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 is currently accepting applications for a two-year clerkship beginning in March 2015, and for a one-year clerkship beginning in August 2016.

Description and requirements:

Judge Bates employs three rotational law clerks. There are two one-year positions and one two-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 two letters of recommendations.

Applications may be submitted by mail to:
Chambers of the Hon. 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”) at https://oscar.symplicity.com/ 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.

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 e-mail their package (Word Perfect or Word) 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.

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