Applying to nominated judges Forum

[Jayski]

Does anyone have a successful sample email you used to reach out to people nominated to the bench to let them know you want to apply to work in their chambers if/when confirmed?

[Anonymous User]

Is it worth only applying to judges who have received hearings or are they all expected to be confirmed (outside of the California judges who never received blue slips)?

[ieveko]

Is it worth only applying to judges who have received hearings or are they all expected to be confirmed (outside of the California judges who never received blue slips)?

Difficult to say. Obviously, I don't think there's much downside to expressing interest in a judge who might not be confirmed, especially if they are nominated for a district you're interested in. But it's true that there are only 5 more weeks that the Senate will be in session before the election and then just 5 more weeks of floor time in the lame duck session. The Senate hasn't been able to move through district court court nominees very quickly since coronavirus hit.

It's possible that McConnell could confirm a bunch during the lame duck session (especially with the debate time for district court noms now shortened to 2 hours), but that would require him not losing 4 votes total from a) moderates like Murkowski, b) traditionalists like Grassley, and c) endangered incumbents up in 2022 like Toomey and Johnson.

[Chokenhauer]

Is it worth only applying to judges who have received hearings or are they all expected to be confirmed (outside of the California judges who never received blue slips)?

Difficult to say. Obviously, I don't think there's much downside to expressing interest in a judge who might not be confirmed, especially if they are nominated for a district you're interested in. But it's true that there are only 5 more weeks that the Senate will be in session before the election and then just 5 more weeks of floor time in the lame duck session. The Senate hasn't been able to move through district court court nominees very quickly since coronavirus hit.

It's possible that McConnell could confirm a bunch during the lame duck session (especially with the debate time for district court noms now shortened to 2 hours), but that would require him not losing 4 votes total from a) moderates like Murkowski, b) traditionalists like Grassley, and c) endangered incumbents up in 2022 like Toomey and Johnson.

It still seems like he’s going to confirm a lot less controversial nominees that appear to have home support, especially if they’re not in a red state.