Transfer List and Sites

[Pixie]

There are always openings there. In fact two are asking for transfers out.

[doctorwho]

Thanks! It's not a bad place, is it? (Puerto Rico) Any information is greatly appreciated.

[cinderella]

Anybody know about Wichita, Albuquerque, or Evanston (or any of the Chicago offices?)

[pm]

We know someone in Albuquerque who loves that office. Nice city too.

[cinderella]

Thanks, PM- I actually meant to ask if anyone knew about transfer requests.

[odarite]

I have heard that Evanston has empty offices, I know they have requests to transfer in, but I have heard those offices will not be filled as there is greater need for judges elsewhere in R5 and Evanston has a very low pending per ALJ, even with fewer judges.

[privateatty]

If 650 made the cut of WD and SI and advance and the vast majority (some think almost if not all) will be on the register) and ODAR only takes 175 this year, then those who are not taken by another agency (and I understand that may not happen at all) will presumably stay on the list. Thats alot of folks.

Pixie and others have told us that you can't change any geographical preference until the register opens again. Why would it with this kind of pool? Is there any variation to this rule? It appeals as though there are alot of us who would go to East Mooseville to be an ALJ but didn't know enough to check "all locations" on their geographical preference. To wait all these years and be tripped up by this simple level of ignorance is maddening...

[odarite]

Back in the day before the Adzell/Meeker litigation, the register was always open. Anyone could apply at any time. Litigation put an end to that. I think eventually we may return to that, but since the register was closed for so many years the pent up demand to apply is too big for a small agency like OPM to handle if the register simply remained open. As a result, as soon as this batch is processed and the appeals dealt with, I think OPM will open the register in the same way as last time, accepting only a limited number of applications. Thus, I expect to see the register reopen some time in 2008.

[hilltopper]

ALJSouth,

How about Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville TN Florence, Birmingham AL & Atlanta GA?

[alwayslearning]

There is one ALJ on the transfer list for Birmingham and there are also a couple of empty ALJ offices and a massive case load.

[govtattorney]

i always here how there are lots of interest in transfering to DC, but how about the Rockville office or Baltimore?

[learnedhand]

Odarite, this is consistent with what I was told at OPM. Register opening again in a year or so and, after that, every other year.

[aljsouth]

cinderella said:

Anybody know about Wichita, Albuquerque, or Evanston (or any of the Chicago offices?)

4 into Albuquerque
0 wichita
8 to chicago
9 to Evanston

[aljsouth]

hilltopper said:

ALJSouth,

How about Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville TN Florence, Birmingham AL & Atlanta GA?

4 to Knoxville
2 to Chattanooga
1 to Florence
2 to Nashville
1 to Birmingham
2 to Atlanta -- North
1 to Atlanta (downtown)

In all honesty, I have heard Atl downtown is a bad office, disorganized and a horrible commute in wretched traffic everyday. Hugh backlog so will probably be hiring if office space available.

[aljsouth]

Two judges are trying to transfer out of San Juan. It has been a place where many go to get the job, then spend their time trying to get out.

I have not heard anything particularly bad about Puerto Rico. Title II cases only. No income tax.

As I said before, I would have considered it but for my family. I am the only one that speaks any spanish, but not fluently, my daughter speaks French which is no help.

[doctorwho]

Thanks Aljsouth! As you know, I've opened up a new thread. I do know, however, that if you're a government employee you do pay federal taxes in P.R.

[lee]

any word of transfers into/out of Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington (KY) or Middlesboro (KY)? Thanks for your help--this Board is great!

[ruonthelist]

Lee:One person has requested transfer to Lexington. No transfers (as of the most recently published list) requested to Cincinnati, Louisville, or Middlesboro.
As far as requested transfers out, 2 people requested transfers from Cinncy, 1 from Lexington, and 2 from Middlesboro.

A couple of caveats: I think it is a mistake to read the relative number of transfer requests in and out (as some members of this board have done) as any sort of index of the desirability of either the city or the hearing office. There are just too many variables that influence an individual's decision to request a transfer.

Also, the presence of sitting ALJs on the list for a city does not automatically preclude a new hire going there. It obviously reduces the chances, but there are dozens of ALJs now on the transfer list who have turned down transfer offers, some of them more than once. Some ALJs have a long term plan to go to a particular city but not a present desire, so they maintain their name on the list, but turn down an offer when it comes. Under the contract, if you turn down an offer you go to the bottom of the list for that city, but you remain on the list.

[lee]

ruonthelist-
Thanks for the info. I appreciate the caveats. I had not thought about the transfer requests as any measurement of the quality of the particular office--I am just hoping that it is a sign that there might be an empty office in these cities..
I go to DC for my structured interview on Friday. Fingers crossed.

[ruonthelist]

Lee: I didn't mean that first caveat for you in particular, but as a general comment. I have read some posts, either on this board or the old one, from people who were interpreting a large number of requests out as evidence that an office was a bad one. That is certainly possible in some cases, but I wouldn't take it as a reliable indicator.
Good luck on the SI tomorrow.


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