ILC Judicial Profile – United States Bankruptcy Judge Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux (United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California)

The following is a profile of the Honorable Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux, the latest in a series of profiles of Ninth Circuit bankruptcy judges.  Judge Reyes Bordeaux and members of the Insolvency Law Committee and Business Law Section Executive Committee met at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building and United States Courthouse and discussed her personal and professional background, observations from the bench, and other issues of interest.

Prior to Taking the Bench

Judge Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux was born and raised in Eagle Rock, California, where she attended Eagle Rock High School.  When the Judge was 2 years old, her mother escaped an abusive relationship with the strong support of a public interest attorney and law enforcement.  When her mother later shared this story with her, it left a lasting impression on Judge Reyes Bordeaux—shaping her positive views of the legal system, law enforcement, and public interest attorneys.  Moved by the dedication of these public servants—particularly the public interest lawyer who helped her mother—she knew at 5 years old that she wanted to become an attorney.

After graduating from U.C. Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Humanities,  Judge Reyes Bordeaux attended UCLA School of Law, where she served as Managing Editor of the UCLA Journal of Law & Technology.  Following law school, she first worked at a small law firm drafting bankruptcy petitions and then joined a small creditors’ firm in Pasadena.  She realized quickly that she loved bankruptcy law, as it gave her immediate case responsibility, including the opportunity to go to court, meet with clients, and conduct interesting legal research.

When Public Counsel advertised a “one-year” position for a bilingual staff attorney to assist consumer debtors filing Chapter 7 petitions, the Judge’s interest was piqued.  She accepted the job when she learned that it gave her the opportunity to start and shape a new program designed to make the bankruptcy system more accessible.  The one-year appointment stretched to four years, during which the Judge built a highly respected bankruptcy program.

Judge Reyes Bordeaux continued her public interest work at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, followed by a year in private practice, before returning to Public Counsel in 2009. There, she dedicated the next thirteen years to leading the bankruptcy department, which included a key role in creating and growing the Public Counsel Debtor’s Assistance Project Committee.  Guided by a philosophy of always listening to her clients, she successfully assisted individuals struggling with crushing student loan debt, defended non-dischargeability adversary proceedings, represented debtors in reaffirmation hearings, and helped victims of fraudulent bankruptcy petitions.

While at Public Counsel, the Judge worked with judges of the Central District of California Bankruptcy Court on access to justice issues.  She credits judges for their commitment to developing programs that improved accessibility to the Bankruptcy Court.  The court identified the needs judges saw in vulnerable groups, which helped Public Counsel decide where to invest its limited resources.  The court also encouraged members of the Bar to get involved in pro bono projects, which further boosted Public Counsel’s ability to serve those in need.

Throughout her career, Judge Reyes Bordeaux had great mentors, including Judges Maureen Tighe, Vincent Zurzolo, and Thomas Donovan.  Some of them encouraged her to apply to become a Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative—an attorney appointed by the U.S. District Court, pursuant to statute, to attend the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and foster open communication between judges and attorneys.  They also encouraged her to write and publish articles, which led her to author a number of articles advocating for legal change—two of which made the cover of Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine.

In addition to serving as a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, and her election to the Ninth Circuit Conference Executive Committee, the Judge also served on the Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association Business Law Section and continues to serve on the Advisory Council of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society.

Transition to the Bench

On January 18, 2022, Judge Reyes Bordeaux was appointed as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of California in the Riverside Division by the Ninth Circuit.  She reflected that one of the biggest challenges in transitioning to the bench was stepping back from long standing friendships she had long been a part of as an attorney to avoid any appearance of favoritism.  Fortunately, her new colleagues—judges and court staff— have eased the transition.  She considers her fellow judges and court staff not just colleagues, but good friends.

