Judge Harris on the Fourth Circuit? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all,

I may be interviewing with Judge Harris (who was recently confirmed on the Fourth Circuit) soon. I have read the 1 or 2 articles on her, but as she is new there is little information about her available / no conventional wisdom.

Does anyone know anything about her? / How would a clerkship with her fare against other 4th Cir clerkships / 2nd Cir clerkships / DC Cir (no-name)? Is she a known quantity? Is she a "very desirable" judge for liberal clerks (as the newrepublic article @ http://www.newrepublic.com/article/1177 ... -cheer-her says), or is that coverage inaccurate?

Thanks for any and all info on this Judge. My suspicion is that she could become a force to be reckoned with on the 4th one day, but not sure if that's right.

Cheers + Thanks again!

[nickelanddime]

She seems unlikely to become a feeder judge, if that's what you're asking. If you don't have a legitimate shot at Supreme Court clerkship, then perhaps the more important considerations are how she is as a boss and her personal connections relative to other judges that might hire you. Based on her background, I'm guessing she has deep connections at the DOJ. Employers aren't going to advantage the non-feeder 2d circuit clerk over a non-feeder 4th-circuit clerk.

[Anonymous User]

Op here. I completely believe you / think that's probably right. Can I ask, though, what you are basing that off of? Just an analysis of her background? Again, think you are right--just want to know if you are basing it off of public info or some other insight. Thanks for your response! Also: do you have a general sense of her rep, or not really?

[Anonymous User]

Good luck on your interview, OP! Can you confirm (to allay my anxiety about all of this) that you're interviewing for 2015, not 2016? She hasn't posted for 2016 yet, and seems to be online-apps-only, but I'm nervous I missed the boat.

She seems like a wonderful judge to work for! You could try checking out the videos of her confirmation hearings or the survey responses she submitted to the Judiciary committee for a little more info (though not very much).

[Anonymous User]

I suspect she has hired past that date. Many judges do not post on OSCAR. But don't quote me on it.

Anyone else with more info on Judge Harris? Speculation? Future big name on the court, even if not SCOTUS?

[Anonymous User]

If you're interested in 2016, you would be wise to not wait for OSCAR; apply ASAP.

[Anonymous User]

If you're interested in 2016, you would be wise to not wait for OSCAR; apply ASAP.

Thanks. I'll get on that tonight.

[Anonymous User]

As someone with a feeder clerkship lined up, I disagree that Harris is unlikely to become a liberal feeder. There's a reason Obama picked her when he could have appointed someone like Neal Katyal instead. She carries a tremendous amount of appellate and scholarly gravitas, and her D.C. connections are deep.

[Anonymous User]

As someone with a feeder clerkship lined up, I disagree that Harris is unlikely to become a liberal feeder. There's a reason Obama picked her when he could have appointed someone like Neal Katyal instead. She carries a tremendous amount of appellate and scholarly gravitas, and her D.C. connections are deep.

I think Harris has potential. The problem is an overabundance of new judges who could potentially "feed" to the Justices. Think Srinivasan, Millett, and Pillard on the D.C. Circuit, for example. (Though I could easily see Srinivasan and Millett feeding to both sides of the aisle.) Srinivasan already has two (though one was a Boudin clerk). Add to that the existing feeders, and you've got a lot of judges looking to send folks up.

Maybe ten years down the line -- once the older feeders retire or go senior -- Harris might become a prominent feeder. But for now, there are too many cooks in the kitchen.

[Anonymous User]

Op here. Thanks for feedback so far, helpful to know that even if not a future feeder, Judge Harris is at least arguably in the conversation. That, combined with her desirable location near DC / deep DC connections / reputation for being an excellent mentor and person, have convinced me that clerking for her is very desirable. Regardless of feeder/non-feeder status, sounds like she could open doors to DOJ / academia / other places down the line + would be a good boss to work for.

Other thoughts still welcome.

[Anonymous User]

OP, do you mind sharing which year you're interviewing for?

[Anonymous User]

Op here. I am slightly afraid of revealing confidential information on this board...but trusting that the anon feature really does work + nobody tries to out me, here goes:

I was told (informally / confidentially by someone who spoke to a recent hire) that the Judge may be looking at both 2016 and 2017. That is unconfirmed. I think I am just interviewing "in general," with no date attached.

[Anonymous User]

For people sending mail apps to Harris for 2016, 2017, beyond, what address did you use? Having trouble tracking it down, and her OSCAR profile still says TBD. My clerkship office recommended the general Richmond courthouse address, but I'd rather not send a mail app to the completely wrong state.

[Anonymous User]

I can confirm that the following is accurate:

1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1250
Silver Spring, MD 20910

[Anonymous User]

I can confirm that the following is accurate:

1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1250
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Thanks. Very strange place to have her chambers. I imagine the clerking experience is a little odd, just being the only judge/clerks in a random office building?

[Anonymous User]

my understanding is that those are temporary chambers until full time chambers are set up (though full time chambers might be equally isolated) It is not uncommon for the more disparate circuits to have judges sitting separately. many 4th circ judges sit in their own chambers + then the clerks all meet up every 6 weeks for arguments in richmond for a week. Maybe not ideal if you want to interact w/tons of other clerks in the same building, but the upside is that it is 20 mins away from d.c. so it is not exactly like you are out in some random suburb by yourself w/no opportunities to meet ppl.

[Anonymous User]

my understanding is that those are temporary chambers until full time chambers are set up (though full time chambers might be equally isolated) It is not uncommon for the more disparate circuits to have judges sitting separately. many 4th circ judges sit in their own chambers + then the clerks all meet up every 6 weeks for arguments in richmond for a week. Maybe not ideal if you want to interact w/tons of other clerks in the same building, but the upside is that it is 20 mins away from d.c. so it is not exactly like you are out in some random suburb by yourself w/no opportunities to meet ppl.

This. I believe Judge Gregory is the only CA4 judge to actually have resident chambers in Richmond. Beyond that, it's discretionary and you work with GSA, I believe. You could have your resident chambers where the district court is located, or you could work out of an office building with a district court nearby (I believe Judge Duncan does this).