Prosecutor Called Up to Bankruptcy Court Post

(CN) - Christopher Latham has been appointed as a judge to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California.

Latham, 47, will fill a vacancy left by Bankruptcy Judge Peter Bowie, who is retiring but will maintain chambers in San Diego. The appointment is effective Oct. 1, 2012.

Latham has served as an assistant U.S. attorney since 2008, overseeing criminal bankruptcy fraud prosecutions and a wide range of civil matters including bankruptcy, eminent domain, mortgage fraud, tax and medical malpractice.

Latham has also served on the U.S. Department of Justice's Evaluation and Review Staff, performing intensive on-site evaluation of U.S. attorney's offices throughout the country.

A native of Southern California, Latham received his bachelor's degree from the University of California, Irvine, in 1986, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. He earned a master of philosophy degree from Yale University in 1989 and the graduated from Yale Law School in 1992. He was a member of the Yale Journal on Regulation, the Yale Law and Policy Review, and the Thomas Swan Barristers' Union.

He clerked for the U.S. District Judge Earl Gilliam before going into private practice where he provided regular pro bono service to indigent clients. Latham also served on the board of directors of the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program from 2003 to 2007, receiving eight Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Awards for Legal Services from the State Bar of California.

From 1993 to 2008, he worked as an attorney at the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. He spent 10 years serving as a judge pro tem of the San Diego Superior Court.

Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th announced the appointment last week.

"We are very pleased to have Mr. Latham join the federal bench," Kozinski said in a statement. "He is well established and highly regarded in the legal community and will be an asset to the bankruptcy court."

Latham will serve a 14-year, renewable term and earn a salary of $160,000.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California received 21,486 filings in 2011.

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