Let's Talk 9th Circuit! Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know if Murguia has moved yet

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know grades needed for Judge Nguyen?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know grades needed for Judge Nguyen?

I know a clerk of hers who was around top 15% with LR.

[Anonymous User]

School? Does she only hire HYS?

[Anonymous User]

School? Does she only hire HYS?

She's hired from my school (one of UMich, UVA, Penn, NYU) within the past 3 years. That clerk did not have graduation honors or a district clerkship but had some other biographical hooks.

[Anonymous User]

School? Does she only hire HYS?

Hires from both Berkeley and UCLA.

[Anonymous User]

How much of a caseload does Tallman carry nowadays?

[Anonymous User]

I'd argue Stras Gruender and Colloton have a lot of cache in the prestige-whore conservative legal circles and that's like 30% of the actives on CA8

Agree with the above, and the prior poster that CA1 has Barron. To bring this back somewhat back on track...who are the current "heavy hitters" on CA9 who aren't senior status? (However you might define that. Obviously there's feeders/semi-feeders, but I'm also thinking in terms of general "prestige" to a typical BigLaw hiring audience.)

Ikuta, Friedland, and Bress are probably the three heaviest hitters on CA9 who are not senior. Collins and Owens are also very well-respected, and Bumatay has a lot of credibility in conservative circles, but those are the ones who come to mind. Many of the senior judges (O'Scannlain, Fletcher, Graber, Thomas, McKeown, Bybee, Hurwitz, and potentially others) are also very well-regarded.

This is a good list. I’d add Koh as a ‘heavy hitter’ contender and Miller to the ‘very well-respected’ list.

Also, ranking non-feeder judges is a little silly, but most of the other active judges are well-respected in the circuit and nationwide. The only active judges I’d think twice about clerking for are VanDyke (because of his far-right ideology), Bade (lightweight), and Nguyen (not as far-left as VanDyke is far-right, but would still give me pause).

This has to be a mistake? Other than maybe Owens, Nguyen is probably the most moderate “liberal” on the court

[Anonymous User]

I'd argue Stras Gruender and Colloton have a lot of cache in the prestige-whore conservative legal circles and that's like 30% of the actives on CA8

Agree with the above, and the prior poster that CA1 has Barron. To bring this back somewhat back on track...who are the current "heavy hitters" on CA9 who aren't senior status? (However you might define that. Obviously there's feeders/semi-feeders, but I'm also thinking in terms of general "prestige" to a typical BigLaw hiring audience.)

Ikuta, Friedland, and Bress are probably the three heaviest hitters on CA9 who are not senior. Collins and Owens are also very well-respected, and Bumatay has a lot of credibility in conservative circles, but those are the ones who come to mind. Many of the senior judges (O'Scannlain, Fletcher, Graber, Thomas, McKeown, Bybee, Hurwitz, and potentially others) are also very well-regarded.

This is a good list. I’d add Koh as a ‘heavy hitter’ contender and Miller to the ‘very well-respected’ list.

Also, ranking non-feeder judges is a little silly, but most of the other active judges are well-respected in the circuit and nationwide. The only active judges I’d think twice about clerking for are VanDyke (because of his far-right ideology), Bade (lightweight), and Nguyen (not as far-left as VanDyke is far-right, but would still give me pause).

This has to be a mistake? Other than maybe Owens, Nguyen is probably the most moderate “liberal” on the court

Yep. Even if we’re just considering female Asian judges, Sung and Koh are far, far, far to the left of Nguyen and I assume this poster was referring to one of them.

(I would say Gould and Owens are the two most moderate “liberals” on the Ninth who are still active, but Nguyen is definitely up there.)

[Anonymous User]

I'd argue Stras Gruender and Colloton have a lot of cache in the prestige-whore conservative legal circles and that's like 30% of the actives on CA8

Agree with the above, and the prior poster that CA1 has Barron. To bring this back somewhat back on track...who are the current "heavy hitters" on CA9 who aren't senior status? (However you might define that. Obviously there's feeders/semi-feeders, but I'm also thinking in terms of general "prestige" to a typical BigLaw hiring audience.)

Ikuta, Friedland, and Bress are probably the three heaviest hitters on CA9 who are not senior. Collins and Owens are also very well-respected, and Bumatay has a lot of credibility in conservative circles, but those are the ones who come to mind. Many of the senior judges (O'Scannlain, Fletcher, Graber, Thomas, McKeown, Bybee, Hurwitz, and potentially others) are also very well-regarded.

