SDTX Bankruptcy Judge Moves Forward, Sets Trial Date in Jackson Walker Fee Fight

For most of a two-and-a-half-hour scheduling conference Tuesday in the Jackson Walker bankruptcy fee case, the parties sat in silence while Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Eduardo V. Rodriguez drafted and signed a pair of orders governing when the parties will be back for a hearing and when trial in the case will begin. 

The hearing came two days after the U.S. Trustee and the law firm told the court they had reached a $15 million settlement that would end the bankruptcy watchdog’s efforts to claw back millions in fees earned in 34 cases involving former Houston bankruptcy judge David Jones and former Jackson Walker bankruptcy partner Elizabeth Freeman. The U.S. Trustee got involved in the litigation after the once-private romantic relationship between Jones and Freeman was publicly reported, which also led to Jones’ resignation from the bench.