + 2 Bristows
6. Katzmann (2d Cir.), 9
7. Tatel (D.C. Cir.), 8 + 1 Bristow
8. Griffith (D.C. Cir.), 7
8. O'Scannlain (9th Cir.), 7
8. Reinhardt (9th Cir.), 7
11. D. Ginsburg (D.C. Cir.), 6
11. Gorsuch (10th Cir.), 6 + 1 Bristow
11. Calabresi (2d Cir.), 6
11. Fletcher (9th Cir.), 6 + 1 Bristow
15. Posner (7th Cir.), 5
15. J.R. Brown (D.C. Cir.), 5
17. Boudin (1st Cir.), 4 + 1 Bristow
17. Randolph (D.C. Cir.), 4 + 1 Bristow
19. E. Jones (5th Cir.), 3 + 1 Bristow
19. Sentelle (D.C. Cir.), 3
19. S. Williams (D.C. Cir.), 3
22. Carnes (11th), 2
22. Chagares (3d), 2
22. Colloton (8th), 2
22. Kethledge (6th), 2 + 2 Bristows
22. Leval (2d), 2
22. Niemeyer (4th), 2 + 1 Bristow
22. Pryor (11th), 2
22. Sack (2d), 2
22. Scirica (3d), 2

[Anonymous User]

Thanks

[Anonymous User]

Also, I think we should try and keep this discussion in the main HLS students thread, if we can. It's easier for people in the future to find this information out if it's all in one thread. Plus more people read and respond to that one.

[Doorkeeper]

I have worse grades than the previous poster, but does anyone have thoughts about me for COA? I am going to try for DC Cir and feeders/semi-feeders (though I don't actually know who falls in those categories yet), but I wouldn't mind having a non-feeder COA in a less desirable circuit (10th?). 2DS/5H/3P, already have my recommenders lined up and one is very good, though of a different political persuasion than me, so perhaps not super helpful. Suppose I also have an advanced degree that might be of interest to COA judges.

You're sitting at -1 (1 more P than DS, rest H), which is probably in or real close to magna territory after 1L. You should be competitive most everywhere (especially as things can be somewhat of a crapshoot), but I would think you have an uphill shot at the D.C. Circuit and feeders. You should have a shot at some of the "semi-feeders" (not sure when this became a term, I like "occasional sends a clerk to SCOTUS" or something like that) and should be competitive for the non-feeders.

I think this is spot on. There are maybe 3-4 feeders that you might be per se blocked from because of grades, but even then you're competitive enough to throw an app their way, especially if you have strong recommenders.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any knowledge re grades necessary for state supreme court (or any non-fed) clerkships? More H's than P's? Significantly more H's than P's? Roughly equal H's and P's?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have any knowledge re grades necessary for state supreme court (or any non-fed) clerkships? More H's than P's? Significantly more H's than P's? Roughly equal H's and P's?

my understanding was that state supremes are somewhat less competitive than dist court clerkships..so i would say a few h's and you'll have a shot

[Anonymous User]

I think that's true, with the possible exception of the Massachusetts SJC (where you probably want cum laude-ish grades at a minimum) and a couple of random SSC judges (e.g. Goodwin Liu, for whom you need feeder-level grades & credentials).