cd cal judges to avoid Forum

[Anonymous User]

Curious what judges in cd cal are toxic to work for/should be avoided at all costs? Have heard from multiple folks to stay away from judges Kato and Frimpong..any others?

[Anonymous User]

I would avoid Percy Anderson at all costs. Kronstadt is also supposed to be a difficult personality, and Selna is well-known for working his clerks to death. There are a lot of judges in CD Cal who are a nightmare for litigants (Carter, Wilson, Walter, Blumenfeld, and Wright, to name the worst offenders), but I have no idea whether this translates into a bad chambers culture or a bad clerkship experience, and I have heard affirmatively good things about clerking for Carter from a couple people.

[Anonymous User]

I would avoid Percy Anderson at all costs. Kronstadt is also supposed to be a difficult personality, and Selna is well-known for working his clerks to death. There are a lot of judges in CD Cal who are a nightmare for litigants (Carter, Wilson, Walter, Blumenfeld, and Wright, to name the worst offenders), but I have no idea whether this translates into a bad chambers culture or a bad clerkship experience, and I have heard affirmatively good things about clerking for Carter from a couple people.

Wright is risky. If he likes you, it's a pleasant enough experience. If he doesn't, it's going to be a crappy year.

[Anonymous User]

Curious what judges in cd cal are toxic to work for/should be avoided at all costs? Have heard from multiple folks to stay away from judges Kato and Frimpong..any others?

Wanted to push back on staying away from Frimpong. From my knowledge, the issues that prior clerks had were primarily due to fit. She has high expectations for sure, but she holds herself to an even higher standard. She will go to bat for her clerks and has a genuine interest in mentorship.

[Anonymous User]

Curious what judges in cd cal are toxic to work for/should be avoided at all costs? Have heard from multiple folks to stay away from judges Kato and Frimpong..any others?

Wanted to push back on staying away from Frimpong. From my knowledge, the issues that prior clerks had were primarily due to fit. She has high expectations for sure, but she holds herself to an even higher standard. She will go to bat for her clerks and has a genuine interest in mentorship.

Every time a bunch of clerks have "fit" issues that is kind of a red flag. If it's a one off then I'm more willing to accept it was the clerk. If multiple clerks are having fit issues one does start to wonder...

[Anonymous User]

Curious what judges in cd cal are toxic to work for/should be avoided at all costs? Have heard from multiple folks to stay away from judges Kato and Frimpong..any others?

Wanted to push back on staying away from Frimpong. From my knowledge, the issues that prior clerks had were primarily due to fit. She has high expectations for sure, but she holds herself to an even higher standard. She will go to bat for her clerks and has a genuine interest in mentorship.

Every time a bunch of clerks have "fit" issues that is kind of a red flag. If it's a one off then I'm more willing to accept it was the clerk. If multiple clerks are having fit issues one does start to wonder...

AFAIK, two clerks have had fit issues with her, so I’m not sure if that counts as “a bunch.”

[Anonymous User]

Re frimpong, I’ve heard way more than two clerks had “fit” issues and that at one point, frimpong had no law clerks because everyone quit based on her poor treatment.

[Anonymous User]

Re frimpong, I’ve heard way more than two clerks had “fit” issues and that at one point, frimpong had no law clerks because everyone quit based on her poor treatment.

I think this is false, and clerks now definitely have enjoyed staying with Judge Frimpong. I know two in the first class left early, but the third stayed until the end of their term and, from my understanding, enjoyed their experience. And I think the two who left early did for personal reasons. For what it's worth, the three clerks in her second class are still with her.

[Anonymous User]

It isn’t false as I know for a fact frimpong had no clerks for months and as such, was incredibly backed up on her cases. The entire LA courthouse knew this too. I don’t think it makes sense to go back and forth on this—the main point is that people should do their research before agreeing to clerk for any judge regardless. Especially judges on cdcal where there are a lot of judges and varying personalities.

[Anonymous User]

It isn’t false as I know for a fact frimpong had no clerks for months and as such, was incredibly backed up on her cases. The entire LA courthouse knew this too. I don’t think it makes sense to go back and forth on this—the main point is that people should do their research before agreeing to clerk for any judge regardless. Especially judges on cdcal where there are a lot of judges and varying personalities.