This is a good list. I’d add Koh as a ‘heavy hitter’ contender and Miller to the ‘very well-respected’ list.

Also, ranking non-feeder judges is a little silly, but most of the other active judges are well-respected in the circuit and nationwide. The only active judges I’d think twice about clerking for are VanDyke (because of his far-right ideology), Bade (lightweight), and Nguyen (not as far-left as VanDyke is far-right, but would still give me pause).

This has to be a mistake? Other than maybe Owens, Nguyen is probably the most moderate “liberal” on the court

Yep. Even if we’re just considering female Asian judges, Sung and Koh are far, far, far to the left of Nguyen and I assume this poster was referring to one of them.

(I would say Gould and Owens are the two most moderate “liberals” on the Ninth who are still active, but Nguyen is definitely up there.)

If that happened… that’s pretty offensive lol — Koh, Sung, and Nguyen have such different names, different ethnic backgrounds, different professional backgrounds, different methodological priors, and different appearances. How anyone could confuse them is beyond me.

[Anonymous User]

I'd argue Stras Gruender and Colloton have a lot of cache in the prestige-whore conservative legal circles and that's like 30% of the actives on CA8

Agree with the above, and the prior poster that CA1 has Barron. To bring this back somewhat back on track...who are the current "heavy hitters" on CA9 who aren't senior status? (However you might define that. Obviously there's feeders/semi-feeders, but I'm also thinking in terms of general "prestige" to a typical BigLaw hiring audience.)

Ikuta, Friedland, and Bress are probably the three heaviest hitters on CA9 who are not senior. Collins and Owens are also very well-respected, and Bumatay has a lot of credibility in conservative circles, but those are the ones who come to mind. Many of the senior judges (O'Scannlain, Fletcher, Graber, Thomas, McKeown, Bybee, Hurwitz, and potentially others) are also very well-regarded.

This is a good list. I’d add Koh as a ‘heavy hitter’ contender and Miller to the ‘very well-respected’ list.

Also, ranking non-feeder judges is a little silly, but most of the other active judges are well-respected in the circuit and nationwide. The only active judges I’d think twice about clerking for are VanDyke (because of his far-right ideology), Bade (lightweight), and Nguyen (not as far-left as VanDyke is far-right, but would still give me pause).

This has to be a mistake? Other than maybe Owens, Nguyen is probably the most moderate “liberal” on the court

Rawlinson and some of the recent seniors (Graber, McKeown) are probably a little less reliably liberal, but yeah, Nguyen is a very mainstream Dem appointee. That was a weird comment.

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[quote="Anonymous User" post_id=10556736 time=1710217592 user_id=45852]
[quote="Anonymous User" post_id=10556725 time=1710196005 user_id=45852]
[quote="Anonymous User" post_id=10555915 time=1707508486 user_id=45852]
[quote="Anonymous User" post_id=10555914 time=1707507042 user_id=45852]
I'd argue Stras Gruender and Colloton have a lot of cache in the prestige-whore conservative legal circles and that's like 30% of the actives on CA8
[/quote]

Agree with the above, and the prior poster that CA1 has Barron. To bring this back somewhat back on track...who are the current "heavy hitters" on CA9 who aren't senior status? (However you might define that. Obviously there's feeders/semi-feeders, but I'm also thinking in terms of general "prestige" to a typical BigLaw hiring audience.)
[/quote]

Ikuta, Friedland, and Bress are probably the three heaviest hitters on CA9 who are not senior. Collins and Owens are also very well-respected, and Bumatay has a lot of credibility in conservative circles, but those are the ones who come to mind. Many of the senior judges (O'Scannlain, Fletcher, Graber, Thomas, McKeown, Bybee, Hurwitz, and potentially others) are also very well-regarded.
[/quote]

This is a good list. I’d add Koh as a ‘heavy hitter’ contender and Miller to the ‘very well-respected’ list.
[/quote]

Miller is extremely well-respected on the right and left. He is also among the smartest judges on the bench across every circuit. I've yet to hear anyone speak poorly of him. The clerks he has hired from my school tend to be moderate liberals with public service backgrounds. My understanding is that he competes with Friedland and Owens/Nguyen for top HYS students.

