S P E C I A L F E A T U R E M i k e H o o k e r – P h e l p s D u n b a r L L P
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Q : Speaking of that , you have an extremely varied legal background . You started as a law clerk right here in Tampa with Judge Moody and then served as a law clerk for Judge Pryor at the 11th Circuit ; then you worked as a trial attorney at the Department of Justice and later clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas before joining a large national firm in private practice . Which of those positions did you enjoy the most ?
A : Well , they ’ re all interesting and challenging in their own right . I ’ m going to give two answers . My dream was to be a federal prosecutor . I remember the first time I stood up in federal court and said “ Kathryn Kimball ” on behalf of the United States of America . That is a surreal moment if you really believe your oath to uphold the Constitution and pursue justice for the American people . The role of being a prosecutor ( both at the US Attorney ’ s Office and Main Justice , as we called it ), and the calling to do the right thing and enforce the law is very special , and I ’ m proud of my service to our country through it . Second , clerking for Justice Thomas was truly amazing . As a jurist , his mark on Supreme Court jurisprudence is unparalleled in many ways . He approaches every case from a first principles perspective and allows only the dictates of the law to control his vote . But more importantly , Justice Thomas is remarkable as a person . He is unfailingly kind , principled , joyful , and humble . I doubt I will ever enjoy any position as much as I did clerking for him .
Q : I understand that Justice Thomas actually spoke to your first-year class in law school and commented that no one from the University of Florida School of Law had previously clerked at the Supreme Court . How did it feel to become the first ?
A : Well , I certainly had no anticipation of that when he spoke to our 1L class . In fact , I didn ’ t even know what clerking was at the time . I didn ’ t have any lawyers in my family , so I wasn ’ t setting out to do that . When it finally came to fruition , I was deeply , deeply thankful … and , you know , proud to be a Gator .
Q : Other than clerking for Justice Thomas , was there one of your experiences before becoming a judge that stands out ?
A : Yes . One of the first cases I handled at the U . S . Attorney ’ s Office involved prosecuting the leaders of what was , and is still as far as I know , the largest sex trafficking case ever prosecuted in the Eastern District of Virginia . That case was special , both because of its magnitude and seriousness and because it was the culmination of why I wanted to go to law school in the first place .
Q : I understand that you ’ ve also been an adjunct professor at your law school . What have you taught ?
A : I ’ ve taught a course a couple times at the University of Florida on the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment : the Free Exercise Clause and the Establish ment Clause . Q : Do you plan to continue teaching ? A : I ’ m certainly open to it . Absolutely . Q : If you didn ’ t plan on being a lawyer , I suppose you didn ’ t plan on becoming a judge either . What moved you to aspire to a judgeship ?
A : I would not recommend aspiring to become a judge , as it is impossible to control all the variables that must align for it to happen . But I think clerking for jurists at every level of the federal judiciary gave me a different perspective than most about what the job entails . When the ( very unexpected ) opportunity arose , I was inspired to answer the call to service by the example of other men and women who have carried out their responsibilities as Article III judges by faithfully following the law and the Constitution .
Q : What was the judicial nomination process like ? I understand it went fairly quickly for you , unlike some others .
A : Yes , it proceeded fairly quickly . I think my process was fairly standard : You interview and apply with the Senators and the White House , and if the White House Counsel ’ s Office tells you that the President wants to proceed with your nomination , you go through a background check . I ’ d already been a prosecutor , so the background check was not new . And then after the intent to nominate was made public , you go through an ABA process and then you prepare for the Senate hearing , which can be stressful .
Q : In a twist of fate , you ended up coming back to the
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