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Post by inpatientlurker on Jun 8, 2016 16:18:39 GMT -5
Now I am going to get scared I didn't get mine yet. Does the anxiety never end! Yes, after you get the letter (which is imminent)  I feel like the people on the "made it to the second round thread". I just keep hitting refresh waiting for the email to appear.... and nothing yet. If I don't get it by tomorrow afternoon I will be really freaking out. I keep thinking, what if this was all an elaborate practical joke by someone I know, and here I have already went and resigned my job, notified friends and family, and told the hearing office I am coming. If it is a practical joke, I'm still showing up on June 27th and just waiting in the hearing office waiting area until the figure out what to do with me! |
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Post by raylan on Jun 8, 2016 16:20:05 GMT -5
Thanks for mentioning the letter. I just checked my email and mine was there, too. Now I am going to get scared I didn't get mine yet. Does the anxiety never end! I haven't gotten one either inpatientlurker. We're screwed!  |
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Post by cowboy on Jun 8, 2016 16:32:58 GMT -5
funkyodar or anyone else, can you offer any insight re: property records anonymity? Would a person's home be best listed in the spouse's name (if available)? The ship has sailed. Google your name. If you have a really common name, you may be hidden in the haystack. Otherwise, in the unlikely event your not-common name does not come up in a Google search (i.e., you have never bought property, bought a car, had a credit card, or given your home address to the bar association), you may be OK, if you never put your name on anything and keep off social media. With slightly more determination than a random Google search, anyone can find you. Watch what you say and do in public. Keep a dignified profile, in person and online. Practice saying "I can't get into that [prohibited or imprudent topic]." If your friends and family think you are kidding, tell them you took an oath of office and are subject to the Hatch Act. If they don't get that, get better friends and family. ALJs do sometimes get stalked, threatened, and, very rarely, attacked. Claimants and reps shop at popular stores and eat at popular eateries. You may run into them. Do not be obnoxious on or off the bench. Don't make more enemies than you need to. More than once, a rep has given me a heads-up about a death threat against me from the client. If the rep respects you, you're more likely to get the heads-up. Everyone has a camera in their phone, and social media tags you all over the web. Don't disgrace yourself in public. An ALJ is a public figure. There are some who rejoice to see the might fall. You may feel like small fry, but your salary is public information and to a person living on the fringes of society, a mentally ill person, or a desperate claimant, you may appear to be no less lofty than an Article III judge. You may be the focus of years of frustration, anger, anguish. Schadenfreude is ugly. Enjoy your life, but exercise the discretion that befits your position. Be safe out there. OPO, as a fellow former prosecutor, we called it the headline test. Don't do anything you wouldn't want to see on tomorrow's headlines. This is a great thread and I have a little more to offer the important advice been written here. It seems like the Kindergarten book I read years ago. First, get to know some of the experienced ALJs. Keep in touch with the ones you meet in class, the ones you may meet from the board or even trainers, but especially the friendly ones in the office. You will soon be overwhelmed with information on this job, particularly if you are a NODAR. If you lean on others, they will give you excellent advice on how to go about day to day operations. There are many of us willing to help. Just ask. There are many different ways to do this job. The only way you can do it is yours, but you can learn a lot by watching others. The second and most important concept I have for this job is to listen. This is the main reason the claimant asks for a hearing before an ALJ and it is the only time a claimant gets to talk to anyone in the agency making a decision in their case. There have been several comments above where claimants are grateful for the opportunity, even if they don't get a favorable decision. That has happened to me also, but mostly because I gave them their opportunity to be heard. Listen to them. |
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Post by wvjabes on Jun 8, 2016 16:50:26 GMT -5
Sorry to go back to page 4 of this thread, but I wanted to offer a suggestion for any sitting (or soon to be sitting) ALJ.
As a courtesy to your VE, you might want to review the VE CV's in the file. I don't know how many times I've seen a home address on the CV in the file. When I notice this, I'll always suggest discretely that he/she get a PO Box, presuming an address is required on the CV in the electronic-file, which I don't know is a requirement anyways, or just remove the address entirely.
Maybe other reps don't experience the same post-hearing events with claimants that I do, but in my experience, claimants typically place A LOT of the blame of an unfavorable hearing decision on the VE.
If I had nickle for every client who walked out of the hearing and asked me "how could that person say I could do job x, y, and z, when I can't ________ (sit for more than 2 minutes, or must lie down all day, or have to run to the bathroom every 5 minutes ......... etc.)" - well, I'd have a whole lot of nickles.
Just some food for thought.