Judge Reyes Bordeaux is excited about opportunities she has to collaborate with her fellow bankruptcy judges, district judges, and magistrate judges on outreach programs.  A recent example was a program hosted by the Riverside Bankruptcy Court for attorneys interested in applying for Riverside Division Bankruptcy Court judicial positions, aimed at demystifying the appointment process.  She shared that becoming a judge is a long journey that requires patience. She feels both privileged and humbled to have gone through the process, and to have been selected and appointed to the bench.

Observations from the Bench

The Judge has now served on the bench for over three years and reflected that the position carries with it significant responsibilities that require integrity, competence, and, most importantly, a strong commitment to serve.  

When the Judge was a young attorney, the courtroom was not always a friendly place, especially as one of the few women of color appearing before the bankruptcy courts.  Because of this experience, she strives to make her courtroom the place that she would have liked to appear in when she first started practicing.  Her philosophy is to ensure that everyone feels safe, feels heard, and understands her rulings.

She is also committed to allowing litigants to finish their arguments without interruption, as this not only improves the hearing process but also provides a sense of closure for advocates and their clients.  The Judge has worked to improve access to justice by implementing hybrid in-person/remote hearings, using interpreters during hearings through Language Line, and adding adjustable podiums to her courtroom to ensure that people of all statures are seen.

To improve their chances for a successful career, Judge Reyes Bordeaux advises attorneys to surround themselves with good mentors, and to pursue their true passions.  While some attorneys might follow a checklist of what they think they should do, the Judge believes it is better to do what you love and do it well, and then see where it takes you.  The Judge encourages everyone to consistently deliver excellent work, and to find something that they are passionate about so that others can not only see the quality of their work, but also see their energy, enthusiasm, and potential for growth.

The Bankruptcy Court has recently had several judicial openings and Judge Reyes Bordeaux shared that, for new judges, there are some things that are always important: integrity, collegiality, grace, and humility.  At the same time, she is also excited by the innovative ideas that new judges will bring to the Riverside Division.  

Another aspect of being a judge which she greatly enjoys is working with law clerks.  She encourages her clerks to think critically, take risks, and form their own positions, rather than simply following her lead.  The Judge generally asks her law clerks to independently analyze legal issues before the court, and to make their recommendations without first sharing her own thoughts on cases.  When time allows, the Judge prepares written tentative rulings, though she sometimes provides oral tentative rulings at the start of hearings.

She expressed appreciation for Judge Ernest Robles’ detailed written tentative rulings when she was a young attorney and practiced in his court.  She finds that tentative rulings are an excellent way to educate the bar on the reasoning behind her decisions.  Also, it is rare that Judge Reyes Bordeaux takes rulings under submission.  In the vast majority of cases, she will either rule from the bench at the hearing or continue the hearing to consider further briefing.

The Judge’s Interests Off the Bench

The Judge will be celebrating her 25^th wedding anniversary and describes her husband, a bankruptcy attorney, as an amazing person who is also her best friend.  She enjoys spending time with her husband and their 18-year-old son.  They recently took trips to Death Valley and Joshua Tree to enjoy stargazing and the Judge looks forward to more adventures.  

She shared that she tries to make time to spend with her family and friends and to remember to be present and appreciative of all moments, big and small.  She often remembers a famous quote by Kurt Vonnegut that reads “Enjoy the little things in life because one day you may look back and realize they were actually the big things.”  For the Judge a perfect night is often just watching a good movie with her husband and son or spending an evening with good friends.  It’s at these times, the Judge said that “ I realize how fortunate I am to have a loving family, great friends, and a fulfilling career where I get to serve the public and do my part to make our legal system fair and just.”

This article was written by Misty Perry Isaacson, a member at Pagter and Perry Isaacson, APLC, and a member of the Insolvency Law Committee, Uzzi O. Raanan , a partner at Greenberg Glusker, LLP and former Chair of the Business Law Section, Corey R. Weber, a partner at BG Law LLP and former Chair of the Business Law Section, and Jared Paul, a 3L at Pepperdine University Law School.