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AO internship program seeks to broaden access to federal courts, participants say
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Summary
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’ internship places underserved college students in federal courts nationwide; participants and court staff described yearlong rotations, AO-funded salaries and training, and a surge of applications from nontraditional recruiting channels.
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’ (AO) internship program places underserved college students in federal courts and territories for yearlong rotations, program presenters said during a recorded presentation.
Speakers described hands-on assignments that range from working in judges’ chambers and the clerk’s office to courtroom duties, pretrial work and probation. "The goal of the AO's model intern program is to find and develop talented, underserved college students in federal courts around the country," said Speaker 4, who presented program details, including that interns have served in district and bankruptcy courts, circuit courts and the Court of International Trade and in U.S. territories including Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Program supporters emphasized both professional development and representation. "We all walk away with, an amazing experience and an amazing benefit, to each of us," said Speaker 3. A participant described the emotional impact of ordinary access: "Having my own ID and walking into the federal building and meeting judges...was an experience like no other," said Speaker 7.
Why it matters: Presenters said the program creates a recruitment pipeline for the federal judiciary by exposing students who might not otherwise consider court careers, increasing the bench’s and staff’s cultural and experiential diversity.
Training and funding: Speaker 4 said the AO funds interns’ salaries and provides development opportunities, including a 12-week interview and resume skills workshop and one-on-one career counseling with a certified career coach. The program runs a full year and places interns in rotations across court operations, the presenter said.
Examples: Speaker 4 named Rose Saubelle as a past placement in the Central District of California, Riverside, and introduced Kendra Hart, who worked in Missoula, Montana, with mentor Mark Henkel in the probation office. The presenters said Kendra’s duties included writing bail reports, interviewing defendants and offering opinions in chambers, and that she demonstrated sensitivity when handling difficult matters.
Recruitment and reach: Presenters described deliberate outreach to diverse organizations and to colleges not typically on the judiciary’s recruiting trail. "We found that if we pushed out the application and got the word out...we received a flood of high quality applications," Speaker 4 said.
Voices on representation: A speaker who identified herself as half Mexican and half Native American said she applied because communities she represents are often underrepresented, and that the program allowed her "to assert my identity in these professional environments and provide new perspective." Another speaker stressed that courts should "hire talent"—seeking tenacity and teachability over preexisting credentials.
Limitations and next steps: The presentation focused on program design, placements and participants’ experiences; no policy changes, budget votes or new authorities were proposed during the session. Presenters encouraged other courts to participate; Speaker 15 called the program "a life and work changing experience."
