A Star Bankruptcy Judge’s Downfall: Bloomberg Law Investigation

Judge David R. Jones worked for years to make Houston a destination for high-dollar bankruptcy litigation before an intimate relationship with a local attorney, whose firm regularly brought cases before him, led to his disgrace.

Jones’ relationship with Elizabeth Freeman, an attorney for Jackson Walker, was an open secret in the clubby bankruptcy community. A Bloomberg Law investigation revealed at least four judges knew about the relationship and kept it under wraps.

Since the relationship was made public, Jones has left the bench and the US Trustee has moved to claw back millions in fees from Jackson Walker.

Read Bloomberg Law’s coverage of relationships in the Houston bankruptcy court:

Sex, Secrets Trigger Downfall of Star Texas Bankruptcy Judge
Judge Jones’ relationship with a local lawyer exposes the ‘swamp’ of Houston’s bankruptcy court.

How Four Judges Kept Romance Allegations Quiet for Two Years
A letter claiming Jones and Freeman were in a relationship was kept sealed or suppressed for two-and-a-half years.

Judge’s Girlfriend Texts Indicate JCPenney Bankruptcy Maneuver
Texts from Jones reveal how she interacted behind the scenes with Jones on some of the US’s most high-profile bankruptcies.

Bankruptcy Judge Tasked With Scandal Cleanup of ‘Adopted Son’
Jones’ mentor and former law partner will decide many of the cases seeking to claw back Jackson Walker’s fees.

How Kirkland Uses Court Shopping to Get an Edge in Bankruptcy

Power player Kirkland & Ellis, lead counsel on many cases tied to the romance scandal, stopped filing cases in Houston.

Courts Scold Ex-Judge Over Romance but Hesitate to Penalize Him

Mixed rulings on cases related to Jones indicate his former colleagues on the bench are vexed by his ethical lapses.