A study covering the period between 1980 and 2020 found that more than two-thirds of U.S. Supreme Court justices’ law clerks come from just five law schools: Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago.

The study, conducted by Albert H. Yoon of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Tracey E. George of Vanderbilt University Law School, and Mitu Gulati of the University of Virginia School of Law, analyzed the backgrounds of 1,426 former Supreme Court law clerks. The findings reveal that undergraduate degrees also matter, with going to college at Harvard, Yale, or Princeton providing a significant boost to applicants even after controlling for law school grades. The Supreme Court justices also have elite degrees, with four justices holding law degrees from Yale Law School and four from Harvard Law School. Six justices have undergraduate degrees from Harvard, Yale, or Princeton, with the exceptions being Justice Clarence Thomas, a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Justice Neil Gorsuch, a graduate of Columbia University, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who has a law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

The study indicates that every lawyer for a Supreme Court clerkship “has ticked all the boxes” with the necessary qualifications, including a selective law school, top grades, law review membership, and glowing references from law faculty. After graduation, they typically clerked for one of the 179 active U.S. Court of Appeals judges, preferably one with a reputation for sending clerks to the court. Despite about 700 law grads per year meeting these qualifications, only 36 secure a Supreme Court clerkship. The study authors concluded that educational pedigree, as opposed to academic performance or any other qualification, often distinguishes the winners from the also-rans. The court clerkship selection process is a blend of status and merit, where status often prevails.

The New York Times and the Balls and Strikes blog have covered the study, noting that Supreme Court clerkships are highly sought after and prestigious positions that often lead to successful legal careers. However, the study’s findings have raised concerns about diversity and inclusion, with some calling for more efforts to open up opportunities for applicants from less elite backgrounds. Hopefully, these discussions will increase efforts to diversify the legal profession and promote more significant equity and access to justice.

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Want to be a Supreme Court clerk? It helps to graduate from these law schools and colleges

The post How to Become a Supreme Court Clerk: Graduating from These Law Schools and Colleges Can Help first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

Summary: A judge found guilty of misconduct gave his clerk a BMW in an act of “mentorship.”

Move over, Ashley Madison. A Tulare County judge is raising eyebrows in the legal community over some extravagant gifts he bought his clerk. In addition to buying his clerk gifts worth thousands of dollars, Judge Valeriano Saucedo is accused of sending the young woman hundreds of text messages.

Allegations of the judge’s misconduct first surfaced approximately one year ago, and an investigation uncovered more issues this July. To make matters even worse, a disciplinary commission is claiming Saucedo lied about his misconduct. He faces removal from office for pressuring his clerk into an inappropriate relationship.

The July investigation found that he gifted his clerk $26,000 in extravagant items, including a BMW and a trip to Disneyland. His condition for giving the gifts was that she be his “special friend” and confide in him.

When the married clerk attempted to end the unwanted relationship, the judge threatened to kill himself. He’s been found guilty of the two most serious ethics violations–prejudicial and willful misconduct.

The commission will determine his fate but has warned that lying made things worse. Gary Schons, counsel at Best Best & Krieger, has been assigned to present the case against Saucedo. Schons is recommending that the judge’s judicial title be removed, stating that he is a risk to the public since his lack of remorse and lies do not appropriately reflect how a person of the legal system should act. Schons claims Saucedo’s attempts to build a relationship with the clerk were “sinister and devious.”

Judge Saucedo has told the commission he only intended to serve as a mentor to the clerk, and that they never engaged in a sexual or romantic relationship. If this is the case then the commission is left to wonder why Saucedo “refused to admit important documented facts, failed to answer direct questions, and made affirmative misrepresentations” when the investigation was conducted.

Saucedo’s attorney says the judge was nervous, which caused his testimony to be stiff and unclear.

Source: http://www.therecorder.com/id=1202739257479/Removal-Urged-for-Judge-Who-Bought-Clerk-a-BMW#ixzz3nzZafkS4

Photo: visaliatimesdelta.com

The post Judge in Hot Water for Buying Clerk a Beamer first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

Summary: A drive-thru clerk and manager of a Florida Arby’s were rude and initially refused to serve a policer officer, but have not been fired yet for their actions.

The drive-thru clerk at a Pembroke Pines southern Florida Arby’s refused to serve a white policewoman that was in uniform and in her patrol car. The manager of the Arby’s was forced to give the cop her food. The CEO of the company has apologized but that barely makes up for the blatant disrespect shown to a police officer that has done nothing wrong.

Broward and Dade County Police Benevolence Association declared that the apology was not enough and asked supporters to boycott Arby’s until the employees are fired. With the recent rise in random attacks on police officers, there is an issue that needs to be addressed.

The clerk, 19-year-old Kenneth Davenport was “short” with the officer when she was ordering food and when she drove to the window, the manager, Angel Mirabel, said the clerk didn’t want to serve her because she was a police officer. Davenport was forced by Mirabel to run the credit card. The clerk has since taken back his comment to blame the manager, saying he was only joking but nobody believes him.

The officer was obviously upset and no longer trusted the safety of the food so she was given a refund. The apologies offered by Arbys are nice but no apologies have come from the two employees involved. One would hope that Arbys is smart and fires them both. The matter of distrust between cops and black citizens is not something to joke about.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3220515/Arby-s-CEO-apologizes-uniformed-officer-refused-service-policewoman-Florida-fast-food-chain-employee-says-joke.html

Photo: wsvn.com

The post Arbys Disgraced by Two Employees in Florida first appeared on JDJournal Blog.

The University of Louisville Law School has had a couple of interesting graduates recently and another graduate found her way into the news this week. The graduate reportedly had too much to drink and was found to be acting belligerently as she was accused of trying to break into a judge’s house.

The law graduate in question is that of Kristine Ragan, who formerly worked as a clerk in the Clark County Circuit Court in Indiana. Ragan found herself in a ton of hot water last week when she attempted to break into the home of Judge Mickey Weber from the Clarksville Town Court.

Police report that Ragan arrived at the home of Weber on North Taggart Avenue and refused to leave the property. Police officers placed Ragan in a taxi, told her to return to her home, and not to come back to the judge’s house or she would be arrested. Not two hours later Ragan returned to the home of the judge, who had to restrain her as she battered him while trying to gain entry into his home.

Ragan has been charged with criminal trespass, battery, resisting law enforcement and public intoxication. Ragan tested a .181 on the breathalyzer test.

“I think it’s been blown out of proportion,” Brad Jacobs, Ragan’s attorney, said. “I think it’s more like a high school rumor than a case.”

No one is quite sure of the relationship between Ragan and Weber but the attorney for Ragan did confirm that the two know each other.

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