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Judge John D. Bates' Court Webpage

General Information

The Honorable John D. Bates

United States District Court Judge
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
333 Constitution Avenue, Northwest
Washington, DC 20001 
(202) 354-3430 (telephone)

Case status information: Check PACER or the Clerk's Office public computers Memorandum Opinions may be found in the Court Opinions section of this website and on legal databases Court's Calendar: Check the Court Schedules section of this website

Clerkship Information
Judge Bates employs three rotational law clerks; each is generally a one-year position.

The position requires excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills. The successful applicant will work closely on a daily basis with Judge Bates. The job responsibilities require significant interaction with judges, attorneys, law clerks, and Clerk's Office staff. Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, including the ability to handle multiple tasks and help to manage a small but busy office, are essential.

Tasks on a broad range of duties on civil and criminal cases include: legal analysis and research; preparing bench memoranda; drafting orders and opinions; drafting jury instructions; managing the case docket; supervising legal interns; office management, including calendar maintenance, docket entries, and organizing and maintaining case files; and performing various other legal and administrative duties as assigned.

How to apply:
Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, undergraduate and law school transcripts, and at least three letters of recommendation.

Applications may be submitted by mail to:

Chambers of the Honorable John D. Bates
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
333 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001

Or electronically either via the Online System for Clerkship Application & Review (“OSCAR”) https://oscar.uscourts.gov/ or by emailing applications to the following email address: bates_clerk_apps@dcd.uscourts.gov.

Please do not submit duplicate applications via OSCAR and email.

Internship Information
Judge Bates is looking for bright, highly-motivated law students to participate in the judicial process, primarily through research and writing. The experience provides an exceptional insight into federal litigation and the administration of justice. Students interested in internships should have completed a minimum of one year of law school by the time the internship commences. Interns work full-time during the summer. At this time, Judge Bates does not host interns during the academic year.

An internship with Judge Bates is a traditional judicial internship, which will involve work directly with the Judge as well as with the law clerks. Student interns prepare memoranda of law and draft opinions. They have the opportunity to observe trials and other litigation events by sitting in on various phases of both civil and criminal cases. They may also be asked to perform some administrative tasks. The internship is unpaid, although some interns have earned academic credit.

Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Applicants may apply by submitting a cover letter, resume, writing sample, undergraduate and law school transcripts (when available), and 2-3 references and/or letters of recommendation; or they may also e-mail their package (PDF format preferred) to Bates_Intern_Apps@dcd.uscourts.gov

Mailing address:
The Honorable John D. Bates
United States District Court Judge
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
333 Constitution Avenue, Northwest
Washington, DC 20001

Any questions should be directed to the above e-mail address or by calling (202) 354-3430.