Let's talk 5th Circuit! Forum

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:56 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:55 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:18 am
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:24 am
Any insight on interviews for 5th Circuit judges? Especially Judge Smith?
Judge Smith has a great alumni network and his clerkship has a superb reputation for quality of life. Probably one of the best few non-feeder conservative clerkships in the country.
I have heard similar things.
I thought Smith was a semi-feeder to the conservative justices? Does he draw SCOTUS-level clerks?

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:06 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:56 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:55 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:18 am
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:24 am
Any insight on interviews for 5th Circuit judges? Especially Judge Smith?
Judge Smith has a great alumni network and his clerkship has a superb reputation for quality of life. Probably one of the best few non-feeder conservative clerkships in the country.
I have heard similar things.
I thought Smith was a semi-feeder to the conservative justices? Does he draw SCOTUS-level clerks?
Maybe depending on your definition of semi-feeder, he's fed two in the last decade according to the rankings (so 2 for 40), which is two more than most but maybe not enough for such an established judge.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:08 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:56 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:55 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 11:18 am
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:24 am
Any insight on interviews for 5th Circuit judges? Especially Judge Smith?
Judge Smith has a great alumni network and his clerkship has a superb reputation for quality of life. Probably one of the best few non-feeder conservative clerkships in the country.
I have heard similar things.
I thought Smith was a semi-feeder to the conservative justices? Does he draw SCOTUS-level clerks?

He's sent a few in his 30+ years, but he is not a feeder and almost always those clerks have to do another clerkship with a feeder.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:19 pm

Since Smith hires exclusively 1Ls, I suspect his clerk's credentials are a bit disparate by the time they actually clerk for him. Some may keep on being great students and end up with SCOTUS quality credentials, some may come back to earth and just have very solid credentials.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:45 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 3:19 pm
Since Smith hires exclusively 1Ls, I suspect his clerk's credentials are a bit disparate by the time they actually clerk for him. Some may keep on being great students and end up with SCOTUS quality credentials, some may come back to earth and just have very solid credentials.
You can look at Smith's wikipedia page to see that the quality of clerk he attracts is very high. He also runs a fair process, he's open about his application, interviews a fair number of people, and doesn't do crazy things like hire Yale 1Ls after 1 semester with no grades like some feeders.

I think he gets many SCOTUS level people that applied early, got him, and then fell out of SCOTUS contention because he has no ties to the current justices and none of his former clerks that are now justices are feeders (maybe Ho and Eid will be, but they aren't really right now).

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Jun 09, 2020 6:45 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:19 pm
Does anyone know what terms Judge Ho is hiring for? OSCAR seems to indicate he is only accepting email and paper applications, but it doesn't specify for which terms.
He's full for 2021, has hired at least some for 2022 (but may not be full for that year), and I know someone who said he was under consideration for 2023.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Tue Jun 09, 2020 6:56 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 6:45 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Tue Jun 09, 2020 2:19 pm
Does anyone know what terms Judge Ho is hiring for? OSCAR seems to indicate he is only accepting email and paper applications, but it doesn't specify for which terms.
He's full for 2021, has hired at least some for 2022 (but may not be full for that year), and I know someone who said he was under consideration for 2023.
Pretty sure he's like Judge Smith. You basically have to be referred by a connection.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 10, 2020 3:37 am

For the sake of being explicit, does anyone have relatively direct knowledge of Judge Smith's interview process, i.e. how the interview works and what types of questions are asked? I heard he has both fit and substance components.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 10, 2020 8:39 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Jun 10, 2020 3:37 am
For the sake of being explicit, does anyone have relatively direct knowledge of Judge Smith's interview process, i.e. how the interview works and what types of questions are asked? I heard he has both fit and substance components.
I heard they waterboard candidates to see how they act under pressure.

It is actually a pretty standard interview from what I've heard. Clerks ask you tough questions on law. Judge tries to get to know you a bit. My advice would be the same for every other interview. Read the judge's marquee opinions (Smith has a list of them on his OSCAR page), and give your honest opinion in the interview.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 10, 2020 8:48 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Jun 10, 2020 3:37 am
For the sake of being explicit, does anyone have relatively direct knowledge of Judge Smith's interview process, i.e. how the interview works and what types of questions are asked? I heard he has both fit and substance components.
This is correct. The interview with Judge Smith is purely for fit. But the clerks will grill you on substance--not a memory contest, no "tell me me the text of the 14th Amendment from memory," but they'll give you fact patterns or statutes and ask you to make decisions based off them, ask about favorite Supreme Court cases and justices, as well as least favorite, ask you what you think in broad terms about various legal doctrines, etc. One interviewer asked me to name something that was constitutional but that I wish wasn't (I said death penalty). If you have time, you'll also go to lunch with Judge Smith, his JA, and the clerks.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 10, 2020 9:28 pm

Thanks for the insight. Any suggestions on preparation? I enjoy law school and learn the cases we read thoroughly, but I do not spend much of my free time reading Supreme Court decisions or legal philosophy, so I am not currently ready to just answer any substantive question that could come up, nor do I have an especially sophisticated sense of all the competing legal philosophies (although I generally subscribe to originalism).

