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Bankruptcy Judge Albert Radcliffe Will Be Missed

By Kent Anderson, Oregon Bankruptcy Attorney

On Wednesday, January 19, 2011, US Bankruptcy Judge Albert E. Radcliffe collapsed in his chambers and died. He was 63 years old and had worked in bankruptcy, first as a lawyer then as a judge, since his graduation from the University of Oregon Law School in 1972. His death is a loss to all the lawyers and parties who appeared before him. He was generous with his time and always made sure that everyone in the courtroom who wanted to be heard on a matter was given the opportunity to speak. Judge Radcliffe leaves big shoes to full and he will be missed.

Albert Radcliffe was raised in Eugene, Oregon, and began serving here in the local community as a part-time bankruptcy judge on the US  Bankrupcy Court for the District of Oregon in 1983. He was appointed to a 14 year term as a full-time bankruptcy judge in February 1987, and reappointed in for another term in 2002. Judge Radcliffe became chief judge of the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon in 1999 and held that position for six years. He also served as chair of the Ninth Circuit Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and as a member of the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.

In addition to his distinguished service as a judge, he gave generously of his time to educational programs for lawyers, state bar committees and community outreach programs. I had the pleasure of serving with him on a committee planning the annual meeting of bankruptcy lawyers in Oregon several years ago. He was full of ideas and enthusiasm for the law, generous in his praise of others, and he regularly shared his fabulous sense of humor with the committee. 

Judge Radcliffe’s many community activities included time spent as an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon School of Law. He regularly volunteered time for the Credit Abuse Resistance Education program and taught high school students throughout Oregon how to analyze financial documents and avoid the unwise use of consumer credit. While I never had the opportunity to make a CARE presentation with Judge Radcliffe, I was able to present a program with his wife Nancy, an accountant, who shared his interest in financial education of high school students.

In October 2010, Judge Radcliffe’s many years of service to the legal community were recognized when he received the William Stiles Award of Merit. This is highest honor the Debtor-Creditor Section of the Oregon State Bar is able to bestow on a member.

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Full post as published by Bankruptcy Law Network on January 22, 2011 (boomark / email).