[Anonymous User]

Hello! Does anyone have any insights as to whether Judge Sung has started inviting folks for interviews? (2025-26 clerkships). Also any insights into grades required to be serious?

[lookatriffraffplease]

What's the deal with Thompson's 7-month and 9-month clerkships? Saw that they expired already, but those are weird (and soon)!

All three of her clerks quit.

Wtf, how bad must that clerkship be? How are chambers even operating?

holy cow I interviewed with her a few years back sooooo glad I wasn't hired. Such a crapshoot sometimes

[Anonymous User]

Hello! Does anyone have any insights as to whether Judge Sung has started inviting folks for interviews? (2025-26 clerkships). Also any insights into grades required to be serious?

Also curious about this!

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know if Murguia has moved yet

Also wondering this.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know if Murguia has moved yet

Also wondering this.

Last year she moved very slowly

[Anonymous User]

Any news on Johnstone? His chambers sent out an email to off-plan applicants last Friday informing them that the Judge “will review these applications next week and schedule interviews for the following week.” Unclear whether he’s sent out those interviews yet but would appreciate any insight!

[Anonymous User]

Any news on Johnstone? His chambers sent out an email to off-plan applicants last Friday informing them that the Judge “will review these applications next week and schedule interviews for the following week.” Unclear whether he’s sent out those interviews yet but would appreciate any insight!

Probably means you made some kind of initial cut, because I didn't get that email rip

[Anonymous User]

Any news on Johnstone? His chambers sent out an email to off-plan applicants last Friday informing them that the Judge “will review these applications next week and schedule interviews for the following week.” Unclear whether he’s sent out those interviews yet but would appreciate any insight!

I also got the email sent to off-plan applicants, and I haven't heard anything at this point. I imagine if you don't get a call/email tomorrow, you didn't make the cut since the interviews are supposed to start next week.

[Anonymous User]

Any news on Johnstone? His chambers sent out an email to off-plan applicants last Friday informing them that the Judge “will review these applications next week and schedule interviews for the following week.” Unclear whether he’s sent out those interviews yet but would appreciate any insight!

I also got the email sent to off-plan applicants, and I haven't heard anything at this point. I imagine if you don't get a call/email tomorrow, you didn't make the cut since the interviews are supposed to start next week.

From the original commenter -- thanks for the data point! I figured the same. Keeping my fingers crossed for both of us tomorrow.

Any news on Johnstone? His chambers sent out an email to off-plan applicants last Friday informing them that the Judge “will review these applications next week and schedule interviews for the following week.” Unclear whether he’s sent out those interviews yet but would appreciate any insight!

Probably means you made some kind of initial cut, because I didn't get that email rip

I'm not too sure about this--it seemed like the original email was sent through OSCAR, I saw it almost as some kind of form email that was mass-sent to all off-plan applicants? It almost looked like one of those plain-text OSCAR updates and I mistook it for a daily OSCAR update when I first saw it.

[Anonymous User]

Any news on Johnstone? His chambers sent out an email to off-plan applicants last Friday informing them that the Judge “will review these applications next week and schedule interviews for the following week.” Unclear whether he’s sent out those interviews yet but would appreciate any insight!

I also got the email sent to off-plan applicants, and I haven't heard anything at this point. I imagine if you don't get a call/email tomorrow, you didn't make the cut since the interviews are supposed to start next week.

From the original commenter -- thanks for the data point! I figured the same. Keeping my fingers crossed for both of us tomorrow.

Any news on Johnstone? His chambers sent out an email to off-plan applicants last Friday informing them that the Judge “will review these applications next week and schedule interviews for the following week.” Unclear whether he’s sent out those interviews yet but would appreciate any insight!

Probably means you made some kind of initial cut, because I didn't get that email rip

I'm not too sure about this--it seemed like the original email was sent through OSCAR, I saw it almost as some kind of form email that was mass-sent to all off-plan applicants? It almost looked like one of those plain-text OSCAR updates and I mistook it for a daily OSCAR update when I first saw it.

Ah yep I got it. Seems like it was to everyone after all.

[Anonymous User]

Johnstone interview invites went out a few minutes ago.

[Anonymous User]

Judge Silver (D. Ariz.) has an unexpected opening for a clerk starting soon or next few months. Chambers does not seem to be a in good state, so buyer beware. Long-time career clerk left.

[super12345chess]

What do folks know about Judge Lin in San Francisco? She is new so I haven't been able to find anything yet about her as a boss.