More Law Clerk Hiring News, and a Correction

One of the nice things about blogging is that you can correct erroneous items quickly and prominently. In Article III Groupie's most recent post about Supreme Court clerk hiring, she reported that Heath Tarbert would be clerking for Justice Clarence Thomas in October Term 2006. It appears that this item was incorrect; Mr. Tarbert will be clerking for Justice Thomas in October Term 2007, along with Carrie Severino.

Does this mean that there is still room in CT's RV for one more passenger in OT 2006? Or is there a Thomas clerk for OT 2006 that A3G has not yet learned about? If you have the scoop, please email A3G.

In other law clerk hiring news, Amy Howe of SCOTUSblog extends Goldstein & Howe's congratulations to Stephen Shackelford, who will be clerking for Justice Stephen G. Breyer (presumably in OT 2006). A3G had previously heard a rumor about Justice Breyer hiring a Fay Diploma winner currently clerking for Judge Michael Boudin. Perhaps this unidentified Boudin clerk and Mr. Shackelford -- a two-time winner of the Sears Prize -- are one and the same?

Also worth noting in the SCOTUSblog congratulations message: the news that Anton Metlitsky, previously hired by then-Judge John G. Roberts to clerk on the D.C. Circuit in 2005-06, has secured a clerkship with Big Pimpin' Feeder Judge Merrick Garland. A3G is willing to wager donuts to dollars* that Mr. Metlitsky, after his tenure as a Garlandista, will be reunited with JGR at One First Street (as she previously speculated).

A Garland clerkship followed by a Roberts clerkship is one helluva clerkship combo. But it's no match for what George Hicks, also hired to clerk for JGR on the D.C. Circuit, might end up with someday: a clerkship with Chief Justice Roberts, but preceded by a clerkship with Judge Janice Rogers Brown!!!

(As reported last month in UTR, George W. Hicks was dispatched to Judge Brown's chambers after then-Judge Roberts was nominated to the Supreme Court. A3G would bet a large sum of money that George, like Anton, will also eventually clerk for JGR on the Supreme Court.)

In terms of prestige, a Garland-Roberts clerkship sequence is impossible to beat. But in terms of fabulosity, both clerkships combined are nothing compared to apprenticing at the elbow of the Uppity Black Diva. Ever since Judge Priscilla Owen was dethroned, stripped of her diva crown for being too shy and unassuming, Judge Brown has reigned as UTR's #1 Judicial Diva.

A3G previously declined to opine (see question #15) as to who would prevail in a judicial celebrity death match between Judge Richard Posner and Judge Alex Kozinski. But A3G can tell you this, with complete confidence: If Chief Justice John Roberts were ever to cross gavels with Judge Janice Rogers Brown -- an unlikely scenario, given their shared conservatism, but not inconceivable -- the Chief wouldn't stand a chance. Her Divaship would knock that Harvard pretty boy upside the head so fast, he'd lose three-quarters of his I.Q. points!

And then what would happen? We might start confusing him with Harriet Miers...

* Yes, A3G realizes that the saying is "dollars to donuts." But she's not talking about ordinary donuts; she's referring to Krispy Kremes!

No, you're right, A3G doesn't eat them that often -- they're not good for her girlish figure, and her culinary tastes generally run more highbrow than that. But when she does occasionally indulge her Krispy Kreme kraving, she always enjoys herself!

Comments

[Anon]

fletcher is clerking with garland...he has taken the lead as the liberal pimp feeder it seems

[Anonymous]

So Thomas has already hired THREE clerks for OT 2007? Yikes!

[WLH]

Shackelford did indeed win the 2005 Fay Diploma, and he is clerking for Boudin right now.

It will be interesting to see for whom the Class of 2006 double-Sears winner (i.e., Brian Fletcher) clerks. He too spent a summer at Goldstein & Howe.

Eric is clerking with Justice Thomas in OT 2007, not 2006.

Eric McArthur, a Chicago '05 grad and current Luttig clerk, is signed on for CT during the 2006 term.