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 10, 2020 9:52 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Jun 10, 2020 9:28 pm
Thanks for the insight. Any suggestions on preparation? I enjoy law school and learn the cases we read thoroughly, but I do not spend much of my free time reading Supreme Court decisions or legal philosophy, so I am not currently ready to just answer any substantive question that could come up, nor do I have an especially sophisticated sense of all the competing legal philosophies (although I generally subscribe to originalism).
You got the best advice above -- read his opinions and give your honest opinion. You aren't going to learn all of admin law and constitutional philosophies in a day or two and you would look foolish just parroting what some other person said if you don't understand/believe it. Go with what you believe and be prepared to defend it.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Jun 12, 2020 5:58 pm

Judge Jolly is now accepting on OSCAR for 2021. He's at 50% workload and hires 3 clerks per year.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:05 pm

Re Judge Ho Hiring: Seems to be 3/4 full for 2022 and interviewing for the last spot. Probably sorting through apps to find candidates for 2023.

Re Judge Smith: Beloved by his clerks and super kind. Though he is lovely, his interview is INTENSE--lasts all day. It's an hour-long interview with him (all about personality--he is awesome and chatting one-on-one with him is a treasure) and then with each of the clerks (so 5 hours--four of which are highly substantive). The clerks love their judge and so the interview is a marathon of tough (but very fair for a prepared candidate) questions. The interview also involves going out to lunch with the judge, the judge's (lovely) long-term secretary, and the clerks.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:50 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:05 pm
Though he is lovely, his interview is INTENSE--lasts all day...The clerks love their judge and so the interview is a marathon of tough (but very fair for a prepared candidate) questions.
That sounds terrifying. What kinds of questions are asked?

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Sun Jun 14, 2020 12:12 am

Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:50 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:05 pm
Though he is lovely, his interview is INTENSE--lasts all day...The clerks love their judge and so the interview is a marathon of tough (but very fair for a prepared candidate) questions.
That sounds terrifying. What kinds of questions are asked?
A former interviewee gave specific questions a few posts up.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 17, 2020 12:11 pm

Oscar email update said Judge Willett is full for the 2022 term. Hiring for 2023

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:53 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:50 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:05 pm
Though he is lovely, his interview is INTENSE--lasts all day...The clerks love their judge and so the interview is a marathon of tough (but very fair for a prepared candidate) questions.
That sounds terrifying. What kinds of questions are asked?

The questions are a lot of the things you would expect in a normal interview*. The difficulty comes from the fact that you have to be "on" for so long--it's mentally exhausting. Notice, though, that the clerks have a lot of discretion, so the specific questions change from year to year.

*E.g. If you could only have even or odd amendment, which would you have? Is paper money unconstitutional under an originalist reading of the constitution?

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 17, 2020 3:45 pm

Has there been a lot of movement at the Texas district courts? Asking specifically about N.D. Tex. and E.D. Tex.

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 17, 2020 5:00 pm

Has anyone heard anything about Judge Costa interviews?

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 17, 2020 5:47 pm

Has anyone heard about either Pulliam (W.D. Tex) or Jordan (E.D. Tex)?

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 17, 2020 6:49 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:53 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:50 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:05 pm
Though he is lovely, his interview is INTENSE--lasts all day...The clerks love their judge and so the interview is a marathon of tough (but very fair for a prepared candidate) questions.
That sounds terrifying. What kinds of questions are asked?

The questions are a lot of the things you would expect in a normal interview*. The difficulty comes from the fact that you have to be "on" for so long--it's mentally exhausting. Notice, though, that the clerks have a lot of discretion, so the specific questions change from year to year.

*E.g. If you could only have even or odd amendment, which would you have? Is paper money unconstitutional under an originalist reading of the constitution?
Are you joking about those being normal questions?

Anonymous User
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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 17, 2020 7:21 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 6:49 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:53 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:50 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:05 pm
Though he is lovely, his interview is INTENSE--lasts all day...The clerks love their judge and so the interview is a marathon of tough (but very fair for a prepared candidate) questions.
That sounds terrifying. What kinds of questions are asked?

The questions are a lot of the things you would expect in a normal interview*. The difficulty comes from the fact that you have to be "on" for so long--it's mentally exhausting. Notice, though, that the clerks have a lot of discretion, so the specific questions change from year to year.

*E.g. If you could only have even or odd amendment, which would you have? Is paper money unconstitutional under an originalist reading of the constitution?
Are you joking about those being normal questions?

Those seem fairly typical for the FedSoc judges

Anonymous User
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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 17, 2020 7:27 pm

Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 7:21 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 6:49 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:53 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:50 pm
Anonymous User wrote:
Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:05 pm
Though he is lovely, his interview is INTENSE--lasts all day...The clerks love their judge and so the interview is a marathon of tough (but very fair for a prepared candidate) questions.
That sounds terrifying. What kinds of questions are asked?

The questions are a lot of the things you would expect in a normal interview*. The difficulty comes from the fact that you have to be "on" for so long--it's mentally exhausting. Notice, though, that the clerks have a lot of discretion, so the specific questions change from year to year.

*E.g. If you could only have even or odd amendment, which would you have? Is paper money unconstitutional under an originalist reading of the constitution?
Are you joking about those being normal questions?

Those seem fairly typical for the FedSoc judges
Fedsoc applicant here and these seem typical. It’s more about thought process than getting a right answer. Feel free to take your time to think before answering

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Re: Let's talk 5th Circuit!

Post by Anonymous User » Wed Jun 17, 2020 7:30 pm

Any movement this week?

re: types of questions--those are indeed not unusual. Same with which doctrine would you overturn; favorite/least favorite justice; why are you an originalist/textualist; thoughts on pending SCOTUS cases

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

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