Let's Talk 9th Circuit! Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know anything about Judge de Alba out in Fresno? She's a new 2023 appointee, but curious to know any info about the credentials of her clerks as compared to the other 9th Cir judges.

Like most judges on CA9, de Alba seems to hire good students from T14 schools (for de Alba, especially her double alma mater) and top students from local schools.

Would honors from CLS with strong PI credentials and ties to Fresno be competitive or is high honors/top 10% necessary for her?

Top 40% at CLS is generally not competitive for a CA9 clerkship (or any circuit clerkship), but different things stand out to different judges, and so people occasionally get circuit clerkships with above-average T14 grades. You just have to apply and hope for the best.

I'd imagine there's a lot of distance between top 15% and top 40%, is there a general spot that makes you competitive for the non-feeders on the 9th or other circuits? I'm a 2L so have some time to bring things up.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know anything about Judge de Alba out in Fresno? She's a new 2023 appointee, but curious to know any info about the credentials of her clerks as compared to the other 9th Cir judges.

Like most judges on CA9, de Alba seems to hire good students from T14 schools (for de Alba, especially her double alma mater) and top students from local schools.

Would honors from CLS with strong PI credentials and ties to Fresno be competitive or is high honors/top 10% necessary for her?

You would be very competitive. She hires more holistically than most judges (which is good!)

sweet! Will definitely apply to her.