Judicial Profile Series

The following is a profile of the Honorable Thomas B. Donovan – the sixth in a series of profiles of Ninth Circuit bankruptcy judges. Judge Donovan and members of the Insolvency Law Committee met in his chambers and discussed his personal and professional background, observations from the bench, and issues of interest. Judge Donovan was appointed to the bench in March 1994, and reappointed in 2008. Although his current term expires in 2022, he plans to retire as of March… Read more

The following article is a profile of the Honorable M. Elaine Hammond – the fifth in a series of profiles of Ninth Circuit bankruptcy judges. Judge Hammond and members of the Insolvency Law Committee met in her chambers and discussed her personal and professional background, observations from the bench, and issues of interest. The Judge's Hometown and Her Road to the Bay Area Judge Hammond calls Charlotte, North Carolina her hometown. She received her undergraduate degree from Duke University, and… Read more

The following article is the fourth in a series of profiles of Ninth Circuit bankruptcy judges. Judge Meredith Jury and members of the Insolvency Law Committee met in her chambers and discussed her personal and professional background, observations from the bench, and issues of interest. Judge Jury is a United States Bankruptcy Judge in the Central District of California, with chambers in the City of Riverside. She was first appointed to the bench in November 1997, and reappointed in 2011.… Read more

The following article is a profile of the Honorable Ernest M. Robles – the third in a series of profiles of Ninth Circuit bankruptcy judges. Judge Robles and members of the Insolvency Law Committee met in his chambers and discussed his personal and professional background, observations from the bench, and issues of interest. The Judge’s Hometown and Education Judge Robles was born in Mexico and was raised in San Francisco. As Judge Robles remarked, “in those days, San Francisco was… Read more

Personal and Professional Background United States Bankruptcy Judge Martin R. Barash was sworn in on March 26, 2015, and assigned to serve in the Woodland Hills branch of the Central District of California. He feels as though he won the lottery, both in terms of his new judicial role and the location of his chambers. Indeed, Judge Barash may be the first Woodland Hills-based judge to have grown up locally. Judge Barash attended Taft High School in Woodland Hills, received… Read more

The following is the first in a new series of profiles of 9th Circuit bankruptcy judges. Judge Neil W. Bason and members of the Insolvency Law Committee met in his chambers and discussed his personal and professional background, transition to the bench and other issues of interest. Judge Bason was appointed to the bench in the Central District of California, Los Angeles Division, in October 2011. Prior to his appointment, he was special counsel at Duane Morris LLP and at… Read more