Want to be a federal judge by 35? 9th Circuit's Alex Kozinski shares some tips
What can you do to get through federal judicial appointment hearings? Try answering questions with baseball metaphors, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Alex Kozinski tells Concurring Opinions.
The post revisits a tips piece about becoming a federal judge that Kozinski wrote for National Journal in 1996 after being appointed to the 9th Circuit when he was only 35 years old.
Kozinski, a Reagan appointee, today says that he followed his own advice, but would probably do some things better, like “making more friends with people on the other side of the political fence.”
The 1996 piece also mentioned giving credit when it’s warranted, and when it isn’t. Kozinski stands by that tip today.
“Let’s say you ask 10 people for help and you then find out that only one or two made a difference,” he said. “The rest either didn’t try or were ineffective. Never mind—they all get 100 percent of the credit: ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’ ”
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly—or not, considering the source—Kozinski today doesn’t advise federal judge hopefuls to stay away from controversial writings on topics like abortion, capital punishment and campaign finance.
“You do have to do something to be noticed,” he said. “Timidity may result in its own kind of failure.”
However, should you get the appointment, he doesn’t advise complete candor at confirmation hearings.
“Always follow the three rules of [life] in Washington: Don’t say it if you don’t want to see it quoted in the Washington Post; don’t do it if you don’t want to be asked about it during your confirmation hearings; and If you can eat it and drink it in a single sitting, it’s not a bribe.”
