Let's talk 11th Circuit! Forum

[Anonymous User]

Newsom has a ping pong table in chambers. Fun boss. Fun-to-read opinions.

Seems like a nice guy, but also wrote probably the single cringiest concurrence that has ever been published in the Federal Reporter

https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinion ... 712410.pdf

[Anonymous User]

Newsom has a ping pong table in chambers. Fun boss. Fun-to-read opinions.

Seems like a nice guy, but also wrote probably the single cringiest concurrence that has ever been published in the Federal Reporter

https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinion ... 712410.pdf

Lol. "First, and most obviously, that's just not how people talk." (page 29) Lack of self-awareness much?

[Anonymous User]

Newsom has a ping pong table in chambers. Fun boss. Fun-to-read opinions.

Seems like a nice guy, but also wrote probably the single cringiest concurrence that has ever been published in the Federal Reporter

https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinion ... 712410.pdf

Lol. "First, and most obviously, that's just not how people talk." (page 29) Lack of self-awareness much?

I can't say I am a fan of his writing, but Newsom is someone I would love to work for as a person.

[Anonymous User]

Newsom has a ping pong table in chambers. Fun boss. Fun-to-read opinions.

Seems like a nice guy, but also wrote probably the single cringiest concurrence that has ever been published in the Federal Reporter

https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinion ... 712410.pdf

Lol. "First, and most obviously, that's just not how people talk." (page 29) Lack of self-awareness much?

I can't say I am a fan of his writing, but Newsom is someone I would love to work for as a person.

Agreed. Having a good boss makes all the difference in the world during the clerkship year.

[Born-Ready29]

Does anybody have any intel on 11th Circuit movement for 2023 onwards?

Who are you interested in? I have some insight on Jordan and Lagoa.

Old post but very interested in what Jordan is looking for in candidates.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything about whether Abudu plans to hire term clerks, and if so, whether/when/where she'll post openings?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything about whether Abudu plans to hire term clerks, and if so, whether/when/where she'll post openings?

Now

[Anonymous User]

Any word on the Branch opening for 2024? Why the last-minute opening, and what is taking so long to fill it?

[Anonymous User]

It's been a few years since the last post—any thoughts on district judges in MDFL?

[Anonymous User]

It's been a few years since the last post—any thoughts on district judges in MDFL?

What type of "thoughts" are you looking for? I wouldn't say there are any active judges that you should flat-out avoid in this district. Back in the day, some people reported having negative experiences with Covington, but she's senior now.

[Anonymous User]

It's been a few years since the last post—any thoughts on district judges in MDFL?

Have heard good things about the work environment in Mizelle's and Corrigan's chambers, although Corrigan is taking senior status soon.

[Anonymous User]

It's been a few years since the last post—any thoughts on district judges in MDFL?

I can offer what I know. Much of it is secondhand knowledge:
Corrigan - Smart, well respected, and a good experience
Merryday - Very conservative, longish hours, have heard mixed reviews, seems like he may play favorites in chambers
Byron - The clerks I knew seemed to genuinely love working for him
Mendoza - Used to require a "try out" (don't know if he still does), seemed like a run of the mill clerkship experience, nice guy
Covington - Avoid
Dalton - Don't know if he was the cause or the job was the cause, but the person I know who clerked for him did not enjoy the experience
Honeywell - I've heard her chambers is disorganized
Davis - High opinion of him as a judge and person; don't know what the clerkship experience is like
Barber - Don't know what the clerkship is experience is like, but I met him before he became a federal judge and found him to be an affable person

[Anonymous User]

It's been a few years since the last post—any thoughts on district judges in MDFL?

Jung - Probably the best actual lawyer on the court. Great guy with lots of crazy war stories. Highly respected in Tampa.

Badalamenti - Class act. Great environment in chambers and likes to mentor clerks. Prefers to hire clerks for staggered 2-year terms.

Mizelle - She seems to prefer hiring Fed Soc people, but if that's you, then go for it. Her former clerks really like her. She's invited them over to her house for dinner in the past.

Barber - Great guy, but he somehow has two long-term clerks, so you may not get much of an opening to apply. He's also very Catholic if that's your thing.

Chappell - Nice person, but the Fort Myers division is very "cliquey." Relies heavily on her career clerk.

Merryday - He's a taskmaster and a harsh critic. If you're okay with working long hours and receiving very blunt criticism, then you'll be okay. If not, you'll really hate it.

Mendoza - I've heard mixed reviews. He seems to take a long time getting out orders.

Dalton - What I've heard is mostly positive, but your experience may vary. He has a "hail and farewell" party where the outgoing clerks meet the incoming clerks, which is kind of cool.

Howard - My sense is that she prefers hiring clerks who are female or from one of her alma maters (ideally both). If that's you, go for it. Regardless, her former clerks seem to like her.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard anything about Judge Brasher for 2026 - 2027?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone heard anything about Judge Brasher for 2026 - 2027?

hired one from my school, so at least hiring.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know which, if any, 11th circuit Judges don’t use Oscar? I know Jordan doesn’t.

Also, does anyone know which Judges are big on prior clerkship experience? I get the sense Rosenbaum is.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything about whether Abudu plans to hire term clerks, and if so, whether/when/where she'll post openings?

Has anyone heard whether Abudu has extended any offers for 2025-26?

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know which, if any, 11th circuit Judges don’t use Oscar? I know Jordan doesn’t.

Also, does anyone know which Judges are big on prior clerkship experience? I get the sense Rosenbaum is.

Current clerk on the Eleventh. Here's what I know.

From what I understand, Jordan and Lagoa do not use OSCAR.

Jordan tends to hire in spurts; right now I believe that he's finished interviewing up to the 27-28 term and will send out offers soon. Your best bet with Jordan is to send him an email directly to chambers and see if he bites, although a reference from someone he respects would go a very long way.

Lagoa tends to hire two years out and strongly prefers individuals who share her jurisprudential approach. Many of her clerks were active in FedSoc in law school.

I'm not sure if OSCAR matters as much for many of the judges on the Eleventh; many of the people I know who are clerking now did not get their clerkship through OSCAR and either cold-emailed or had someone call on their behalf.

As for clerkship experience, it depends. Most of the people I know who are clerking or have clerked on the Eleventh tended to have a district court clerkship prior to their term. That may differ for some of the newer judges (Abudu, Kidd), but the clerks I know who work for judges including Lagoa, Marcus, Jordan, Luck, and Newsom either had one lined up or came from one.

Some of the conservative judges have hired people without a prior clerkship (think Pryor, Grant, Brasher), but those judges also operate and hire within their own circle (and in many cases, those clerks have gone on to clerk for a DJ after). Rosenbaum has hired people without a district court clerkship, but does value work experience, from what I have heard.

Hope this helps!

[Anonymous User]

Luck hires jointly with Winsor, so lots of Luck’s clerks have district court experience because of that.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything about whether Abudu plans to hire term clerks, and if so, whether/when/where she'll post openings?

Has anyone heard whether Abudu has extended any offers for 2025-26?

Also curious about this.

[Anonymous User]

Abudu is moving for 2025-2026. Interviews were sent last week and this week.

[tdub427]

Any thoughts on NDAL and MDAL judges? Specifically the judges in Birmingham and Montgomery?

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard anything from Judge Jordan? I interviewed with him in January for 25-26/26-27, but I have yet to hear back.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any info about Calvert in NDGA?

[Anonymous User]

Has Abudu moved for 2026-27?