Let’s Talk DC Circuit! Forum

[Anonymous User]

Any insight on Royce Lamberth? Do the senior judges still maintain a full docket?

I can't speak for every senior judge, but I know Jackson continues to handle a fairly active docket.

[Anonymous User]

What about Judge (Emmet) Sullivan? How active is his docket at this point now that he is senior? What is his chambers environment like?

[Anonymous User]

Anything on Chutkan/Nichols/McFadden?

[Anonymous User]

on DDC, does Kelly only hire fed-socers? What is his hiring practice like?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything about Ali’s hiring for next year?

[Anonymous User]

Is Edwards fully retiring in 26?

[Jefferson9921]

Is a Katsas/Rao/Walker clerkship possible if I'm top 2-3% of my class at a slightly lower T14 (think: Duke, Virginia, Michigan) with good connections?

[Anonymous User]

Is a Katsas/Rao/Walker clerkship possible if I'm top 2-3% of my class at a slightly lower T14 (think: Duke, Virginia, Michigan) with good connections?

Despite the name, it doesn't seem like you go to UVA, as you would have already been directed to one of them. Even so, Walker is definitely a yes—he’s not strict about grades. The other two are harder to tell and very grade sensitive; for Michigan at least, a glowing recommendation from Chris Walker would help a lot.

[Jefferson9921]

Is a Katsas/Rao/Walker clerkship possible if I'm top 2-3% of my class at a slightly lower T14 (think: Duke, Virginia, Michigan) with good connections?

Despite the name, it doesn't seem like you go to UVA, as you would have already been directed to one of them. Even so, Walker is definitely a yes—he’s not strict about grades. The other two are harder to tell and very grade sensitive; for Michigan at least, a glowing recommendation from Chris Walker would help a lot.

I am top 2% at Duke.

[lavarman84]

Is a Katsas/Rao/Walker clerkship possible if I'm top 2-3% of my class at a slightly lower T14 (think: Duke, Virginia, Michigan) with good connections?

Despite the name, it doesn't seem like you go to UVA, as you would have already been directed to one of them. Even so, Walker is definitely a yes—he’s not strict about grades. The other two are harder to tell and very grade sensitive; for Michigan at least, a glowing recommendation from Chris Walker would help a lot.

I am top 2% at Duke.

What? You just called yourself an "incoming 1L" two days ago.

Very good to know. As an incoming 1L hoping (if I have the grades, of course) to clerk for someone like Richardson, should I expect to be applying as early as my first semester? Is it seriously that early??

[Anonymous User]

Is a Katsas/Rao/Walker clerkship possible if I'm top 2-3% of my class at a slightly lower T14 (think: Duke, Virginia, Michigan) with good connections?

Despite the name, it doesn't seem like you go to UVA, as you would have already been directed to one of them. Even so, Walker is definitely a yes—he’s not strict about grades. The other two are harder to tell and very grade sensitive; for Michigan at least, a glowing recommendation from Chris Walker would help a lot.

I am top 2% at Duke.

What? You just called yourself an "incoming 1L" two days ago.

Very good to know. As an incoming 1L hoping (if I have the grades, of course) to clerk for someone like Richardson, should I expect to be applying as early as my first semester? Is it seriously that early??

Lol he also called Virginia a “lower t14.” Go back to studying for the LSAT (I doubt he’s even in law school)!

[vmvmvm]

Has anyone heard anything about clerking or working for Judge Sooknanan? Know she's new to the bench, so any insights would be helpful!!

[Anonymous User]

How much hope should I have as a 2L applying for DDC with top 10% grades, LR, and moot court from a non-HYS T14?

[Anonymous User]

How much hope should I have as a 2L applying for DDC with top 10% grades, LR, and moot court from a non-HYS T14?

It's a bit of a myth that the DDC judges are extreme grade snobs. Sure, some like Boasberg, won't look twice at someone without a 5.0 GPA, but most are not like that at all. Connections to the judges, and for the new Biden appointees, diversity and PI interest, are more important.

[Anonymous User]

How much hope should I have as a 2L applying for DDC with top 10% grades, LR, and moot court from a non-HYS T14?

What kind of question is this lol. A lot of hope.

[Anonymous User]

How much hope should I have as a 2L applying for DDC with top 10% grades, LR, and moot court from a non-HYS T14?

It's a bit of a myth that the DDC judges are extreme grade snobs. Sure, some like Boasberg, won't look twice at someone without a 5.0 GPA, but most are not like that at all. Connections to the judges, and for the new Biden appointees, diversity and PI interest, are more important.

Any thoughts on the work quality of the Biden appointees? (Cobb/Reyes/AliKhan/Ali/Sooknanan)

[Anonymous User]

How much hope should I have as a 2L applying for DDC with top 10% grades, LR, and moot court from a non-HYS T14?

What kind of question is this lol. A lot of hope.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if Garcia has started interviewing?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if Garcia has started interviewing?

would also love to know... is he planning to wait until the plan for all candidates?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard of movement from any DDC judges?

[Anonymous User]

Which DDC judges produce the highest quality of work? And generally, selectively correlates to that. But are there any exceptions here?

[Anonymous User]

Which DDC judges produce the highest quality of work? And generally, selectively correlates to that. But are there any exceptions here?

Boasberg, Freidrich, McFadden, Moss, and before Freidman.

[Anonymous User]

How much hope should I have as a 2L applying for DDC with top 10% grades, LR, and moot court from a non-HYS T14?

It's a bit of a myth that the DDC judges are extreme grade snobs. Sure, some like Boasberg, won't look twice at someone without a 5.0 GPA, but most are not like that at all. Connections to the judges, and for the new Biden appointees, diversity and PI interest, are more important.

Any thoughts on the work quality of the Biden appointees? (Cobb/Reyes/AliKhan/Ali/Sooknanan)

Bump. Anyone know how they hire and prioritize? Which of them are 'grade snobs'?

[Anonymous User]

How much hope should I have as a 2L applying for DDC with top 10% grades, LR, and moot court from a non-HYS T14?

It's a bit of a myth that the DDC judges are extreme grade snobs. Sure, some like Boasberg, won't look twice at someone without a 5.0 GPA, but most are not like that at all. Connections to the judges, and for the new Biden appointees, diversity and PI interest, are more important.

Any thoughts on the work quality of the Biden appointees? (Cobb/Reyes/AliKhan/Ali/Sooknanan)

Bump. Anyone know how they hire and prioritize? Which of them are 'grade snobs'?

PI students and none of them are grade snobs. It's reflected in the quality of their work too, except Reyes who tends to do her own thing.

[Anonymous User]

How much hope should I have as a 2L applying for DDC with top 10% grades, LR, and moot court from a non-HYS T14?

It's a bit of a myth that the DDC judges are extreme grade snobs. Sure, some like Boasberg, won't look twice at someone without a 5.0 GPA, but most are not like that at all. Connections to the judges, and for the new Biden appointees, diversity and PI interest, are more important.

Any thoughts on the work quality of the Biden appointees? (Cobb/Reyes/AliKhan/Ali/Sooknanan)

Bump. Anyone know how they hire and prioritize? Which of them are 'grade snobs'?

PI students and none of them are grade snobs. It's reflected in the quality of their work too, except Reyes who tends to do her own thing.

Fair warning that Reyes seems nightmarish as a judge. Known to yell at litigants and generally has a very poor professional reputation among the lawyers I work with. Not clear how that translates to the clerkship experience but I’be also heard secondhand that it’s quite bad.