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Whereas, after graduating from law school, Judge Perris clerked for the bankruptcy judges resident in Portland, Oregon, and then served as a bankruptcy trustee and an attorney in private practice there, specializing in bankruptcy until her appointment as a bankruptcy judge;
Whereas, Judge Perris was appointed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to serve as a bankruptcy judge for the District of Oregon in April 1984 and served until her retirement in 2015;
Whereas during her 30-plus year tenure as a bankruptcy judge, Judge Perris:
presided over a number of significant cases, including one of the most contentious cases filed on account of clergy sexual abuse charges, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland chapter 11 case, along with the Society of Jesus, Oregon Province chapter 11 case;
mediated two other chapter 11 cases filed on account of clergy sexual abuse charges, the cumulative effect of her experiences with these types of cases resulting in the development of a template for the resolution of other clergy sexual abuse bankruptcy cases around the United States;
served as one of seven mediators appointed in the City of Detroit chapter 9 case, handling the mediation of complex financial transactions among the City and its financial creditors, with their disputes resolved consensually in the confirmed plan of adjustment;
mediated complex financial and labor disputes in the City of Stockton, California, chapter 9 case, enabling the City to confirm its plan of adjustment;
mediated the dispute with a judgment creditor that enabled the Town of Mammoth Lakes, California, to dismiss its chapter 9 case; served two non-consecutive terms on the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit (from 1988-1993 and from 1998-2005), including as the Chief Judge (2003-2005);
served as the only bankruptcy judge member of the board of directors of the Federal Judicial Center (from March 1993-March 1997) following her appointment to the board by the Chief Justice;
served as Chief Bankruptcy Judge in the District of Oregon (from 20052010);
served as a member of the Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules (from 2007-2013) following her appointment to the committee by the Chief Justice;
and served as faculty at countless educational programs around the country, including those at Federal Judicial Center for bankruptcy judges, and as a mentor judge for newly appointed bankruptcy judges at what is affectionately called “baby judge school;”
Whereas, Judge Perris is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, having been inducted as a member of Class 1 in 1990 and having served on many committees, including the Nominating Committee, the Board of Regents and the Judicial Nominating Committee;
Whereas, Judge Perris has received a number of awards and recognitions during her illustrious career for her outstanding contributions to local, state and national bar associations;
Whereas, Judge Perris has been a friend, mentor, and colleague to a vast number of insolvency professionals;
Whereas, through her scholarship, judgment, integrity, humanity, service and professionalism, Judge Perris has embodied the highest ideals of the legal profession for over 40 years;
Whereas, based on the foregoing, Judge Perris has more than satisfied the criteria for the Distinguished Service Award in that, among other things:
she has made many significant accomplishments in improving the administration of justice in the insolvency and bankruptcy field;
she has many years of distinguished service; her accomplishments arose from her outstanding dedication and voluntary activities;
and she has distinguished herself and the judiciary in a manner and in matters that meet and exceed the goals and purposes of the College.
Therefore, be it resolved unanimously by the Board of Directors of the American College of Bankruptcy that the Honorable Elizabeth L. Perris be awarded the 2018 Distinguished Service Award of the American College of Bankruptcy. March 16, 2018
2018 Distinguished Service Award Recipient
Honorable Elizabeth L. Perris (Ret.)
Whereas, Judge Elizabeth L. Perris was born in Dayton, Ohio, grew up in California, received her A.B. from the University of California, Berkeley (Class of 1972) and received her J.D. from the University of California, Davis (Class of 1975);