Delaware’s Most Welcoming Bankruptcy Judge to Bid Farewell

Retiring Judge Kevin Gross has deftly managed some of the nation’s most complex and famous bankruptcies, from the Los Angeles Dodgers to telecommunications giant Nortel Networks, with a friendly demeanor that earned him many courtroom admirers.

That doesn’t mean the Delaware bankruptcy judge is a pushover.

“If someone crosses the line with him, he changes pretty quickly,” said Bruce Grohsgal, a bankruptcy law professor at Delaware Law School at Widener University and longtime colleague.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware announced April 8 that Gross would retire early next year, ending 14 years of “exemplary service,” including ...