August 26, 2026
Dear Magical Team,
A number of significant events have taken place since the last edition of WebChambers dated April 16, 2026, which reported on Gilmanfest 2026--The Encore that took place earlier that month. Among these events are the following:
June sitting in Cincinnati. I sat on a panel with Judges Danny Boggs and Eric Clay on June 3. The extra-judicial highlight of the sitting was a court-organized dinner cruise on the Ohio River during the evening of June 2. A large number of judges and clerks were on board to enjoy the scenery, nice weather, good food, and camaraderie.
July sitting in Cincinnati. I sat on a panel with Judges Richard Griffin and Chad Readler on July 28 and 29. The extra-judicial highlights of this sitting occurred during the two breakfasts at First Watch with Alex and Jared. During the first breakfast, both Alex and Jared met The Pancake Challenge. This required them to consume a stack of three very large pancakes in about 30 minutes. Their names have now been added to the chambers' plaque showing the other former clerks who have accomplished this gastronomical feat! Amazingly enough, this was Jared's third time to meet the Challenge, which I believe has never been done before. Photos of Alex and Jared both before and after meeting the Challenge can be seen by clicking on "Photos" above.
At the next breakfast the following morning, we were joined by Ben Glassman (Team 6, 2002-2003) and Marcey Grigsby (Team 11, 2007-2008). Both Ben and Marcey are based in Cincinnati with their respective law firms--Ben with Squire Patton Boggs, and Marcey with FBT Gibbons. Catching up with them is always a pleasure.
The Last Supper. On Friday, August 14, Magical Team 29 came to my home for a farewell dinner in celebration of their clerkship year. Chief Judge Betsy and I welcomed Judicial Assistant Carol, her husband Wayne, clerks Alex and Jared, Alex's boyfriend Adrian, and Jared's fiancee Karen. After hors d'oeuvres and an Italian-themed dinner, the "Program" began. On the agenda were several magic tricks, the presentation of various certificates and gifts, and the "three remembrances" of the departing clerks. The Balls on the Wall ceremony took place in chambers earlier that afternoon. Photos of Magical Team 29 at both The Last Supper and just after they placed their wooden balls on the wall can be seen by clicking on "Photos" above.
Changing of the guard. The transition from Magical Team 29 to Magical Team 30 took place between August 14 and 24. Jared was the first to leave, with plans for an October return to Bois Schiller Flexner in New York as an associate. After a week's transition to assist one of the incoming clerks, Alex left. She is returning to Stanford University to complete her Ph.D. in Political Science next June, with plans to eventually become a law professor. New clerks Fatima Ladha and Alex Siegal were immediately oriented to the ways of The Magical Team, and they began working on cases for my next Cincinnati sitting in October. A photo of the new crew after lunch at Tacker's Shake Shack in Marion, Arkansas can be seen by clicking on "Photos" above. For the record, by the way, Alex is Magical Team clerk #100 and Fatima is #101. That's a whole bunch of Magical Team clerks, starting in 1997!
OTHER NEWS:
Renata O'Donnell (Team 25, 2021-2022) was promoted earlier this year to Senior Legal Counsel in Strategic Litigation at the Campaign Legal Center in Washington, D.C. She focuses on cases involving voting rights, the First Amendment, and the separation of powers.
Henry Zhu (Team 27, 2023-2024) is starting work next month as an assistant federal defender in Seattle, Washington. He is moving from Chicago.
Well gang, that's all the news for now. Please keep me advised of any significant events that you would like to have noted in a future edition of WebChambers.
Best wishes,
Judge G