Law Clerk Addict's Blog



Although the lack of any formal data from this time last cycle makes a comparison difficult, eyeballing the new 2011-12 early hiring list gives the impression that a higher-than-normal amount of hiring activity is currently going on for 2011-12 clerkships (and, in some cases, even 2012-13 clerkships, see, e.g., Chester Straub and Theodore McKee). Notably, virtually all of this early hiring is concentrated on the Second, Third, and D.C. Circuits. Furthermore, many circuit judges (such as Andrew Kleinfeld, Catharina Haynes, and Edith Clement) have recently begun to accept 2011-12 applications on OSCAR. 9/27/09 Update: A commenter notes that Haynes and Clement have both partially hired for 2011-12.


Given the record of number of applicants this year, I wonder if some judges who traditionally do not hire this early are hoping to take advantage of a higher quality, more risk-averse applicant pool that may not be around next cycle.




Appellate Judges


Briscoe, Mary (10th Cir.)
Location: Lawrence, KS
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/1/2011

Prost, Sharon (Fed. Cir.)
Location: Washington, DC
Term: 8/15/2010 to 8/15/2011 or 1/15/2011 to 1/15/2012
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Higginbotham, Patrick (5th Cir.)
Location: Austin, TX
Term: 8/2/2010 to 8/9/2011

Pergerson, Harry (9th Cir.)
Location: Woodland Hills, CA
Term: 8/15/2010 to 8/15/2011

District Judges


Bennett, Richard (D. Md.)
Location: Baltimore, MD
Term: 8/15/2010 to 8/11/2012

Davis, Andre (D. Md.)
Location: Baltimore, MD
Term: 8/16/2010 to 8/19/2011

Moon, Norman (W.D. Va.)
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Term: 8/31/2010 to 8/31/2011

Collier, Curtis (E.D. Tenn.)
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2011 or 8/17/2010 to 8/19/2012
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Fogel, Jeremy (N.D. Cal.)
Location: San Jose, CA
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/2/2011

Magistrate Judges


Callahan, William (E.D. Wisc.)
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Term: 8/1/2010 to 7/31/2012

Bankruptcy Judges


Carruthers, Catherine (Bankr. N.C.)
Location: Winston Salem, NC
Term: 8/23/2010 to 8/22/2011

Carruthers, Catherine (Bankr. E.D. Cal.)
Location: Sacramento, CA
Term: 9/5/2010 to 9/5/2012



Appellate Judges


Higginbotham, Patrick (5th Cir.)
Location: Austin, TX
Term: 8/2/2010 to 8/9/2011

Pregerson, Harry (9th Cir.)
Location: Woodland Hills, CA
Term: 8/15/2010 to 8/15/2011

District Judges


Ellison, Keith (S.D. Tex.)
Location: Houston, TX
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011

Roberts, Victoria (E.D. Mich.)
Location: Detroit, MI
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2011

Magistrate Judges


None.

Bankruptcy Judges


Walrath, Mary (Bankr. D. Del.)
Location: Wilmington, DE
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/9/2011

Holman, Thomas (Bankr. E.D. Cal.)
Location: Sacramento, CA
Term: 9/5/2010 to 9/5/2012



This weekend has been rather active on the circuit court judge hiring front, with reports of hires by Judges Stephen Reinhardt (9th Cir.), Consuelo Callahan (9th Cir.), Eugene Davis (5th Cir.), and Roger Gregory (4th Cir.), and scheduled interviews by Dorothy Nelson (9th Cir.) and Harris Hartz (10th Cir.).


For more information on who is hiring early for the 2010-11 term, check out the early hiring list.




For those who still aren't aware, Law Clerk Addict is tracking pre-September hires through a moderated early hiring list. As you can see, there has been a non-trivial amount of 2010-11 hiring activity over the past week or so. Some selected highlights:


* Judge Jerry Smith (5th Cir.) is completely off-plan and currently extending interview invitations to rising 3Ls.


* Judges Maryanne Barry (3d Cir.) and Milan Smith (9th Cir.), both of whom hired some alumni applicants for 2010-11 in mid to late 2008, are extending interview invitations to alumni again.


* Judge Joel Dubina (11th Cir.) is reported to be interviewing and allegedly has made at least one hire.


