General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Judge Cannon's Law Clerks have been Quitting on her [View all]onenote
(42,993 posts)First, federal district court judges, like Cannon, are authorized to have two clerks. Most are hired for one year terms, although some are hired for two years, often on a staggered schedule so that the judge doesn't have two inexperienced clerks starting at the same time. The hiring process is such that many clerks are given offers up to two years before beginning work and most begin work in August or September. If a clerk resigns, or leaves for any other reason, the vacancy typically is filled quickly.
The New Republic article says that Cannon hires clerks for a one year term, but later says that one clerk left in October "halfway through their two-year term." That departure is attributed to the clerk's pregnancy. No reason is indicated for the second clerk's departure nor does it indicate whether that clerk was a one year or two-year clerk.
In any event, as noted, when a vacancy occurs, it can and will be filled very quickly -- vacancies occurring in October or December would undoubtedly be filled by now and, indeed, the New Republic article expressly states that Cannon currently is fully staffed.