Biden CA2 Judges Forum

[Anonymous User]

What's the scoop on the new CA2 judges?

[Anonymous User]

I’ve heard really good things about Perez.

[Anonymous User]

I’ve heard really good things about Perez.

FWIW, I have heard awful things about her.

[Anonymous User]

I’ve heard really good things about Perez.

FWIW, I have heard awful things about her.

Like?

[Anonymous User]

I’ve heard really good things about Perez.

FWIW, I have heard awful things about her.

Awful as in...?

[Anonymous User]

Who is the one who did not know whether the parties could waive subject-matter jurisdiction?

[Anonymous User]

Who is the one who did not know whether the parties could waive subject-matter jurisdiction?

I think that was Eunice Lee.

[Anonymous User]

I’ve heard really good things about Perez.

FWIW, I have heard awful things about her.

Awful as in...?

Just one anonymous perspective, but I worked under her at Brennan and found her to be unreasonable and unpleasant, and I know many others who felt the same.

[Anonymous User]

None has issued a published opinion yet, oddly.

[Anonymous User]

None has issued a published opinion yet, oddly.

Is that so odd considering the circuit's total number of opinions, generally, and their lengths of tenure, specifically?

[Anonymous User]

Not really. Some of the Trump appointees got theirs out earlier (I think Menashi was ~6 months?), but now that I'm doing some Westlaw digging, it looks like very few panels with any of the new Biden appointees has issues precedential opinions period...strongly suggesting it has nothing to do with them.

[Anonymous User]

None has issued a published opinion yet, oddly.

Is that so odd considering the circuit's total number of opinions, generally, and their lengths of tenure, specifically?

No, the Second Circuit just doesn’t publish much.

[Anonymous User]

Just one anonymous perspective, but I worked under her at Brennan and found her to be unreasonable and unpleasant, and I know many others who felt the same.

I never worked for her but I took her seminar years ago and she definitely comes across as...extremely demanding? I personally thought she was very kind and knowledgeable, but I wouldn't want her as a boss. The seminar alone was intense (which is not what a student wants in a seminar!).

[Anonymous User]

Just one anonymous perspective, but I worked under her at Brennan and found her to be unreasonable and unpleasant, and I know many others who felt the same.

I never worked for her but I took her seminar years ago and she definitely comes across as...extremely demanding? I personally thought she was very kind and knowledgeable, but I wouldn't want her as a boss. The seminar alone was intense (which is not what a student wants in a seminar!).

I heard awful things about her as well from Brennan.

[Anonymous User]

Bump for any more details?

[Anonymous User]

I’ve heard really good things about Perez.

FWIW, I have heard awful things about her.

Awful as in...?

Just one anonymous perspective, but I worked under her at Brennan and found her to be unreasonable and unpleasant, and I know many others who felt the same.

For those of you aware of her history, would you personally think it was worth it to clerk for her if you had no other offers? Trying to gauge whether it’s worth applying.

Edit: I recognize she’s a relatively well-known judge on the Second Circuit, which generally would be an amazing opportunity, but I don’t know enough about her working style to decide whether that is worth it. Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

I’ve heard really good things about Perez.

FWIW, I have heard awful things about her.

Awful as in...?

Just one anonymous perspective, but I worked under her at Brennan and found her to be unreasonable and unpleasant, and I know many others who felt the same.

For those of you aware of her history, would you personally think it was worth it to clerk for her if you had no other offers? Trying to gauge whether it’s worth applying.

I mean she's still a second circuit judge so it is always worth applying. Worry about whether you want to interview though once/if u get it (you can also better contextualize how competitive you are as a candidate and if you can afford to be picky). Also from what I understand you're going to need a professor/professional reaching out to her for a shot as she supposedly cares a lot about that.

[Anonymous User]

Has Judge Merriam hired yet now that she's out of committee?

[Anonymous User]

I’ve heard really good things about Perez.

FWIW, I have heard awful things about her.

Awful as in...?

Just one anonymous perspective, but I worked under her at Brennan and found her to be unreasonable and unpleasant, and I know many others who felt the same.

For those of you aware of her history, would you personally think it was worth it to clerk for her if you had no other offers? Trying to gauge whether it’s worth applying.

I mean she's still a second circuit judge so it is always worth applying. Worry about whether you want to interview though once/if u get it (you can also better contextualize how competitive you are as a candidate and if you can afford to be picky). Also from what I understand you're going to need a professor/professional reaching out to her for a shot as she supposedly cares a lot about that.

RE the “afford to be picky”— if the choice was between zero clerkship for a given year/applying during a different cycle vs. clerking for Perez, then, is the consensus that she’s not so bad that clerking for her is better than not at all?

[Anonymous User]

Perez is doing a very elaborate remodel of her chambers that’s rubbed people the wrong way. She seems very competent but very demanding.

[Anonymous User]

Perez is doing a very elaborate remodel of her chambers that’s rubbed people the wrong way. She seems very competent but very demanding.

Are we talking making it look like Downtown Abbey or . . .?

[Anonymous User]

Perez is doing a very elaborate remodel of her chambers that’s rubbed people the wrong way. She seems very competent but very demanding.

Are we talking making it look like Downtown Abbey or . . .?

Definitely not her style, but in that direction of scale.

[Anonymous User]

Perez is doing a very elaborate remodel of her chambers that’s rubbed people the wrong way. She seems very competent but very demanding.

"Remodel"? She's been on the bench for not even a year. What does that mean?

[Anonymous User]

Perez is doing a very elaborate remodel of her chambers that’s rubbed people the wrong way. She seems very competent but very demanding.

"Remodel"? She's been on the bench for not even a year. What does that mean?

I’m clerking for a new district judge, and I think it’s normal for new judges to remodel/decorate their new chambers.

[Anonymous User]

Perez is doing a very elaborate remodel of her chambers that’s rubbed people the wrong way. She seems very competent but very demanding.

"Remodel"? She's been on the bench for not even a year. What does that mean?

I’m clerking for a new district judge, and I think it’s normal for new judges to remodel/decorate their new chambers.

Yes, they get a decent budget for it from the judiciary, though most are pretty average nice offices