* On the district court front, Judge Charles Breyer (N.D. Cal.), brother to Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, is reportedly done for 2010-11.


Remember, early hiring updates are typically not announced on the front page, so be sure to visit the early hiring list directly to get the most up to date news on the 2010-11 hiring cycle.




May 22 marks the first day that third year law students may register for an OSCAR account and begin building their applications. Of course, none of these applications will be released to judges before September 8. Nevertheless, once you have access to OSCAR it becomes a lot easier to find judges who do not follow the plan (well, besides the obvious ones everyone knows about).




Appellate Judges


Bye, Kermit (8th Cir.)
Location: Fargo, ND
Term: 8/16/2010 to 8/12/2011

Clifton, Richard (9th Cir.)
Location: Honolulu, HI
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2011

Greenberg, Morton (3rd Cir.)
Location: Trenton, NJ
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/2/2011

Kelly, Paul (10th Cir.)
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/2/2011

Murphy, Diana (8th Cir.)
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Term: 8/16/2010 to 8/12/2011 or 8/23/2010 to 8/19/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Prado, Edward (5th Cir.)
Location: San Antonio, TX
Term: 8/16/2010 to 8/16/2011

Pryor, William (11th Cir.)
Location: Birmingham, AL
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2011

Sutton, Jeffrey (6th Cir.)
Location: Columbus, OH
Term: 6/1/2010 to 5/31/2011 or 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2011 or 8/2/2010 to 8/2/2011 or 8/3/2010 to 8/3/2011
Notes: Four positions available, with different term dates.

Tjoflat, Gerlad (11th Cir.)
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Term: 7/31/2011 to 7/31/2012 or 8/7/2011 to 8/7/2012 or 8/14/2011 to 8/14/2012 or 8/21/2011 to 8/21/2012
Notes: Four positions available, with different term dates.

District Judges


Cummings, Samuel (N.D. Tex.)
Location: Lubbock, TX
Term: 8/16/2010 to 8/15/2012

Feldman, Martin (E.D. La.)
Location: New Orleans, LA
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011

Fullam, John (E.D. Pa.)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/5/2011

Kazen, George (S.D. Tex.)
Location: Loredo, TX
Term: 8/12/2010 to 8/12/2011 or 8/26/2010 to 8/26/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Tagle, Hilda (S.D. Tex.)
Location: Brownsville, TX
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2011

Magistrate Judges


None.

Bankruptcy Judges


None.



Appellate Judges


Southwick, Leslie (5th Cir.)
Location: Jackson, MS
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011

Thomas, Sidney (9th Cir.)
Location: Billings, MT
Term: 8/23/2010 to 8/19/2011 or 8/30/2010 to 8/26/2011 or 9/7/2010 to 9/2/2010 or 9/13/2010 to 9/9/2011
Notes: Four positions available, with different term dates.

Tymkovich, Timothy (10th Cir.)
Location: Denver, CO
Term: 8/31/2010 to 8/31/2011 or 1/2/2011 12/31/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

District Judges


Schiller, Berle (E.D. Pa.)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Term: 8/24/2010 to 8/25/2011 or 8/25/2010 to 8/26/2010
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Schroeder, Thomas (M.D.N.C.)
Location: Winston Salem, NC
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2011 or 8/2/2010 to 8/2/2010
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Scullin, Frederick (N.D.N.Y.)
Location: Syracure, NY
Term: 8/23/2010 to 8/19/2011

Shubb, William (E.D. Cal.)
Location: Sacramento, CA
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/2/2011

Simandle, Jerome (D.N.J.)
Location: Camden, NJ
Term: 8/30/2010 to 8/31/2012

Smith, William (D.R.I.)
Location: Providence, RI
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2011

Smith, G. Murray (D. Ariz.)
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011

Stamp, Federick (N.D. W. Va.)
Location: Wheeling, WV
Term: 8/30/2010 to 8/27/2012

Stein, Sidney (S.D.N.Y.)
Location: New York, NY
Term: 7/1/2010 to 6/30/2011 or 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Tauro, Joseph (D. Mass.)
Location: Boston, MA
Term: 8/23/2010 to 8/26/2011

Trenga, Anthony (E.D. Va.)
Location: Alexandria, VA
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011

Vitaliano, Eric (E.D.N.Y.)
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Term: 9/15/2010 to 9/15/2011

Ward, T. (E.D. Tex.)
Location: Marshall, TX
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2011 or 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2012
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Weinstein, Jack (E.D.N.Y.)
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/7/2011

Welein, Ewing (S.D. Tex.)
Location: Houston, TX
Term: 9/6/2010 to 8/31/2014

Zobel, Rya (D. Mass.)
Location: Boston, MA
Term: 8/31/2010 to 8/31/2011

Magistrate Judges


Schulze, Jillyn (N.D. Ga.)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2012

Segal, Suzanne (C.D. Cal.)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Term: Beginning 9/1/2010
Notes: Career clerk position.