Okay, no. As someone who personally knows a former clerk, I can say this is 100% false. At no point did she have “no clerks for months.” She always had at least two clerks employed at a time. I think it makes good sense to go back and forth on this when misinformation needs to be dispelled. It is important for folks to do their research, but it’s difficult for them to do that properly when folks are spreading false rumors like this.

I don’t know where you got your information—it sounds like you received incorrect information through the grapevine. But there is absolutely no truth in your assertion that Frimpong had no clerks for months.

[Anonymous User]

I got my information from a (1) former clerk and (2) judge on cd cal. But okay! Lol

[Anonymous User]

I would avoid Percy Anderson at all costs. Kronstadt is also supposed to be a difficult personality, and Selna is well-known for working his clerks to death. There are a lot of judges in CD Cal who are a nightmare for litigants (Carter, Wilson, Walter, Blumenfeld, and Wright, to name the worst offenders), but I have no idea whether this translates into a bad chambers culture or a bad clerkship experience, and I have heard affirmatively good things about clerking for Carter from a couple people.

Wright is risky. If he likes you, it's a pleasant enough experience. If he doesn't, it's going to be a crappy year.

Agree re Anderson, but lumping him in with Kronstadt or Selna is dead wrong. I know a lot of Selna clerks who would disagree with you about their work life balance. If you're applying to clerk for Carter, then I suspect you are ok with his style anyway. Judges like Wilson, Walter, and Blumenfeld do not suffer fools gladly, but still have pretty good clerkships from what I hear.

[Anonymous User]

I would avoid Percy Anderson at all costs. Kronstadt is also supposed to be a difficult personality, and Selna is well-known for working his clerks to death. There are a lot of judges in CD Cal who are a nightmare for litigants (Carter, Wilson, Walter, Blumenfeld, and Wright, to name the worst offenders), but I have no idea whether this translates into a bad chambers culture or a bad clerkship experience, and I have heard affirmatively good things about clerking for Carter from a couple people.

Wright is risky. If he likes you, it's a pleasant enough experience. If he doesn't, it's going to be a crappy year.

Agree re Anderson, but lumping him in with Kronstadt or Selna is dead wrong. I know a lot of Selna clerks who would disagree with you about their work life balance. If you're applying to clerk for Carter, then I suspect you are ok with his style anyway. Judges like Wilson, Walter, and Blumenfeld do not suffer fools gladly, but still have pretty good clerkships from what I hear.

To be clear, I do not lump Anderson in with Kronstadt or Selna. Kronstadt and Selna are good judges who some people have told me are difficult bosses. Anderson is in a league of his own (or maybe in a league with the late great Manny Real).

[Anonymous User]

I would avoid Percy Anderson at all costs. Kronstadt is also supposed to be a difficult personality, and Selna is well-known for working his clerks to death. There are a lot of judges in CD Cal who are a nightmare for litigants (Carter, Wilson, Walter, Blumenfeld, and Wright, to name the worst offenders), but I have no idea whether this translates into a bad chambers culture or a bad clerkship experience, and I have heard affirmatively good things about clerking for Carter from a couple people.

Wright is risky. If he likes you, it's a pleasant enough experience. If he doesn't, it's going to be a crappy year.

Agree re Anderson, but lumping him in with Kronstadt or Selna is dead wrong. I know a lot of Selna clerks who would disagree with you about their work life balance. If you're applying to clerk for Carter, then I suspect you are ok with his style anyway. Judges like Wilson, Walter, and Blumenfeld do not suffer fools gladly, but still have pretty good clerkships from what I hear.

To be clear, I do not lump Anderson in with Kronstadt or Selna. Kronstadt and Selna are good judges who some people have told me are difficult bosses. Anderson is in a league of his own (or maybe in a league with the late great Manny Real).

Fair enough. I have heard Kronstadt a little quirky to deal with, but have not heard a single bad thing about Selna. IIRC, Anderson only hires for 2 year terms, too, so yet another reason to avoid.