That evening, the two shared their first kiss, and the following week, they had a formal first date that involved meeting at a Charleston bar, and then walking their bikes together from there to a restaurant.
“I fell in love that night,” said Ms. Panda, adding that falling in love was definitely not in her plan. “I thought, ‘I will do anything that it takes to give this relationship the shot it deserves.’”
She moved to Washington that fall to begin her dream job as a trial lawyer in the environment and natural resources division of the Justice Department. He moved to Washington, too. He is now a litigation associate in the political law group in Washington of Perkins Coie, a Seattle law firm.
On Oct. 17, the couple married in the garden outside the Charleston federal courthouse, with Judge Richard M. Gergel, for whom Mr. Bryant clerked, officiating, and Judge David C. Norton, for whom Ms. Panda had clerked, taking part. The livestream video of their event registered more than 400 views, but the ceremony included just the judges and the couple.
Another judge that had an effect on the course of their relationship was Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in mid-September. Her death led to a sudden but sure conviction for Ms. Panda.
“I was watching Chris maneuver this giant treadmill out of our home,” said Ms. Panda, who will use the surname Panda-Bryant. She had bought the equipment thinking she would use it regularly while working from home. She hadn’t, so she was selling it. Mr. Bryant was very patiently looking up, without judgment, how to take apart the treadmill so that it would be easier for its new owners to get it out.
As she watched him, she said: “You know what? Let’s get married. Life is short.”