Underneath Their Robes

A Cool New Website

Article III groupies everywhere are sure to love this new website: The Robing Room.

The Robing Room is sort of like an online version of the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary. At the site, lawyers (and others) can say basically whatever they want about federal judges -- on an anonymous basis.

But the Robing Room has some advantages over the AFJ. Since it's online, it's updated more frequently, and it's accessible to everyone (not just subscribers). And it's free, which is nice, since the AFJ costs a pretty penny.

Of course, the Robing Room is only as good as the information the editors receive. So head over there and put in your two cents about your favorite -- and least favorite -- Article III judges.

Remember: federal judges are public figures. Actual malice, baby!

Click here to check out The Robing Room. Enjoy!

Riding Circuit -- In a Taxicab?

Judge Thomas M. Hardiman (W.D. Pa.) is quite the judicial wunderkind. He was appointed to the federal trial bench before the age of 40. And now, after less than three years of service as a district judge, he may be in line for a promotion:

Thomas M. Hardiman, 41, who became a judge in the Western District of Pennsylvania in October 2003, could fill a vacancy created on the appeals court after Richard L. Nygaard, of Erie, became a senior judge last summer.

His colleagues have nice things to say about him: "an absolute star," who is "intelligent, hard-working and willing to listen." (But this comment, from former Chief Judge Donald Ziegler, sounds a trifle backhanded: Hardiman turned out to be a "very, very pleasant surprise on the District Court.")

Interesting tidbit: Judge Hardiman worked as a taxi driver before attending law school.

"Um, the far corner, please. Yeah, right here is just fine. Can I get twelve back, Your Honor?"

Judge Hardiman considered for federal appeals post [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
U.S. judge here eyed for court of appeals [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]

(Robe swish: How Appealing)

Chief Justice Roberts: Underneath His Robe

Chief Justice John G. Roberts has barely warmed the Supreme Court bench, but there's already a biography out about him. John G. Roberts, Jr.: Chief Justice is a short bio of the Chief, intended for a young adult audience. It was written by Lisa Tucker McElroy, author of Meet My Grandmother, She's a Supreme Court Justice, about Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Here are some juicy tidbits about the Chief that McElroy unearthed, as reported in an article by Tony Mauro (gavel bang: How Appealing):

1. Chief Justice Roberts's favorite color is green.

2. He loves chocolate -- don't we all? -- and his office has a stash of Hershey's Kisses.

3. JGR "cooks up a mean platter of shrimp marinara at family gatherings."

4. Chief Justice Roberts is super-nice, and when he "heads to the Court cafeteria for a muffin in the morning... he'll ask others in his office if he can pick up one for them too."

(Mr. Chief Justice, A3G would like a corn muffin, please.)

5. Oh, and what about those gold stripes (or the absence thereof)? Chief Justice Roberts told McElroy:

You have to earn your stripes, and I thought it was a little early to be doing that. It seemed to me that simple black was more appropriate. On the other hand, no one ever looks to me for fashion advice.

Chief Justice Roberts, don't be so modest! You may know more about fashion than you let on...

A Law Clerk Hiring Update: Alito's Kids

Article III Groupie has a huge backlog of Supreme Court clerk hiring news in her email inbox. Thanks to all of you who have sent tips her way. She's grateful for the identities of the SCOTUS clerks, as well as the fun facts about them that you've submitted.

For now, a quick update on Justice Samuel A. Alito's clerks for October Term 2006. Via Brian Leiter (blog post and comments), and Wikipedia (List of Law Clerks of the Supreme Court), here they are:

--Michael S. Lee (BYU '97/Benson/Alito)

--Christopher J. Paolella (Harvard '99/Alito)

--Matthew A. Schwartz (Columbia '03/Alito)

--Gordon D. Todd (UVA '00/Beam)

Since you can find their names and biographical details elsewhere on the web, A3G will endeavor to add some value. Here are some interesting facts about each:

--Michael S. Lee: son of former Solicitor General Rex Lee

--Christopher J. Paolella: talented college debater for Princeton; in the class of Alito Third Circuit clerks that developed Alito's Bold Justice coffee blend

--Matthew A. Schwartz (Columbia '03/Alito): like Paolella, a former parliamentary debate whiz

--Gordon D. Todd (UVA '00/Beam): worked on Alito's confirmation while at the DOJ; married to another member of the Elect, Luttigatrix Kathryn Comerford Todd, a partner at Wiley Rein & Fielding (OT 2000/Thomas)

Congratulations, kids -- Mamma Groupie is proud of you!

