Ex-Bankruptcy Judge Ordered to Appear in Court or Face Arrest

An ex-bankruptcy judge at the center of an ethics scandal has been ordered to appear in court—or face an arrest warrant—to explain why he gave an “off the record” interview with a law firm without court approval.

Chief Judge Eduardo V. Rodriguez issued an order Saturday instructing David R. Jones and attorneys at Jackson Walker LLP to appear in his Houston courtroom Aug. 7 or face a bench warrant. The questioning is part of a dispute over more than $13 million in legal fees that Jones approved for Jackson Walker without disclosing that he was in a longstanding relationship with a partner at the firm.

Rodriguez’s order comes after the Justice Department’s bankruptcy monitor, the US Trustee, informed the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on Aug. 2 that Jones recently appeared for an interview conducted by Jackson Walker attorneys, even though Rodriguez hasn’t decided yet the scope of questions Jones is allowed to answer under judicial policy.

Jackson Walker, which has claimed that it didn’t know about the extent of Jones’ relationship with one of its partners while it was representing clients in his courtroom, and the US Trustee have moved to question Jones about who else knew about the romance. Rodriguez last month expressed concern over some of the proposed questions, especially with respect to any focused on Jones’ official court duties while he was on the bench.

He heard arguments over the scope of the questioning but hasn’t yet issued an opinion.

Read Bloomberg Law’s investigation into Judge Jones and relationships in the Houston bankruptcy community here.

The Aug. 3 order directed Jones and anyone who participated in the interview to appear in court to explain why the discussions didn’t violate his order to hold off on such on questioning and why they shouldn’t be held in civil contempt and sanctioned.

“Failure by any person to appear in person may be cause for this Court to issue further orders including the issuance of a bench warrant for their arrest,” Rodriguez ordered.

Jones resigned last year after admitting to a relationship and living with Elizabeth Freeman, who left Jackson Walker in late 2022. Jackson Walker appeared in front of Jones in several large Chapter 11 cases.

The US Trustee also told the court Aug. 2 that it was offered its own off-the-record interview with Jones but declined. The bankruptcy watchdog said it’s still seeking to interview Jones, but now also want to learn what he told Jackson Walker during their conversation.

“Former Judge Jones sat for that interview by Jackson Walker after his counsel had argued to this Court that virtually every topic was subject to the Judiciary Policy,” the US Trustee said.

The hearing comes amid reports of a criminal probe into the scandal.

Jones and Jackson Walker didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Jones is represented by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. Jackson Walker is represented by Rusty Hardin & Associates LLP and Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP.

The case is Professional Fee Matters Concerning the Jackson Walker Law Firm, Bankr. S.D. Tex., No. 23-00645, order 8/3/24.