Updates on 9th Cir. Nominees: Delays and Disclosures
The Munger, Tolles, and Olson Twins, John Owens of Los Angeles and Michelle Friedland of San Francisco, both BigLaw partners, Stanford alums, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals nominees, are back in the spotlight. We covered their initial nomination back in August, but now that they are getting closer to confirmation, the candidates' disclosures are being made public.
And while Owens was set for a confirmation hearing today, he has since been bumped to next week, along with a handful of other nominees.
Status of the Nominations
Owens was scheduled for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on nominees, addressing his nomination, as well as that of four others nominated to district court seats in Michigan, and the filling of an Assistant Attorney General spot. The Senate Judiciary Committee's website does not list a reason for the delay -- only that it will now be scheduled for next Wednesday (and that it will apparently be webcast).
Though Owens has been approved by the ABA, with the highest possible rating of "Well Qualified," the Metropolitan News-Enterprise notes that his nomination could be opposed by Idaho's Republican senators, who believe that the seat should go to an Idaho-based judge. Judge Stephen Trott, who vacated the seat for senior status in 2004, was originally from California but moved to Idaho during his time on the bench.
As for Friedland, we haven't heard a peep on her nomination, though her judicial questionnaire is now available online (as is Owens's paperwork).
Disclosures: Mo Money
If you've ever been curious as to why so many kiddos flock to the law, look no further.
As part of the confirmation process, both candidates had to disclose their compensation from MTO, as well as their net worth, and the figures, to starving recent grads at least, are astronomical:
John Owens
- Firm compensation in 2012: $840,845
- Net worth: $2.5 million
Michelle Friedland
- Firm compensation in 2012: $765,942
- Net worth: $6.3 million
See? That's why we go to law school. Owens was a career prosecutor before joining MTO last year, and he's worth $2.5 million and has a residence worth $826,000. His toilet is probably worth as much as the average law student's debt load.
If you want more details on how the other half lives, Above the Law has an exhaustive discussion of the two nominees' financial disclosures. As for us, we're going to the nearest grocery store to snatch some boxed wine before crying ourselves to sleep.
Related Resources:
- Ninth Battling to Regain Spot as 'Most Reversed' Circuit (FindLaw's Ninth Circuit Blog)
- 9th Cir Judge Margaret McKeown to Head Fed. Judges Ass'n (FindLaw's Ninth Circuit Blog)
- 9th Circuit: Final L.A. Dist. Court Vacancy Filled by O'Connell (FindLaw's Ninth Circuit Blog)
