The law firm of Tucker Arensberg, P.C. is pleased to announce that The Honorable Judith K. Fitzgerald (Ret.) is the recipient of the Bankruptcy American Inns of Court Alliance Distinguished Service Award for 2020. The Distinguished Service Award recognizes the ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the legal profession, the rule of law, and the demonstration of personal ethics and integrity, and specifically dedicated to a judge or attorney who has practiced in the field of bankruptcy law.
Judge Fitzgerald has more than 25 years of experience as a Bankruptcy Judge, having presided over matters in the Western District of Pennsylvania (where she was chief judge for five years) as well as in the District of Delaware (20 years), the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the U.S. Virgin Islands (9 years).
Judi has unique experience in mass tort bankruptcies, having adjudicated more cases involving section 524(g) asbestos trusts than any other bankruptcy judge in the country. She has an extensive trial background and frequently served as a settlement judge and mediator. She was the sole judge hearing all chapter 13 cases in the Western District of Pennsylvania and Delaware for many years. She also serves as a mediator and arbitrator in addition to her services as an expert witness and consultant. She is a member of FedArb, an association of former federal judges who provide expert witness, consultation, mediation and arbitration services.
Judi received her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and her undergraduate degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. Judi is a member of the American Law Institute; a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy; former President and Founder of the Next Generation Program for the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges; former Board Member and co-chair of the Mass Tort Committee for the American Bankruptcy Institute; member and past chair of the Bankruptcy Judges’ Advisory Committee of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts; former chair and member of the Education Committee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.