A UTR Summer Reading List

Here are a few books that Article III Groupie has read or is looking forward to reading:

Anonymous Lawyer, by Jeremy Blachman (of Anonymous Lawyer blog fame). This is a quick, fun read. Some readers -- especially those who have actually worked at law firms, unlike Blachman (who was spared that fate) -- may find the satire too over-the-top, a few plot details implausible, or the humor a little repetitive. But the book has some laugh-out-loud moments, and it's briskly plotted. In short, it's a good summer book. Enjoy it by the pool or at the beach.

In the Shadow of the Law, by Kermit Roosevelt. A3G briefly blogged about it last summer; now it's out in paperback. A3G hasn't read it yet, but a law school classmate strongly recommended it (as did Alan Dershowitz). Roosevelt is one of the Elect (OT 1999/Souter), as well as super-cute. This book is on A3G's nightstand.

Courtiers of the Marble Palace, by Todd C. Peppers. Given her obsession with Supreme Court clerks, Article 3 Groupie can't wait to start reading this one. It's worth buying just for the appendix material alone, which includes a comprehensive listing of Supreme Court clerks from 1884 to 2004 (by justice). WOW!

Becoming Justice Blackmun, by Linda Greenhouse. This book, by the Femme Fatale of One First Street, received glowing reviews when it appeared last year. Now it's also out in paperback. Get your hands on a copy, stat!

The Interpretation of Murder, by Jed Rubenfeld. This historical thriller, based on the life of Sigmund Freud, won't hit bookstores until September (although A3G has finagled herself a copy, 'cause she's that cool). It's not about legal subjects; but its author, the hunky Jed Rubenfeld, is a professor at Yale Law School (as is his stunning wife, Amy Chua).

Rubenfeld's publisher, Henry Holt, paid him an eye-popping advance (reportedly $800,000). It's also supporting the book with a $500,000 marketing campaign. They're betting big on this one.

Interesting factoid: Blachman and Rubenfeld share the same editor (John Sterling) at the same publisher (Henry Holt), as well as the same superstar agent (Suzanne Gluck of William Morris, the queen of literary dealmaking). If you think the legal world is small, check out publishing circles.

Happy Reading!

One First Street: Under Construction

Last Thursday, July 6, the Supreme Court-obsessed Article III Groupie paid another visit to One First Street. A3G's last visit to the Court wasn't that long ago (June 28). But you know A3G -- she can't get enough of this stuff!

The exterior of the SCOTUS building has been transformed. With the Term completed, and the nine Justices scattered to the four winds, the Court's never-ending renovation project has picked up speed. Check out all that scaffolding:

Apparently the Court's marble facade is being inspected to prevent further occurrences of falling marble. (White Vermont marble, in case you're wondering.)

Due to the presence of the scaffolding, the main entrance to the Court is closed. To enter the building, visitors must walk around to the side entrance, on Maryland Avenue. A sign posted by that entrance claims identifies summer 2008 as the scheduled completion date for the renovation:

When the Supreme Court was first completed in 1935, it came in ahead of schedule and under budget -- an amazing feat for a federal government construction project. Of course, the Great Depression may have helped on these fronts; labor was cheap and plentiful.

Will the current SCOTUS modernization project enjoy similar success? A3G has her doubts...

A3G Visits One First Street!

Today your beloved blogress paid a visit to the Supreme Court. Yes, that's right -- Article III Groupie swung by One First Street.

Visiting the Court fills A3G with mixed emotions. On the one hand, it brings up painful memories of how her hopes of joining the Elect were dashed. On the other hand, it's always a thrill to see the justices in the flesh -- and, of course, to hobnob with their clerks.

Some random observations:

1. When the justices enter the courtroom, after the thrilling cry of "oyez, oyez," the height differentials are quite striking. Justice Ginsburg is tiny! You could smuggle her into Disneyworld in your fannypack.

