Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit have appointed Edward K. Bernatavicius as a bankruptcy judge on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. His 14-year term began today, July 6, 2026, when Chief Bankruptcy Judge Julia W. Brand of the Central District administered the oath of office. Judge Bernatavicius will maintain chambers in Riverside.
“I am pleased to welcome Judge Bernatavicius to the bankruptcy bench in our Riverside division. Judge Bernatavicius brings a strong knowledge of bankruptcy law and a dedication to public service to our community. His enthusiasm for the law and the bankruptcy community make him a strong addition to our bench,” said Judge Brand.
“I am deeply grateful for the confidence placed in me and honored to have the opportunity to serve as a bankruptcy judge. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the bankruptcy community to uphold the integrity of the judicial process and serve the public with diligence and respect,” said Judge Bernatavicius.
Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Bernatavicius had served as a trial attorney since 2006 in the Office of the U.S. Trustee, Department of Justice, in Phoenix, where he represented the U.S. trustee for the District of Arizona in a full spectrum of consumer, commercial and ethical issues in bankruptcy cases. Judge Bernatavicius had served as a Ninth Circuit lawyer representative for the District of Arizona since 2024. He was a member of the Arizona Bankruptcy American Inn of Court’s steering committee that founded the inn in 2011 and served as its president from 2014 to 2016. Judge Bernatavicius is the recipient of the 2018 Honorable Daniel P. Collins Mentorship Award.
Judge Bernatavicius graduated with a Bachelor of Science in political science, rhetoric and public address from the University of Lynchburg in 1994, when he received the university’s Innovative Leadership Award and earned his Juris Doctor in 1998 from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, where he was elected commencement speaker by his graduating class.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California reported 29,591 bankruptcy filings in calendar year 2025, up 14.2% from CY 2024. The court is authorized 21 permanent judgeships.
Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit have statutory responsibility for selecting and appointing bankruptcy judges in the nine western states that comprise the 9th Circuit. The court uses a comprehensive merit selection process for the initial appointment and for reappointments. Bankruptcy judges serve a 14-year renewable term and handle all bankruptcy-related matters under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Original release here.
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