The Path to the Federal Bench

Book excerpt: This pamphlet is intended to serve as a guide for law students and lawyers early in their careers who are interested in pursuing an Article of federal judgeship in the future (Article III being the section of the Constitution concerned with federal judges nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and appointed for life). By providing basic information about how to assess one's candidacy, as well as what to expect during the nomination and confirmation phases of the judicial selection process, we hope to illuminate what is often a somewhat obscure process and help the reader plan ahead. We also point to sources where further information can be obtained. The end goal is to facilitate the rise of a diverse group of talented lawyers to the federal bench.