Bankruptcy Judges


St. John, Stephen (Bankr. E.D. Va.)
Location: Norfolk, VA
Term: 8/9/2010 to 8/12/2011



I have added new law clerk information for Judge David Smith (3d Cir.), Judge Fortunato Benavides (5th Cir.) and Judge Kim Wardlaw (9th Cir.). Provided that this information is accurate, it would appear that Judge Smith is full for 2010-11, and the early hiring list has accordingly been updated.




Appellate Judges


Graber, Susan (9th Cir.)
Location: Portland, OR
Term: 8/31/2010 to 8/31/2011

Hartz, Harris (10th Cir.)
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2011

Hawkins, Michael (9th Cir.)
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/5/2011

Iukta, Sandra (9th Cir.)
Location: Pasadena, CA
Term: 8/15/2010 to 8/15/2011

Jones, Edith (5th Cir.)
Location: Houston, TX
Term: 8/9/2010 to 8/8/2011

District Judges


Gilmore, Vanessa (S.D.T.X.)
Location: Houston, TX
Term: 8/25/2010 to 8/20/2012

Goodwin, Joseph (S.D. W.Va.)
Location: Charleston, WV
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2011

Griesa, Thomas (S.D.N.Y.)
Location: New York, NY
Term: 8/9/2010 to 8/9/2011

Gutierrez, Philip (C.D. Cal.)
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2011

Hinkle, Robert (N.D. Fla.)
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Term: 8/16/2010 to 8/12/2011

Hughes, Lynn (S.D.T.X.)
Location: Houston, TX
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2012

Huvelle, Ellen (D.D.C.)
Location: Washington, DC
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/11/2011

Johnston, Thomas (S.D. W.Va.)
Location: Beckley, WV
Term: 8/23/2010 to 8/22/2011 or 8/23/2010 to 8/20/2012
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Kay, Allen (S.D. W.Va.)
Location: Honolulu, HI
Term: 10/4/2010 to 9/30/2011 or 1/10/2011 to 1/11/2012
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Kay, Allen (D. Haw.)
Location: Honolulu, HI
Term: 10/4/2010 to 9/30/2011 or 1/10/2011 to 1/11/2012
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Kiser, Jackson (W.D. Va.)
Location: Danville, VA
Term: 7/1/2010 to 7/1/2011 or 8/1/2010 to 7/31/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Kravitz, Mark (D. Conn.)
Location: New Haven, CT
Term: 6/15/2010 to 6/14/2011 or 8/15/2010 to 8/14/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Lemelle, Ivan (E.D. La.)
Location: New Orleans, LA
Term: 8/16/2010 to 8/16/2011 or 9/16/2010 to 9/16/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Martin, Beverly (N.D. Ga.>)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Term: 8/15/2010 to 8/15/2011

McBryde, John (N.D.T.X.>)
Location: Ft. Worth, TX
Term: 8/23/2010 to 8/22/2011

Magistrate Judges


Guave, Susan (D. Md.)
Location: Baltimore, MD
Term: 8/16/2010 to 8/26/2011

Goldman, Marc (C.D. Cal.)
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/2/2011

Joel, David (N.D. W.Va.>)
Location: Martinsburg, WV
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2011

Katz, Theodore (S.D.N.Y.>)
Location: New York, NY
Term: 8/15/2010 to 8/17/2011

Lloyd, Howard (N.D. Cal.>)
Location: San Jose, CA
Term: 5/13/2010 to 5/15/2011

Lynch, William (D.N.M.>)
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2012

Maas, Frank (S.D.N.Y.>)
Location: New York, NY
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/7/2011

Bankruptcy Judges


Kressel, Robert (Bankr. D. Minn.)
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/12/2012



