Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Friday, July 7, 2006

 

Page 3

 

Ninth Circuit Invites Comment on Bankruptcy Judge’s Reappointment

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals invited public comment yesterday on the possible reappointment of Ernest M. Robles, U.S. bankruptcy judge for the Central District of California, to a second 14-year term.

Robles’ current term expires in June 2007.

Barry Russell, chief bankruptcy judge for the Central District, told the MetNews that Robles, 49, is an “outstanding judge” whose reappointment he “wholeheartedly recommends.”

Scott C. Clarkson, chair of the Bankruptcy Law Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section, who said he was speaking on behalf of himself and not the committee, said that Robles “is one of the finest jurists I’ve had the opportunity to practice before in the last 14 years.” Clarkson said he “highly recommends” Robles’ reappointment.

Robles, who declined comment through a court clerk, has been a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and its Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section since 1994, and a member of the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum since 1993. He has been a frequent speaker at various bankruptcy forums and co-authored, with Linda Curtis, “U.S. Trustee’s Role in Bankruptcy” which appeared in Business Lawyers’ Bankruptcy Guide (1991).

Robles was born in Mexico in 1956 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1960. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 1978 and the University of Michigan School of Law in 1981.

He worked for the Los Angeles firm Musick, Peeler & Garrett from 1981 to 1982, and for the San Francisco firms Hancock, Rothert & Bunshoft from 1982 to 1987 and Kornblum, Kelly & Herlihy – now Kornblum & Ferry – from 1987 to 1988.

Robles served as an assistant U.S. trustee from 1988 to 1993, heading the San Jose office, before his 1993 appointment to the bench, where he succeeded Judge William J. Lasarow upon the latter’s retirement.

The court said comments from the bar and public about Robles’ performance as a bankruptcy judge should be submitted no later than Aug. 15, 2006 to:

Gregory Walters, Circuit Executive

Office of the Circuit Executive

P.O. Box 193939

San Francisco, CA 94119

Attn: Reappointment of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Ernest Robles.

The court said comments may also be faxed to Walters at (415) 556-6179. It said that it would not consider anonymous comments, but will honor requests from those who do not want their identities to be disclosed.

 

Copyright 2006, Metropolitan News Company