I’ve always kind of wondered if you could just apply to be a federal judge like any regular job, but honestly, it’s not like that at all. Most federal judges are picked by the President and then have to get approved by the Senate, so it’s a pretty special deal. Usually, you need to be a lawyer for a long time first—like, some judges were lawyers for 20 years or more before they even got considered. People talk about needing good grades at law school, lots of experience, and a reputation for being fair and super smart.

It’s definitely not something you just get by applying online! I read that some court jobs are open for applications, like clerks or public defenders, and you do those for years. That’s how a lot of judges start, working their way up through different legal jobs. So, technically, anyone can try if they work insanely hard for a long time, but yeah, you’ve gotta be super dedicated and know your stuff. It’s like getting to the peak of law careers. I kind of admire people who make it that far because they must have had some serious determination.