Appellate Judges


Morris, Arnold (8th Cir.)
Location: Little Rock, AK
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2011

Beezer, Robert (9th Cir.)
Location: Seattle, WA
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011

Benton, Duane (8th Cir.)
Location: Kansas City, MO
Term: 8/16/2010 to 8/12/2011

Berzon, Marsha (9th Cir.)
Location: San Francisco, CA
Term: 6/14/2010 to 6/10/2011 and 8/16/2010 to 8/12/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Brown, Janis Rogers (D.C. Cir.)
Location: Washington, DC
Term: 8/1/2010 to 7/31/2011

Carnes, Ed (11th Cir.)
Location: Montgomery, AL
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2011 or 8/15/2010 to 8/15/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Colloton, Steven (8th Cir.)
Location: Des Moines, IA
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/2/2011

Cudahy, Richard (7th Cir.)
Location: Chicago, IL
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/6/2011

Dennis, James (5th Cir.)
Location: New Orleans, LA
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/1/2012

Dyk, Timothy (Fed. Cir.)
Location: Washington, DC
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2011

Fisher, D. Michael (3rd Cir.)
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Term: 8/23/2010 to 8/19/2011 or 8/30/2010 to 8/26/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Garwood, William (5th Cir.)
Location: Austin, TX
Term: 8/3/2010 to 7/31/2011

District Judges


Allegra, Francis (U.S. Court of Federal Claims)
Location: Washington, DC
Term: 8/30/2010 to 9/1/2011

Anderson, S. Thomas (W.D. Tenn.)
Location: Memphis, TN
Term: 8/15/2010 to 8/15/2011

Arterton, Janet (D. Conn.)
Location: New Haven, CT
Term: 8/9/2010 to 8/7/2012

Barbier, Carl (E.D. La.)
Location: New Orleans, LA
Term: 6/15/2010 to 6/15/2011 and 8/15/2010 to 8/15/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Baylson, Michael (E.D. Pa.)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011

Brack, Robert (D.N.M.)
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/8/2011

Cardone, Kathleen (N.D. Tex.)
Location: El Paso, TX
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/2/2011 or 9/7/2010 to 8/31/2012
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Carney, Cormac (S.D. Cal.)
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Term: 8/2/2010 to 8/27/2011

Cauthron, Robin (W.D. Okla.)
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2012

Chatigny, Robert (D. Conn.)
Location: Hartford, CT
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011

Chesney, Maxine (N.D. Cal.)
Location: San Francisco, CA
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2011

Cohn, James (S.D. Fla.)
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Term: 8/25/2010 to 8/31/2012

Copenhaver, John (S.D. W.Va.)
Location: Charleston, WV
Term: 8/23/2010 to 8/26/2011

Currie, Cameron (D.S.C.)
Location: Columbia, SC
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/6/2011

Dalzell, Stewart (E.D. Pa.)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Term: 8/23/2010 to 8/23/2012

Dimitrouleas, William (S.D. Fla.)
Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2012

Downes, William (D. Wyo.)
Location: Casper, WY
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2012

Flanagan, Louise (E.D.N.C.)
Location: New Bern, NC
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2011 or 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2012
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates.

Frizzell, Gregory (N.D. Okla.)
Location: Tulsa, OK
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2012

Magistrate Judges


Ashman, Martin (N.D. Ill.)
Location: Chicago, IL
Term: 8/16/2010 to 9/1/2011

Barfield, W. Leon (S.D. Ga.)
Location: Augusta, GA
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2012

Bankruptcy Judges


Barfield, W. Leon (Bankr. D. Ariz.)
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/12/2012

Davlis, John (Bankr. S.D. Ga.)
Location: Brunswick, GA
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011

>> Click Here to read the rest of this entry. <<




Appellate Judges


Cox, Emmett (11th Cir.)
Location: Mobile, AL
Term: 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2011
Notes: Preference is given to applicants who plan to locate permanently within one of the states comprising the Eleventh Circuit.

Fisher, Raymond (9th Cir.)
Location: Pasadena, CA
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/31/2011
Notes: Exceptional writing or work experience (e.g., district court clerkship, post-graduate legal experience or fellowships) a plus. Below top 10% considered only on individual basis.

