Final Judgment on Summer Plans

Bryce got a job this summer! In his own words: I have an externship (like an internship but will get school credit) with Judge Mosman in the District Court. It's pretty exciting. Judge Mosman has had a wildly successful career and is one of the most highly regarded judge's in the state. I'll be researching and writing memos and the like, as well as doing some stuff in the court. I played basketball with his head clerk, Joe, who's in the singles ward at the church, and we hit it off because we'd get together and talk politics and the law, and ignore everyone else in the room. I hear this is a common thing for lawyers. Anyways, Joe kept telling me I should apply to work there this summer, and finally I put in my application at the beginning of the month. Joe put my stuff on the Judge's desk himself, and then told the judge he should hire me after the judge had reviewed my application and said he wanted to interview me. I owe him one.

The interview was fun. I chatted with the judge in his chambers for a bit. I wasn't slouching, but I felt at ease and had my leg crossed and everything while we talked about where I was from and where he was from, and a bit about the job. I was feeling confident too, because Brittany and I had gotten dinner the night before with Joe, and he told me the judge wanted me on board. Anyways, after interviewing with the judge, we met with his clerks and we were having a conversation about how clerks need to be able to tell the judge when he's wrong. So I offered to correct his golf grip (there was a putter in the room, but it was ballsy, because I'm sure I couldn't). He then told me that If I could sink two out of three putts I'd have the job. He lined me up about 25 feet away, and I missed the first one, and then rimmed out on the second one. So I had to interview with the clerks too (a federal judge's clerk(s) are law school graduates). That was pretty easy too. The clerk I didn't know, Meaghan, asked me about one thing on my resume, and then perked up and said, "So do you have any good companion stories from your mission?" Between the judge, who is mormon, and Joe, who is mormon, she agreed that she was an honorary mormon, and crazy companion stories were her favorite stories. I think the judge even took her to watch general conference. Anyways, point is, it was a great process, and it seems like a good environment.

And just for reference, last year I was at the Clackamas Circuit Court with Judge Rastetter, who I also really liked. A circuit court covers a county (in that case, Clackamas), and is state law, whereas a District court covers the state, and is Federal law. Also, since it's funded by the Feds, the district court is super nice. The judge's chambers are in the corner office in the top, or 16th floor of the courthouse and has what is probably a 20 foot ceiling. with windows that are nearly floor to ceiling that overlook the river. It's a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to it. And of course, we got sushi to celebrate.