Former DC Circuit judges Tom Griffith and David Tatel are interviewed by Sarah Isgur and David French about their relationships, judicial independence, and what it means to be a "former" judge. Tom Griffith served on the DC Circuit for 15 years from 2005 to 2020, while Judge Tatel was on the circuit for 30 years, appointed by Bill Clinton in 1994. The conversation covers topics such as bar complaints and administrative stays, with Isgur mentioning that she used Judge Griffith's standing desk at a law firm where he worked.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Former judges Tom Griffith and David Tatel, who both served on the D.C. Circuit Court, joined podcast Advisory Opinions to discuss relationships between judges, judicial independence, and what it's like to be a former judge. Before their conversation, hosts Sarah Isgur and David French briefly touched on two other topics: bar complaints and a recent White House ballroom injunction.
Written for “Federal Appellate Court Ruling” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 2265 · logged 2026-08-27
Sarah Isgur and David French invite former D.C. Circuit judges Tom Griffith and David Tatel to discuss relationships, judicial independence, and what it means to be a “former” judge.
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it → invite → what
The Agenda:
–Someone file a bar complaint!
–Disagreeing respectfully
–What’s next for judges after they retire?
–Breaking news
Advisory Opinions is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective.
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Opinions → file → perspective
To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of our articles, members-only newsletters, and bonus podcast episodes—click here.
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access → access → articles
If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member by clicking here.
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you → like → member
I was born ready.
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I → bear → ?
We will talk about bar fare.
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We → talk → fare
We will talk about administrative stays and interim dockets all the way down.
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We → talk → stays
But then we will have an amazing conversation with former DC Circuit Judges Tom Griffith and David Tatel.
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we → have → Griffith
Now, by way of some background, Tom Griffith served on the DC Circuit for 15 years, from 2005 to 2020.
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Griffith → serve → 2020
Judge Tatel was on the DC Circuit for 30 years, appointed by Bill Clinton and retiring just a couple years ago.
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Tatel → appoint → Clinton
They've been doing a bit of a road show on judicial independence and judicial collegiality, and I thought, "Well, that sounds very AO."
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that → do → independence
And also, I summered at Wiley Rein, where Judge Griffith had been a partner, and that summer I got to use his standing desk, and it was amazing, David.
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it → summer → desk
He has incredible taste in wood furniture.
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He → have → furniture
So, I mean, that alone-
Is that what converted you to standing desks?
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what → mean → desks
