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Are they a good stepping stone to district/circuit clerkships? Or just a good tool in your belt for practice in a desired state. Thinking specifically about NJ.

Not a huge boost. They’re really two different applicant pools. Your Justice’s name and connections can only take you so far if you don’t have the base line stats and credentials the district and circuit judge is looking for.

But the Jersey Supreme Court is a great court regardless.

I actually know a lot of people who've been able to move from state supreme court to (generally) district court (although I do know one person who went on to a federal COA). As always it depends on your basic qualifications, and it probably depends on the market as well (this was a secondary, non-east coast city with a relatively small legal market). I can't really comment on NJ or that neck of the woods, though.