Bankruptcy Judge Scott Clarkson Appointed as Guest Editor of the 2026 Bankruptcy Law Edition of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society’s Western Legal History

We are please to share the announcement that the Hon. Judge Scott C. Clarkson has been appointed as Guest Editor of the 2026 Bankruptcy Law Edition of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society’s Western Legal History.  

The 2026 volume will be devoted entirely to the modern history and legal significance of American bankruptcy law from 1970 to the present. Over this period, bankruptcy law has experienced transformative developments, including the enactment of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, the evolution of Chapter 12 for family farmers, the emergence of Subchapter V for small businesses, and the rise of mass-tort bankruptcies. The edition will also address constitutional questions of federal jurisdiction and Article III authority, as well as the ongoing role of bankruptcy law in shaping American economic life.

About Judge Clarkson

Judge Clarkson was appointed as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in 2011, and he was reappointed for a second 14-year term on January 20, 2025.  He sits in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana.  He received his BA from Indiana University, in Bloomington in 1979.   He received his juris doctor from George Mason University School of Law, in 1982; he served as Articles Editor for the Law Review while he was there. 

After law school, Judge Clarkson served as Clerk to United States District Judge William L. Hungate (E.D. Mo.) and as Legislative Assistant to United States Representative Harold L. Volkmer, 95th Congress to 97th Congress.  During his career he has been very active in many professional organizations, including: The James T. King American Inns of Court (Co-President, 2014-2015); the American Bankruptcy Institute; the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges; the California Bankruptcy Forum (Judicial Liaison 2015-2016); the Los Angeles County Bar Association (Executive Committee of the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section); the Orange County Bar Association; the Federal Bar Association of Orange County (Board Member); and the John M. Langston Bar Association.

Thank you for your continued support of the Committee.