Straus Scholar Jason Friedman (YC 鈥26) spent his summer interning for Judge Steven Menashi at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and assisting Dr. Tevi Troy, presidential historian and director of the Straus Center鈥檚 Impact Office. He gained firsthand insight into the workings of the federal judiciary and deepened his understanding of American presidential history. He reflects upon his experience below:
The necessity of an impartial judiciary was well known to both the ancient Jews and the founding generation of Americans. In the Bible, Moses enjoins the Israelites to establish judges in each of their cities. So vital is the proper administration of justice that the establishment of courts is one of the few commandments which Judaism holds to be universally binding on all peoples.
The United States didn鈥檛 always have a federal judiciary. Under the Articles of Confederation, the short-lived constitution ratified soon after American independence, nearly all disputes had to be adjudicated in state courts. In The Federalist Papers, Hamilton assails this as 鈥渁 circumstance which crowns the defects鈥 of the Articles and urges his fellow New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution, which authorizes federal courts. Without courts, Hamilton cautions, laws are a mere dead letter.
This summer, I was privileged to intern for Judge Steven J. Menashi at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which has jurisdiction over cases from New York, Connecticut and Vermont. Judge Menashi is an accomplished and brilliant jurist who cares deeply about each case that comes before his court. Working for him was an inimitable opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the federal judiciary.
The United States has thirteen federal courts of appeals, each of which hears appeals from parties alleging that lower federal courts legally erred in resolving their cases. The only court above them is the Supreme Court. However, because the Supreme Court hears so few cases a year, it is these courts that are effectively the final arbiters in the vast majority of federal lawsuits.
Part of my responsibilities was serving as Judge Menashi鈥檚 acting judicial assistant. In this capacity, I helped with various administrative tasks, such as filing motions and votes, managing the chambers' inbox and phone, and keeping track of the resolution of cases.
I also did traditional judicial intern tasks, including writing memoranda summarizing the arguments made in motions and appeals, making recommendations for how the judge should resolve the cases, and reading over opinions before they were published. Perhaps most exciting was being able to sit around the conference table with Judge Menashi and his clerks while they discussed cases before the court. This gave me invaluable insight into how judges approach complex legal controversies.
My work exposed me to the essential role of the justice system in American government. Given the strong commitment to the rule of law that permeates both the Jewish and Western intellectual traditions, the internship fits well with the mission of the Straus Center. I am incredibly grateful to Judge Menashi for the unparalleled opportunity to work for him.
Also this summer, I served as a research assistant for Dr. Tevi Troy, presidential historian and director of the Straus Center鈥檚 Impact Office. Dr. Troy brings remarkable knowledge and first-hand experience to his detailed studies of the presidency, having held multiple senior positions in the administration of President George W. Bush.
In my capacity as research assistant, I was tasked with researching potential book topics for Dr. Troy and conducting research for multiple articles appearing in a wide variety of publications on topics ranging from Iran to the Federal Reserve to the Nobel Peace Prize. The research was deeply rewarding and helped improve my historical knowledge about our nation鈥檚 chief executives as well as my research skills. I am greatly thankful to Dr. Troy as well for the ability to assist in his important research. I鈥檓 also grateful to the Straus Center for supporting me and helping to make this remarkable summer possible.
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