2. Justice Breyer does a nice job of handing down an opinion. His voice is loud and clear, he moves through the reasoning well, and he mentions the key cases. You're reminded that he used to be a professor.

3. Justice Kennedy also acquits himself well in delivering a decision. And his job was much harder -- summarzing the bewildering tangle of opinions and judgments in the Texas redistricting case. (Of course, much of the mess is due to the way that he voted.)

4. Chief Justice Roberts -- what a hunk! He can make even Article 35 of the Vienna Convention sound sexy. A3G wouldn't mind having "Consular Relations" with the Chief!

5. The justices were pretty quiet during the handing down of opinions. There wasn't much of the cross-talk and whispering that one sees between the justices during oral argument.

Yes, Justice Thomas looked like he was dozing off; but his chair was rocking too much for him to be truly asleep. Justice Alito, the new kid on the block, looked alert. He occasionally sipped water out of a silver tumbler. Justice Scalia drank coffee out of a bright green, reflective mug -- the kind that law students get for free from BarBri reps. Every time he took a sip, the mug sent a reflected beam of green light out into the audience. Weird.

Okay, that's all for now. More details about A3G's visit, as well as lots of pictures, are available here. Still more photos are available here.

Breaking: Chicago's Dirksen Courthouse Under Lockdown

Details here and here. (Gavel bang: How Appealing.)

The individual that authorities are searching for, Larnell Rogers, is not believed to be dangerous. Furthermore, contrary to initial reports, he is not an escaped prisoner. This will probably turn out to be no big deal.

But in light of recent breaches of courthouse security, as well as attacks upon judges and their families -- including the horrific killings of the husband and mother of Judge Joan Lefkow (N.D. Ill.), whose chambers are in the Dirksen building -- one can't be too careful.

Update: A reader points out:

A prisoner escaped and killed two guards in the Dirksen in 1992, before being gunned down in the driveway out of the building parking lot, so that probably looms large, too. An award is now named after one of the guards, Harry Belluomini.

Further Update: CNN is reporting that the Dirksen Courthouse building is no longer under lockdown -- not because Rogers has been apprehended, but because it appears he has left the building.

Justice Scalia, Fashion Police

For someone who wears pants that are a little tight in the seat, Justice Antonin Scalia has plenty of opinions about fashion. Tony Mauro reports on recent remarks by Justice Scalia about one of his former clerks, Solicitor General Paul Clement:

[T]he warmest words [at a recent Georgetown Law reception] came from Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom Clement clerked in 1993 and 1994. Scalia said that Clement, who had shown his talents as deputy solicitor general before being promoted, was "the sentimental favorite" among justices for the post. "I am so glad he is solicitor general, because he makes my job easier."

But Scalia mystified the audience somewhat by revealing one complaint he had about Clement: the black vest he wears to the Court with the customary swallow-tail morning coat as solicitor general.

Scalia insisted the vest should be a pearl gray, and he thought Clement had broken with tradition. "As you know, all change is presumptively wrong," Scalia said, only half-joking. But the justice said he had the Court curator look up the history of the outfit, and, sure enough, Clement was right; black is the proper and traditional color for the SG's vest.

Interesting! One of those rare occasions when the brilliant Justice Scalia has gotten something wrong.

To the handful of you lucky enough to ever work in the Solicitor General's office, please take note, and dress accordingly. To the Great Unwashed, take this knowledge as purely academic, for your information only.

(Yes, A3G knows that a handful of lawyers in the SG's office never clerked on the Supreme Court; but come on, let's get real. If you're not among the Elect, your chances of being hit by a bus, killed by a terrorist, or hit by a terrorist driving a bus are better than your chances of getting a job with the Solicitor General. HA.) 

There are additional interesting tidbits in the full article, which can be accessed here.

A UTR Salute to Judge Presnell

Being a good trial judge -- which is a far more difficult than being a good appellate judge -- requires the ability to cut through a lot of b.s.

Measured by this standard, it appears that Judge Gregory A. Presnell (M.D. Fla.) is nothing short of awesome.

Lawyers make everything so needlessly complicated. For example, who needs the voir dire process? What a waste of time! Just pick jurors using "Eeny meeny miney mo."

Judge orders lawyers to play game [Fortune]