Houston Bankruptcy Judges’ Friendship Not Grounds for Recusal

Houston bankruptcy judge Marvin Isgur can continue handling a corporate Chapter 11 case assigned to him following the sudden resignation of his close friend and former colleague, David Jones.

A creditor’s call to have Isgur recused from the bankruptcy proceedings for 4E Brands Northamerica LLC based on his past with Jones doesn’t hold up to scrutiny of whether there’s an “appearance of impropriety,” Judge Eduardo V. Rodriguez of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled Friday.

4E Brands, a unit of Kimberly-Clark de Mexico forced into bankruptcy amid litigation over its production of toxic hand sanitizer, ...