Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Appoints New Bankruptcy Judge for District of Nevada

SAN FRANCISCO — Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit announced today the appointment of attorney Bruce T. Beesley of Reno, Nevada, to serve as a judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada.

Mr. Beesley will fill a judgeship to be vacated by Bankruptcy Judge Gregg W. Zive, who will retire on January 1, 2011. Mr. Beesley will have chambers in Reno.

Judge Zive, a bankruptcy judge since 1995, has agreed to continue on the bench as a recalled bankruptcy judge to assist the court in managing a significant increase in case filings.

"We are very pleased to have Mr. Beesley join the Nevada bankruptcy bench. He has extensive experience in the practice of bankruptcy law and will be a great asset to the court," Judge Kozinski said in announcing the appointment.

Mr. Beesley, 58, is currently a partner at the law firm of Lewis and Roca LLP and serves as the bankruptcy practice group leader for the firm's offices in Reno, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Albuquerque, New Mexico. A practicing attorney for approximately 30 years, his primary area of expertise has been in bankruptcy law but he also has experience in civil litigation, personal injury and criminal defense.

Mr. Beesley's practice includes creditor and debtor bankruptcy representation, commercial litigation, consulting with other attorneys on bankruptcy issues, expert advice or testimony, settlement work, pro bono representation of individuals in mortgage modification, property surrender and credit card workouts. He was a partner at Beckley Singleton, Ltd., from 2006 to 2007 and was a shareholder and president in the law firm of Beesley, Peck & Matteoni, Ltd., from 1995 to 2006.

A native of Salem, Oregon, Mr. Beesley received his B.S. from the University of Nevada at Reno in 1975 and his J.D. in 1978 from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where he graduated with distinction.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada is authorized four judges. In 2009, the court received 29,808 bankruptcy filings, up 59.3 percent from the previous year.

Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit have statutory responsibility for selecting and appointing bankruptcy judges in the nine western states that comprise the Ninth Circuit. The court uses a comprehensive merit selection process for the initial appointment and for reappointments. Bankruptcy judges serve a 14-year, renewable term, at a salary of $160,080, and handle all bankruptcy-related matters under the Bankruptcy Code.