Justices Decline Bankrupt Attorney’s Challenge to Contempt Fines

The U.S. Supreme Court turned down the appeal of an attorney who was ordered to pay contempt fines to a probate court despite having filed for bankruptcy.

The justices’ decision Monday leaves in place a U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit opinion affirming that a state court can collect punitive sanctions to enforce orders against someone in bankruptcy, without getting the bankruptcy court’s permission.

Donald Kupperstein, who requested Supreme Court review, argued that the ban on collection actions that automatically applies when someone files for bankruptcy protection should’ve blocked the probate court from collecting the fines.

Kupperstein faced ...