Let's talk 2nd Circuit! Forum

[Anonymous User]

It’s Perez, not Lee. Lee isn’t someone who instinctively rocks the boat. Same for Nathan and Robinson. Calabresi is in the same bucket as Perez but of a different generation, and he might be the most liberal judge on the court. Chin also can be very liberal depending on the case.

[Anonymous User]

What is this based on?

[Anonymous User]

What is this based on?

Not the commenter and idk if we're using woke as a negative or a positive (I guess it's both depending on who you ask) but I assume they're just sort of theorizing based on things like clerk hiring, pre-judge/post-judge writings/work, involvment or whatever. This being the case, I guess Lee and Perez are the "woke" ones, but truthfully at this point I dont actually know what distinguishes someone who is far left on the judge scale and someone who is "woke."

[Anonymous User]

What is this based on?

Not the commenter and idk if we're using woke as a negative or a positive (I guess it's both depending on who you ask) but I assume they're just sort of theorizing based on things like clerk hiring, pre-judge/post-judge writings/work, involvment or whatever. This being the case, I guess Lee and Perez are the "woke" ones, but truthfully at this point I dont actually know what distinguishes someone who is far left on the judge scale and someone who is "woke."

I would say "woke" is more about the window trimmings of the job: hiring, the judge's off-bench activities (speeches, causes supported, writings), and chambers culture. None of that necessarily carries over to being a philosophically liberal jurist, but obviously, a "woke" judge will usually be quite liberal. The opposite isn't always true, there are some judges out there who rule quite liberally but run a more formal/traditional workplace.

[Anonymous User]

What is this based on?

Not the commenter and idk if we're using woke as a negative or a positive (I guess it's both depending on who you ask) but I assume they're just sort of theorizing based on things like clerk hiring, pre-judge/post-judge writings/work, involvment or whatever. This being the case, I guess Lee and Perez are the "woke" ones, but truthfully at this point I dont actually know what distinguishes someone who is far left on the judge scale and someone who is "woke."

I would say "woke" is more about the window trimmings of the job: hiring, the judge's off-bench activities (speeches, causes supported, writings), and chambers culture. None of that necessarily carries over to being a philosophically liberal jurist, but obviously, a "woke" judge will usually be quite liberal. The opposite isn't always true, there are some judges out there who rule quite liberally but run a more formal/traditional workplace.

So a better question would be: which judge has the wokest chambers?

[lavarman84]

What is this based on?

Not the commenter and idk if we're using woke as a negative or a positive (I guess it's both depending on who you ask) but I assume they're just sort of theorizing based on things like clerk hiring, pre-judge/post-judge writings/work, involvment or whatever. This being the case, I guess Lee and Perez are the "woke" ones, but truthfully at this point I dont actually know what distinguishes someone who is far left on the judge scale and someone who is "woke."

I would say "woke" is more about the window trimmings of the job: hiring, the judge's off-bench activities (speeches, causes supported, writings), and chambers culture. None of that necessarily carries over to being a philosophically liberal jurist, but obviously, a "woke" judge will usually be quite liberal. The opposite isn't always true, there are some judges out there who rule quite liberally but run a more formal/traditional workplace.

So a better question would be: which judge has the wokest chambers?

Can't be Perez. I hear her chambers needs a lot of naps due to the brutal hours.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know anything about Gardephe?

Edit: also heard he works a lot, but anyone know what effect going senior has had on that?

[Anonymous User]

Gardephe works clerks really, really hard. I know someone who had a good experience with him and someone else who did not.

[Anonymous User]

Gardephe works clerks really, really hard. I know someone who had a good experience with him and someone else who did not.

Worse or better or equal to that Cogan/Koeltl/similar ones?

Edit: What I'm basically asking is how much harder these clerks work than the median SDNY judge. I'm in biglaw so I can handle it, but I also am not the type of person who can do mentally grueling tasks (as I assume clerks are probably not doing any braindead work) from 9-9 M-F

[Anonymous User]

Gardephe works clerks really, really hard. I know someone who had a good experience with him and someone else who did not.

