Blog Post

Chris Waznik returns from clerkship at the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Robert D. Mitchell • Sep 08, 2020
Chris Waznik

We are pleased to announce that Chris Waznik has returned to our department after a successful year-long clerkship with the Honorable Bridget S. Bade of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.


Chris previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable James A. Teilborg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. After clerking for Judge Teilborg, Chris was an attorney in our department for approximately three years before returning to the federal courts to clerk for Judge Bade.


The Ninth Circuit is by far the nation’s largest circuit court in geographical scope, number of judges, and commenced cases. It holds appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in nine western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. In addition, it hears appeals from the territorial courts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as administrative decisions within its territory, such as appeals from the Board of Immigration Appeals and Social Security Administration.

The Ninth Circuit currently has 29 active judgeships and 19 sitting senior judges — nearly double the amount of the next-largest circuit.


Judge Bade was confirmed to the Ninth Circuit in March 2019, filling the seat vacated by Judge Silverman when he took senior status in October 2016. In 2019, litigants commenced over 10,000 appeals in the Ninth Circuit.


Due to the sheer number and variety of cases, a clerk’s life is challenging but enjoyable. During his time with Judge Bade, Chris took multiple trips to the Ninth Circuit courthouses in Pasadena, San Francisco, and Honolulu. He met dozens of circuit judges (spanning appointees by President Carter to President Trump) and observed well over a hundred appellate oral arguments. He helped draft multiple opinions and dissents and assisted Judge Bade on a broad array of complex cases, including one that required him to obtain a Top Secret security clearance.


The prestigious opportunity to clerk for the Ninth Circuit gives Chris a unique insight into the federal judiciary that will benefit our department and clients for years to come. We welcome Chris back to the team and look forward to a successful road ahead.


Share by: