Here's something new to think about.....

[jerseymom]

Thanks to Semipa for the terrific job of plotting our scores. Can you posters stand one more survey? Are you willing to give your score and the lists of sites you selected? Especiallly if you scored in the high range-- 70 and above.
I scored a 65.07 and only selected sites in NYC, NJ, Philly and Albany.
I know we don't know were the openings will be, but for us in the middle of the pack, it might give us hope to know you're not interested in the same locations we are.
Good luck to all who made it this far.

[lurker]

36 locations selected: East Coast, West Coast, with a few places in between. Nothing south of the Mason Dixon line.

[deadwood]

72 and change. Chose all.

[skibum]

77.72. I selected most places that did not end in "...ota," such as North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota. Also no NY, no Chicago.

Pretty much drew a smiley face on a map of the US, starting top left, down the left coast (no pun intended, but it fits), across the South, up the East coast to Delaware, plus a few spots in fly-over-land like Denver, KC, StL, Cincy, Lousiville and Lexington.

[aljhunter]

Oh, my typing skills! "and most of the rest of Region I. . . "

[shadow]

70.31 - selected ALL

[knownuthin]

78.36. Regions III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII with the exception of states on the Canadian border and locations near DC or New Orleans. I would prefer to stay in TX.

[tootsie]

69.2 and, for what it's worth, about 100 locations - all but the large metropolitan centers.

[doctorwho]

I wonder, when somebody says they selected "all," do they mean Puerto Rico as well? I believe that you have to be fluent in Spanish to be a judge in the PR offices.

[jobane]

And how many of you who selected all are ready to deal with the cold, snow,housing costs and traveling in as one writer termed on Canadian border if you were offered a position in the "ota" states? Is tranferring that easy?

[shadow]

I don't want to leave the KC area, but I said, and meant it, that I would go anywhere. I have been plotting and planning this ALJ thing, waiting for the process to open up, for many years. If going to Nome or Frostbite Falls [remember Rocky & Bullwinkle?] gets me in the door, so be it.

At my age, I can't wait around for another opportunity. Besides, my wife is from MinnesOTA, and I kind of like it up there. . .always wanted to learn how to ice fish. LOL ;D

[odarite]

jobane said:

And how many of you who selected all are ready to deal with the cold, snow,housing costs and traveling in as one writer termed on Canadian border if you were offered a position in the "ota" states? Is tranferring that easy?

No, transferring is hard. You must wait 2 years from your appointment date to even apply, you can only select 3 places and they have to want to add judges where you want to go. Do not accept an offer if you can't stand the idea of working in the offered location for well past the 2 year minimum. You may be staying there.

[jobane]

Then, if one has selected ALL is there a way not to be considered for places such as the far north without turning down an offer after an interview?

[kingfisher]

jobane said:

And how many of you who selected all are ready to deal with the cold, snow,housing costs and traveling in as one writer termed on Canadian border if you were offered a position in the "ota" states? Is tranferring that easy?

Transferring is definitely NOT that easy. Some ALJs have been on the transfer list for years. I am hoping to receive a transfer offer soon. Transfers or Reassignment Letters are being processed in Falls Church at this time. Some have gone out and others will follow in November. BTW, until all the transfers have been completed, Falls Church cannot even begin to focus on locations for a Certification request.

[counselor95]

To second kingfisher, I know of one ALJ who was on the transfer list for close to 10 years to go to a popular East Coast location, i.e., 12 years after being hired!

As for me, all but PR (I don't speak Spanish). I think it would be an adventure to go to one of the "OTA" states, or Billings, etc. I've lived in several states, and it is usually what you make of it -- there are good people and interesting places everywhere, with different phrases to learn and varying ways of looking at the world.

[lee]

85.52, but limited geographic preferences---Lexington, Louisville, Middlesboro, Cincinnati, and Huntington.

[chris]

peejay said:

90.73, but only selected DC, Falls Church, Arlington, Richmond, and Charlottesville (we want to be close to family). Good score but limited geographic selections may mean I'll have to wait a while...

By the way peejay, those of us with scores beneath you want to thank you for limiting your geographical availability !

Chris

[chris]

jobane said:

And how many of you who selected all are ready to deal with the cold, snow,housing costs and traveling in as one writer termed on Canadian border if you were offered a position in the "ota" states? Is tranferring that easy?

That first question is a very good question. I look forward to discussing this in person with some of you in the future or at least continuing this dialogue on this Board. Often when I visit a new city I am surprised by how much it differs from my preconceived notions. Sometimes that is good and sometimes it is not....

Chris

[deadwood]

doctorwho said:

I wonder, when somebody says they selected "all," do they mean Puerto Rico as well? I believe that you have to be fluent in Spanish to be a judge in the PR offices.

I selected all including PR.

Unless the requirements have changed, I do not believe that you have to be fluent in Spanish to be an ALJ in PR because I had a friend on the last register who was offered a position in PR, and she couldn't speak a lick of Spanish.

[cybear]

I was also offered that position and the requirement was and remains that one be able to speak and write fluently in Spanish. In fact, the finalists were interviewed in Spanish. Spanish is not my strong suit.

This round, I selected "all" and was serious in so doing.