Worse or better or equal to that Cogan/Koeltl/similar ones?

Edit: What I'm basically asking is how much harder these clerks work than the median SDNY judge. I'm in biglaw so I can handle it, but I also am not the type of person who can do mentally grueling tasks (as I assume clerks are probably not doing any braindead work) from 9-9 M-F

9-9 is not unusual for the harder-working judges on SDNY, of whom Gardephe is definitely one. I’ve heard not good things fwiw but through a game of telephone I wouldn’t trust if you have better info.

[Anonymous User]

This information is from four years ago - so no idea if his going senior has changed anything (genuinely curious to hear if anyone has updated info) - but I’m told Gardephe’s clerks usually left somewhere between 8 and 9 (I.e. same time as him).

[Anonymous User]

This information is from four years ago - so no idea if his going senior has changed anything (genuinely curious to hear if anyone has updated info) - but I’m told Gardephe’s clerks usually left somewhere between 8 and 9 (I.e. same time as him).

Is that considered bad for SDNY?

[Anonymous User]

Have also heard firsthand bad things about Gardephe. In addition to the unpleasantness and hard work, it's a very poorly run chambers.

Koeltl works his clerks the hardest that I know of (9-9 Mon-Sat, no vacation, no holidays), but the work product he puts out is of an incredibly high quality and they're very efficient.

Anecdotally, have also heard that Berman has clerks quit basically every term.

[Anonymous User]

Is Judge Gary Brown on EDNY retiring?

[Anonymous User]

Have also heard firsthand bad things about Gardephe. In addition to the unpleasantness and hard work, it's a very poorly run chambers.

Koeltl works his clerks the hardest that I know of (9-9 Mon-Sat, no vacation, no holidays), but the work product he puts out is of an incredibly high quality and they're very efficient.

Anecdotally, have also heard that Berman has clerks quit basically every term.

That's unfortunate, i had heard mixed things but it could be less "mixed" and more just reflexive that some are hesitant to speak honestly.

[Anonymous User]

Is Judge Gary Brown on EDNY retiring?

Why would he be

[Anonymous User]

Three interviews, three nos. FML

[Anonymous User]

Berman requires clerks to ask permission to use the bathroom I am told. He also grades clerks' work product and fires clerks every term. Biggest "avoid" judge in NYC.

[Anonymous User]

Three interviews, three nos. FML

Happens! I had something like 11 interviews before my first offer. Judicial hiring is extremely idiosyncratic and it's less likely that you're doing something wrong than you probably think.

[Anonymous User]

11 interviews is abnormal. Are you that bizarre?

[Anonymous User]

11 interviews is abnormal. Are you that bizarre?

Eh, I doubt it. I was off-plan, which def hurt, but presumably so is the person I responded to. I also withdrew from a bunch of those post-interview so who knows.

Edit: Looked back at my notes. 10 interviews, 1 yes, 5 nos, 4 withdrawn before response. Then about another 7-8 interviews offered that I turned down.

[Anonymous User]

Have also heard firsthand bad things about Gardephe. In addition to the unpleasantness and hard work, it's a very poorly run chambers.

Koeltl works his clerks the hardest that I know of (9-9 Mon-Sat, no vacation, no holidays), but the work product he puts out is of an incredibly high quality and they're very efficient.

Anecdotally, have also heard that Berman has clerks quit basically every term.

Like others about Gardephe, I've heard about the long hours and the responses are mixed, but I've never heard about about it being "bad" overall. To be honest, I've heard at least one bad story about many judges in SDNY. There are really nice, really great bosses in SDNY, but many of the previous generation judges can be unpleasant or difficult to work for.

And I believe the issue is that Berman regularly fires his clerks, but that's well-known and well-documented.

[Anonymous User]

There aren't that many "avoids" in SDNY, but there are a few in EDNY. To be sure, SDNY has insane hours but that's the price you pay for the prestige.

Berman is a definite avoid and maybe Caproni too.

Failla, Koeltl, Daniels and Gardephe have crazy hours.