U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones, who oversees more major Chapter 11 cases than any other U.S. judge, is seen in a screenshot from video shot during a virtual interview with Reuters done from Houston, Texas, U.S. December 11, 2020.
Jones had already stepped back from overseeing large bankruptcy cases and began reassigning them to two other judges on the court.
Until December 2022, Freeman had been a partner at Jackson Walker, a local law firm that filed many cases in Jones' Houston courthouse.
Ethics experts have said the undisclosed relationship casts doubt on the integrity of Jones' court.
"From the time we first learned of this allegation Ms. Freeman was instructed not to work or bill on any cases before Judge Jones.
Persons:
David Jones, Randy Crane, Jones, Elizabeth Freeman, Freeman, Jackson Walker, Judge Jones, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Bill Berkrot, Alexia Garamfalvi
Organizations:
Reuters, REUTERS, Staff, U.S . Chief U.S, District, Southern, Southern District of Texas, Circuit, McDermott International, Tehum Care Services, U.S . Trustee, Department of, Thomson
Locations:
Houston , Texas, U.S, Houston, Southern District, New Orleans, Jones ' Houston, Debtwire, Bengaluru