The Making of a Judge: Perspectives from Federal Judges and the Senate Judiciary Committee

About this Event

The Federal Bar Association warmly invites you to join our March 27, 2026 program featuring a conversation between the Senate Judiciary Committee, former White House Senior Counsel, and the federal judiciary on the process of being appointed and confirmed as a federal judge.

This program aims to educate attorneys, aspiring judges, or anyone wishing to better understand the federal judicial selection process. Panelists will offer insight into how judicial candidates are identified and evaluated, the role of negotiations and background investigations, and how the confirmation process unfolds in practice. They will also share candid reflections on challenges associated with this process, lessons learned, and practical advice for prospective candidates—while dispelling common myths about becoming a federal judge. Federal judges will complement this discussion by reflecting on their own pathways to the bench, offering guidance for those considering judicial service.

The program offers CLE credit and will conclude with a reception, offering a rare opportunity to engage directly with judges and key participants in the judicial selection process.

We hope you will join us for this unique opportunity to engage in thoughtful conversation about public service and pathways to the bench.

Presented by the FBA Younger Lawyers Division

Co-Sponsors: FBA Capitol Hill Chapter, FBA District of Columbia Chapter, & FBA Federal Litigation Section

Registration for this program is now closed.

Friday, March 27, 206
Program: 4:00 – 5:00 pm ET
Reception: 5:00 – 6:00 pm ET

Venue:
The Ritz Carlton, Pentagon City
1250 S Hayes St
Arlington, VA 22202

Presenters

Hon. Karoline Mehalchick

On July 11, 2023, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. nominated Judge Karoline Mehalchick to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She was confirmed by the Senate on January 31, 2024, commissioned on February 5, and sworn in on February 6. Previously, she served over a decade as a U.S. Magistrate Judge, becoming the first woman to sit in the Scranton vicinage and later serving as Chief Magistrate Judge.

Judge Mehalchick is a graduate of Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College and Tulane Law School. She clerked for Judge Trish Corbett, then practiced at Oliver, Price & Rhodes, where she became a partner in 2008. She will serve as Jurist in Residence at Widener Commonwealth Law School (2025–2027).  She has held national judicial leadership roles, including service on the Judicial Conference Committee on Codes of Conduct and the Third Circuit’s Reentry Courts and Workplace Conduct committees. Locally, she helped launch the Prisoner Litigation Settlement Program and presides over the CARE court reentry program.

An active member of the Federal Bar Association, she was sworn in as President of the national organization on September 13, 2025.  She is also a Past President of the Middle District Chapter. She also serves on the Ballet Theatre of Scranton board and leads constitutional discussions for students through the National Constitution Center.

Judge Mehalchick has been honored with numerous awards, including the PBA’s Michael K. Smith Excellence in Service Award, the LBA’s Margaret P. Gavin Award, recognition as a “Lawyer on the Fast Track” (2012), and designation as a PBA “Woman Trailblazer” (2020).

Tim Rodriguez

Tim Rodriguez is a litigation associate in Bradley Arant Boult Cummings’ Nashville office.  Tim focuses primarily on appeals, class actions, mass torts, and products liability work.  Prior to joining Bradley, Tim clerked for the Hon. John Nalbandian of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Before his clerkship, Tim served as Counsel for Nominations for the Senate Judiciary Committee. In that role, Tim advised two Committee Chairmen and a Ranking Member on judicial, executive branch, and other nominations under the Committee’s jurisdiction.

Tim has a J.D. from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. He also has a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Missouri.

Gurpreet Sandhu (Moderator)

Gurpreet Sandhu is a Deputy Attorney General in the California Attorney General’s Office, Correctional Law Section, where she represents the State in high-profile federal class actions, appeals, and individual cases impacting the California prison system. Prior to joining the California Department of Justice, she practiced at the national firm Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP where she defended car manufacturers in product liability litigation, Song Beverly, and tort actions. She has a Bachelor of Law from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, a Master of Law from the University of California Berkeley School of Law.

Gurpreet serves as a board member of the Federal Bar Association (FBA) Younger Lawyers Division, an executive board member of the FBA California Northern District Chapter, and member of the FBA Government Relations Committee.

Registration

Registration for this program is now closed.

Registration Fees

Private Practice: $100
Public Sector: $75
Law Students: $0

Cancellation Policy
Go to the FBA Online Portal and click on Events > My Registrations to cancel your registration online. Registration Cancellations received by Friday March 20, 2026, are subject to an administrative charge of $50. No cancellation requests will be accepted after Friday, March 20. After the posted cancellation date, registrations may be transferred to another attendee but not refunded. No-shows will be billed. Exceptions to the cancellation deadline will be made for emergencies and valid medical issues submitted with supporting documentation. Contact meetings@fedbar.org with questions or exception requests.