Gorsuch, Neil (10th Cir.)
Location: Denver, CO
Term: 8/16/2010 to 8/13/2011

Owen, Priscilla (5th Cir.)
Location: Austin, TX
Term: 8/1/2010 to 8/31/2011
Notes: Starting date is flexible depending on the Court's needs but must be in August 2010. End date will depend on start date. Class ranking in top 5% is preferred. Law review or other journal is preferred.

District Judges


Bates, John (D.D.C.)
Location: Washington, DC
Term: 9/6/2010 to 9/5/2011
Notes: Law journal and top 25 percent preferred.

Campbell, Tena (D. Utah)
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Term: 1/1/2011 to 12/31/2011
Notes: Only one clerkship available.

Magistrate Judges


None.

Bankruptcy Judges


None.



The following judges currently have five or more clerks listed for a particular term in the Law Clerk Addict database:


Richard Wesley (2d Cir.)

Debra Livingston (2d Cir.)

Fortunato Benavides (5th Cir.)

Edward Carnes (11th Cir.)


Absent some unusual circumstances, like Judge Gerald Tjoflat (11th Cir.), who gets to hire a fifth elbow clerk through staff attorney appropriations, a judge should not have more than four clerks for a given term. Accordingly, it is almost certain that Law Clerk Addict's listings for the above judges have at least one error (most likely a hire being reported for the wrong term). If anyone with insider knowledge can provide corrected information for any of these judges (or confirm that they actually will have five clerks for the listed terms) please email Law Clerk Addict at lawfirmaddict@gmail.com or post a comment.




Appellate Judges


Clement, Edith (5th Cir.)
Location: New Orleans, LA
Term: 6/1/2010 to 6/1/2011 and 8/27/2010 to 8/26/2011
Notes: Two positions available, with different term dates. Two-year clerkship option available.

Kethledge, Raymond (6th Cir.)
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/6/2011

District Judges


Alvarez, Micaela (S.D. Tex.)
Location: Laredo, TX
Term: 8/23/2010 to 8/24/2011
Notes: Clerks must arrive for a two-day training prior to commencing clerkship.

Briones, David (W.D. Tex.)
Location: El Paso, TX
Term: 9/7/2010 to 9/1/2012
Notes: Two-year commitment required. Must be able to work as a member of a well-functioning team. (Check your ego at the door.) El Paso (West Texas/Southern New Mexico) interest/connection considered.

Evans, Orinda (N.D. Ga.)
Location: Atlanta, GA
Term: 8/9/2010 to 8/12/2011

Martini, William (D.N.J.)
Location: Newark, NJ
Term: 9/1/2010 to 9/1/2012
Notes: Graduates with professional legal experience, such as a judicial clerkship or practice at a law firm, are encouraged to apply. Start/end dates approximate. Writing sample not to exceed 10 pages.

Magistrate Judges


None.

Bankruptcy Judges


None.



A large number of court and judge pages were updated today to reflect several judges who have assumed senior status over the past few weeks, including Judge Robert Gettleman (N.D. Ill.), who assumed senior status today. Note that as a matter of policy we will only update senior status after it has been formally assumed, so judges who have announced an intent to assume senior status in the future, like Judges Guido Calabresi (2d Cir.) (July 21, 2009) and Rhesa Barksdale (5th Cir.) (August 8, 2009), will not be updated until those dates have passed.




I have been able to confirm from a very reliable source that Judge Jerry Smith (5th Cir.) is now accepting paper clerkship applications for the 2010-11 term, even though (contrary to prior practice) this fact is not yet advertised on OSCAR. Judge Smith is notorious for not complying with the hiring plan and for interviewing law students well before September, so I would speculate that current 2Ls / rising 3Ls should send in their application materials as soon as possible to maximize their chances.





Some quick updates to the Law Clerk Addict's list of judges hiring before the Plan:


* The previously reported rumor that Theodore McKee (3d Cir.) has completed hiring for 2010 has been confirmed. Furthermore, though not reflected on the list (which only covers the 2010-11 hiring season), I have received a reliable tip that Judge McKee has already made one hire for 2011-12.


* These aren't based on new information, but I have updated the list to add older rumors that Allyson Duncan (4th Cir.) and Eugene Davis (5th Cir.) have partially hired and that Peter Fay (11th Cir.) is completely done for the 2010-11 term.