Judges You've Appeared Before as References? Forum
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Anonymous User
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Judges You've Appeared Before as References?
I'm completing an application for a job that requests more references than usual, and that says "judges before whom you've appeared are particularly useful." Has anyone ever listed a judge like that as a reference? Is it normal and appropriate to just shoot a message to the chambers of a judge I've argued before a couple times, and ask if I can list them as a reference? Feels a little weird.
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Anonymous User
- Posts: 430417
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Judges You've Appeared Before as References?
I did this, on the suggestion of a colleague who knew the judge well. I e-mailed chambers and asked if I could come by and speak to the judge, got an appointment (RIGHT away - I guess it meant I had less time to get nervous), went in, asked, and they said yes. Felt super awkward but I guess it turned out fine.
But FWIW, I was working as an AUSA in a high-volume district, I appeared in front of that judge probably once every week or two, and did at least two trials before them in about 4 years. So they were definitely familiar with my work. Not sure if there’s any bright-line guidance on how often you need to have been before a judge for this to fly. (And it depends on the judge - I had a trial in front of one judge in my current district and they didn’t remember anything about the case, at all, by the time of sentencing. Not asking them any time soon.)
But FWIW, I was working as an AUSA in a high-volume district, I appeared in front of that judge probably once every week or two, and did at least two trials before them in about 4 years. So they were definitely familiar with my work. Not sure if there’s any bright-line guidance on how often you need to have been before a judge for this to fly. (And it depends on the judge - I had a trial in front of one judge in my current district and they didn’t remember anything about the case, at all, by the time of sentencing. Not asking them any time soon.)