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Post by onepingonly on Jun 8, 2016 17:11:15 GMT -5
Good words, cowboy. Headline test. Yep. Working for Koch, Dinkins, and Giuliani, it was for real. The headlines would appear in the Daily News, the New York Times, and on NY1. The trifecta. wvjabes, good point. I actually refrained from calling a VE week before last for that very reason. The claimant was borderline threatening, and the VE was visibly frightened. I did an interrogatory instead. |
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Post by Pixie on Jun 8, 2016 17:21:16 GMT -5
This thread is the "Info for the Newly Hired." If you are a newbie, I doubt you are going to be giving any advice on this topic. This is not a thread for discussing not getting emails to send you to round two--see several posts above this one. This is a thread where the judges who are doing the job give information to the ones who have gotten the call. This is not the thread to discuss various newbie topics. Those are available elsewhere.
This thread is only for those who are doing the job to talk about those things that might be helpful to someone about to start doing that job. Pixie.
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Post by Gaidin on Jun 8, 2016 20:16:31 GMT -5
So is it normal to ask yourself a million times each day if you actually received the call offering the position? (I will feel so much better when the emails start going out, I'm still thinking, did I really hear Bob offer me my first choice, or did I dream the whole thing?) When I got the email I sent it to my wife with one sentence "Its real." |
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Post by inpatientlurker on Jun 8, 2016 20:18:27 GMT -5
So is it normal to ask yourself a million times each day if you actually received the call offering the position? (I will feel so much better when the emails start going out, I'm still thinking, did I really hear Bob offer me my first choice, or did I dream the whole thing?) When I got the email I sent it to my wife with one sentence "Its real." I really hope I'm not the only one that hasn't gotten the confirmation email. My offer was Monday, so I'm really kind of anxious. |
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Post by JudgeRatty on Jun 8, 2016 20:35:48 GMT -5
When I got the email I sent it to my wife with one sentence "Its real." I really hope I'm not the only one that hasn't gotten the confirmation email. My offer was Monday, so I'm really kind of anxious. Again it took many days to get the emails in prior offer rounds so do not worry. The folks who make the calls are busy and they are the same people to send the emails. |
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Post by jagvet on Jun 8, 2016 20:45:56 GMT -5
When I got the email I sent it to my wife with one sentence "Its real." I really hope I'm not the only one that hasn't gotten the confirmation email. My offer was Monday, so I'm really kind of anxious. Be patient, IL. I got the call Friday, and the email today. |
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Post by cheesy on Jun 8, 2016 23:54:13 GMT -5
If I may, Judge Pixie, having some experience with opsec in a military litigation environment... Keep family photos at home with the family. Stick figure stickers on the back window of your car showing two parents, four kids, and a cat? Great! Move them to your kids' Power Wheels! Possibly not the time for the "ALJS6KIDS" vanity plate? Change up your routes to and from the office, just for fun! Know and silently mentally rehearse escape routes, two from every room. Know how to get support should you ever need it. Why, you may ask? Because a metal detector and two unrated junior enlisted assigned to courtroom duty are the sole reason that my best friend from the JAGC - a truly brilliant and endlessly good-natured attorney - is alive today. Sadly, his client chose not to be. That being said, another friend and mentor from the JAGC has the most respectful courtroom demeanor of anybody on the planet, and I hope to follow in his footsteps one day. His disabilityjudges profile just has compliments, no complaints. Courtesy, kindness, and a willingness to truly listen pays off in spades. Hope you don't mind this intrusion, Pixie! Great tips on the robes! Maybe someday... V/r/C |
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Post by Prrple on Jun 9, 2016 7:41:13 GMT -5
Regarding robes, there are many internet outlets offering judicial and liturgical robes for sale. As with any online purchase, reading reviews and reading the specs is the key to a satisfied customer. When my spouse became a judge last fall, we found an excellent choice on amazon.com of all things. It was under $50 so had strong odds of being a disappointment, but that was low risk and worth the cost of return shipping for the chance it would be good. When it arrived, dear spouse liked it so much, dancing ensued. Mission accomplished.
Another dear friend of mine became a judge around the same time, and her advice was focused on getting lightweight fabric and getting something that landed around the knee. She's under the average height for a woman, and that was not available off the shelf. For the savings in finding something off the shelf, though, the tailoring cost to hem it was de minimis.
For dear spouse, the home sewing machine reduced the bat wings to a more manageable, yet breathable opening. Black thread was pretty easy to come by.
8th grade Home Ec class continues to pay off!
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Post by cowboy on Jun 9, 2016 10:29:21 GMT -5
I went with RM Hendrick. A quick search on the internet can give you their contact information. They specialize in robes for graduations and judges. Mine is lightweight, durable and cost a little over $100. It does the job very well. I thought seriously about getting a red one.
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Post by cowboy on Jun 9, 2016 10:38:19 GMT -5
This morning our office was told we have about 1300 cases per ALJ that need to be closed out for the year. This is a result of having only 5 ALJs in an office generally that would hold 10. That would mean disposing of a little over 100 cases per month, not very practical if you are new to this system. The cases currently being scheduled for September and August are ones from applicants that requested a hearing nearly two years ago.
