From 1986-2014, I was a United States Bankruptcy Court Judge for the District of Arizona, having served as the Court’s Chief Judge from 2001-2005. While Chief Judge, I focused on access of the legal system to all, whether individuals were represented by counsel, or were trying to navigate the system on their own. I spearheaded the creation and implementation of the self-help center to allow those not represented by counsel to file documents electronically with the court.

Having previously been a member of the Lorna Lockwood Inn of Court, Phoenix, Arizona (1995-2001), I believed that a bankruptcy Inn of Court would be beneficial to lawyers. Through the strategic planning process, I became a founding master and the first President (2011-2012) of the Arizona Bankruptcy American Inn of Court, which promotes professionalism and provides a mentoring experience for those in the bankruptcy practice. I continue to serve my Inn of Court as a member of its Executive Committee and as a mentor to the next generation of lawyers.

I have served as a pro tempore judge of the Ninth Circuit’s Bankruptcy Appellate Panel from 1993-1998. I am also the author of over 90 published opinions, a number of which have been cited by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals or were a decision of its Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.  

While serving as an adjunct professor at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, I created and taught several courses in commercial and consumer bankruptcy law.  From 2009-2018, I taught a course on bankruptcy reorganizations, municipal bankruptcies, and cross-border insolvencies, and in 2020, I taught a course on consumer bankruptcy law. 

I have been active in the American Bar Association’s Judicial Division, serving as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of Federal Trial Judges (2010-2013), and as the first Co-Chair of the Bench/Bar Bankruptcy Council (2005-2006), its Vice Chair (2006-2007), and as the Judicial Division’s Liaison to the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession (2008-2009).  I have also provided assistance to the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges on the Finance and Budget Advisory Committees, and I was active in the National Association of Women Judges (“NAWJ”), having previously served as an officer, director, or on the board of the organization from 1998 to 2007.  

Before being appointed a bankruptcy judge, I was a senior-level counsel for First Wisconsin Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1982-1986), and an associate attorney with Otterbourg, Steindler, Houston & Rosen (1979-1982) and a small, boutique law firm, concentrating on bankruptcy practice and complex litigation (1978-1979), both in New York City.  

I graduated from Mount Holyoke College (B. A. Degree), South Hadley, Massachusetts, and received my J. D., cum laude, from New York Law School (member, Law Review).  I have lectured extensively in the bankruptcy area, including seminars for the Judicial Division of the American Bar Association, the National Association of Women Judges, the State and local bar associations in Arizona, and the American Bankruptcy Institute.  

Professional Honors and Awards:

American Inns of Court National Distinguished Service Award in Bankruptcy, 2023-2024—in recognition of ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the legal profession, the rule of law and the demonstration of personal ethics and integrity as expressed in the Professional Creed of the American Inns of Court.

Arizona’s Finest Lawyers-selected January 2011;

American Bar Foundation (selected to be a Fellow in May 2007);

National Association of Women Judges, the Justice Vaino Spencer Leadership Award (2007);

Arizona Women Layers Association, Maricopa County Chapter Award for Professional Achievements, Contribution to the Legal Profession, and the Advancement of Women in the Profession (November 2005);

National Association of Women Judges, Lexis/Nexis “Best Project Award,” October 2003.