ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT
On July 9, 2008, the Honorable Erik P. Kimball presided over his first day of hearings as the newest bankruptcy judge in the Southern District of Florida. Judge Kimball is seated in West Palm Beach along with Chief Bankruptcy Judge, Paul G. Hyman, Jr. Although new to the bench, Judge Kimball is surrounding himself with an experienced staff. His courtroom deputy, Cindy Klopp, was the courtroom deputy for former bankruptcy judge Steven H. Friedman. One of Judge Kimball’s law clerks, Michelle Jaffee, formerly clerked for United States District Court Judge, Donald M. Middlebrooks. Information on Judge Kimball’s law clerks and courtroom deputy can be found on the court’s website (www.flsb.uscourts.gov). In general, Judge Kimball anticipates following the procedures set forth by Chief Bankruptcy Judge Paul G. Hyman, Jr., thereby keeping uniform procedures in the West Palm Beach Division.
Although in high spirits on his first day on the bench, Judge Kimball immediately felt as though his nerves were getting the best of him as he found himself unusually warm and flush. Fortunately, before too long, Judge Kimball realized it was not his nerves but instead the court room air conditioning was broken. The air conditioning has since been fixed.
Following Judge Kimball’s graduation from Boston College Law School in 1990, he has worked mostly in bankruptcy and fields related to debt restructuring. Judge Kimball’s experience includes representing corporate debtors, secured creditors, creditors’ committees, and DIP lenders. Most recently, Judge Kimball was a partner at Akerman Senterfitt’s Orlando office where he specialized in restructuring publicly traded debt. Upon his appointment, Judge Kimball moved from Orlando to Jupiter along with his wife and five-year old son.
Judge Kimball’s desire to become a judge arose out his interest in public service and appreciation for a job where the goal is to do the “right thing” and get the “right answer.” Judge Kimball considers himself a “bankruptcy person” and appreciates the freedom he has as a judge to devote the time necessary to analyze bankruptcy issues without concern for whether he is spending too much time billing a particular client. Judge Kimball looks forward to addressing the wide variety of bankruptcy issues which will come before him.
On behalf of the local bankruptcy practitioners, we welcome Judge Kimball to the bench and look forward to appearing in his courtroom.