You may hear similar stories from the HO you where you are assigned. My advice is not to feel pressured. Management and the claimants are anxious to get all this backlog resolved. The claimants have been waiting way to long and management is under pressure from FC to get these cases completed. This system takes time to learn and work through, especially if you have no experience with the disability process. DO NOT be pressured to start working cases or increase your case load too quickly.
At first, you will probably view hearings from experienced ALJs before the training, and start to get set up on the computer processing programs that manage the case load. The office will also start to schedule a few cases a week for when you return. You will not be experts when you get done from training. It will take you time to get your feet wet and feel comfortable to increase your case load. Take that time to absorb this material and ask a lot of questions.
Good luck to all newly hired and welcome aboard.
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Post by gary on Jun 9, 2016 10:45:20 GMT -5
I went with RM Hendrick. A quick search on the internet can give you their contact information. They specialize in robes for graduations and judges. Mine is lightweight, durable and cost a little over $100. It does the job very well. I thought seriously about getting a red one. Did you consider the Rehnquist sergeant stripes option? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2016 10:56:01 GMT -5
In continuum of things to do as a newbie, and in view of the security issues raised herein above, one thing that all ALJs and newbies should do is to immediately check their state bar website. What? why, you ask?
This from direct experience.
Most state bar websites publish a "find a lawyer" roster for their state bar members on line. This is open for use to the public as a public service. That is fine.
When you are hired as an ALJ, you then forget about the state bar as you have more important matters to attend. Then it happens.
A claimant or someone wants to find you for whatever reason is in their mind.
You have already done everything the govt recommended; you have no FB or social account anymore, your office does not give out your info to anyone under any circumstances, outside the office you do not advertise or mention much at all, if ever to anyone but family and friends that you are a federal judge. You remain down low.
But then the calls begin to your private phone line. And then to your spouse's private phone line and then....a person tries to show up to your residence.
How the ...did they get your private info?
Lo and behold, (Homer simpson) headslap. Your state bar. Yes, anyone can (and did) simply call the state bar, and asked for my info; my home phone, my personal address, etc, and the state bar freely handed (if not outright published on line) that information with NO QUESTIONS asked.
As you may well imagine all $$@@! broke loose when I found this out about myself and my state bar to the highest level was promptly reamed in more ways than I can remember. After many apologies my state bar changed its open info policy and for at least those Judges who ask, no information (period) is published or released in any format to anyone without the Judge's first express notice and approval.
Luckily I live in a gated and guarded addition. The person was not able to get in. Interestingly though, as required, the incidents were filed with FPS who candidly admitted that outside federal properties there is not much they could do. Huh, so much for that I thought. But then the person made a mistake, they contacted my ODAR office. Oops. Big big mistake on their part. Now they are touched on fed property. FPS is a very very very good friend to you then.
Newbies and current ALJs, check your state bar. You may be well surprised what you find.
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Post by msp on Jun 9, 2016 11:06:12 GMT -5
@papajudge you couldn't be more right. When I was a public defender, a client showed up at my home on a Saturday afternoon. I, naturally, took the horror-movie-approach and ran towards the potential danger, before husband could stop me. (note to self: always listen for the creepy music) Client advised they were given my information from the state bar association. Fortunately, things worked out just fine, but I certainly had a strongly worded conversation on Monday with my bar association (and my client).
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Post by cowboy on Jun 9, 2016 11:11:09 GMT -5
I went with RM Hendrick. A quick search on the internet can give you their contact information. They specialize in robes for graduations and judges. Mine is lightweight, durable and cost a little over $100. It does the job very well. I thought seriously about getting a red one. Did you consider the Rehnquist sergeant stripes option? No, but I thought something with more color would be fun. Anyone know the reason why all Judge's robes are black? Hundred's of years ago they used to be colored. No fair looking it up on the internet. |
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Post by onepingonly on Jun 9, 2016 11:12:36 GMT -5
@papajudge you couldn't be more right. When I was a public defender, a client showed up at my home on a Saturday afternoon. I, naturally, took the horror-movie-approach and ran towards the potential danger, before husband could stop me. (note to self: always listen for the creepy music) Client advised they were given my information from the state bar association. Fortunately, things worked out just fine, but I certainly had a strongly worded conversation on Monday with my bar association (and my client). "Cape Fear" may be fiction, but yes, do listen for the creepy music. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2016 11:14:55 GMT -5
Postscript: our office is in a rural area but surrounded on 3 sides by prisons, one a maxsec. As all fed employees know, federal protection is very very good...on federal property. Once you step outside that federal door you are on your own. When the security guard approaches and says to the effect "Judge, you know you 'bout the only one that ain't armed in here" well you read up on your state laws and proceed accordingly.
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