John C. Cook, senior bankruptcy judge in Chattanooga, is retiring effective March 31, 2015.
The Sixth Circuit Judicial Council is soliciting applications from persons interested in appointment as his successor.
Officials said, "United States Bankruptcy Judges exercise highly important judicial powers and responsibilities as officers of the United States District Courts. All bankruptcy cases under Title 11, United States Code, and all proceedings arising under Title 11 or arising in or related to a case under Title 11 are referred to the Bankruptcy Judges of a district. A person appointed as Bankruptcy Judge should have the character, ability and impartiality to qualify such person for service in the Federal Judiciary."
The term of office is 14 years. The salary of the position is $183,172.
Bankruptcy Judges are appointed by the United States Court of Appeals pursuant to the Bankruptcy Amendments and Federal Judgeship Act of 1984, P.L. 98-353, 98 Stat. 345, and regulations promulgated by the Judicial Conference of the United States. The Court of Appeals will make an appointment to this vacancy from a list of at least three nominees submitted to it by the Sixth Circuit Judicial Council.
To be qualified for appointment as a bankruptcy judge, an applicant must possess the following minimum qualifications:
(a) Be a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of at least one state, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and a member in good standing of every other bar of which the applicant is a member.
(b) The applicant must have engaged in the active practice of law for at least five years (With some substitutions authorized).
(c) The applicant must possess the following abilities or characteristics: (1) competence to perform the duties of the office; (2) integrity and good character; (3) commitment to equal justice under the law; (4) sound physical and mental health; (5) outstanding legal ability and competence as evidenced by ability to deal with complex legal problems, aptitude for legal scholarship and writing, and familiarity with courts and court processes; (6) demeanor, character and personality that would exhibit good judicial temperament.
(d) An applicant may not be related to a judge of the appointing Court of Appeals or Judicial Council of the Circuit, or to a judge of the District Court to be served, by blood or marriage within the degree of first cousin.
An affirmative effort will be made to give due consideration to all qualified candidates, including women and members of minority groups.
Interested applicants may obtain a Bankruptcy Judge Application from the Circuit Executive’s Office, Office of the Clerk of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the Bankruptcy Court Clerk for the Eastern District of Tennessee, or by accessing the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit website at www.ca6.uscourts.gov. Persons interested in applying for this position should send their application to: Office of the Circuit Executive, 503 Potter Stewart United States Courthouse, 100 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Applications must be received by May 27, 2014. Candidates whose applications are not received by the closing date will not be considered.
Issue: 4/27/2014