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Several judges spoke candidly about their personal judicial nomination experiences on Friday in honor of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana’s 12th annual court history and continuing legal education symposium.
Offering insight and advice on the modern judicial nomination and appointment process were Southern District Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson, senior District Judge Sarah Evans Barker, District Judge James Patrick Hanlon and 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge David Hamilton.
The judges delved into their judicial experiences at a roundtable Friday during the symposium, situated in the Sarah Evans Barker courtroom. The panelists addressed a full crowd of attendees who laughed often at the recollections and stories shared. When asked to share advice to individuals seeking to pursue a path to the federal bench, Barker noted that there is no ironclad advice to give.
“That’s the first thing I tell them — it’s stars aligning,” she said. “Things have to converge and come together at the right time, the right place, with the right people.”
The senior judge added that she thinks it’s helpful to have a mentor to talk through the experience with. Federal bench seekers must also truly want it, Barker said. They must know what they’re getting into because it will include long nights of hard work. More practically, she noted there are several questions an interested person should ask himself or herself.
“Who have you talked to? Who is the competition? Who do you know that is also vying for this and what do you think would be your niche in comparison to that person?” Barker said.
Magnus-Stinson agreed, offering additional practical preparation advice including thoroughly reviewing the questionnaire.
“Have you participated in seminars? Are you engaged in your legal community?” she asked. “Also, very practically, how are you going to get on a senator’s radar?”
Bouncing off of the chief judge’s advice, Hamilton added that he always tries to help young lawyers understand that judicial selections and nominations are a political process that involve government and political power.
“You may not like politics, and it’s not always pretty, but it’s where this happens,” Hamilton advised. “I encourage people to find ways to get involved in that process. The selectors are not necessarily looking for the most prudent, capable lawyers. They are looking for capable lawyers to become judges who can be trusted to exercise power well.”
Thankfully, Magnus-Stinson said, the district court has been blessed with great selections and colleagues who are intentionally collegial and supportive of one another, despite the wide array of presidents who nominated them.
“I’m just very proud of serving here with everyone who has been through the process in such a different way,” Magnus-Stinson said.
“What a journey,” Barker noted. “None of us ever forgets the journey.”
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