Arthur Gonzalez
Encyclopedia
Arthur J. Gonzalez is a United States Bankruptcy Court
Judge for the Southern District of New York. Gonzalez received his undergraduate degree from Fordham University
in 1969. Following graduation, he worked as a New York City
public school teacher until 1982, earning a masters degree from the Brooklyn College
School of Education. After earning a law degree
in the Evening Program at Fordham in 1982, Gonzalez became an attorney for the Manhattan District Counsel Office of the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS). He left the IRS in 1988 and worked as a private lawyer for several firms. During this period, he earned a Master of Laws
from New York University
(NYU). In 1991, Gonzalez re-entered government to become an Assistant United States Trustee for the Southern District of New York. He was promoted in 1993 to become Trustee for New York, Connecticut
, and Vermont
. Judge Gonzalez was appointed Bankruptcy Judge in 1995.
LLC bankruptcy case. Previously, Gonzalez presided over the bankruptcy proceedings for WorldCom, at that point the largest U.S. bankruptcy case (since overtaken by the collapse of Lehman Brothers
in 2008), and Enron
. The criminal proceedings against the corporate executives of WorldCom and Enron did not originate from the bankruptcy proceedings before Gonzalez via mandatory referral of possible crimes under Title 18 U.S.C. § 3057, in contrast the post petition corporate entities both sought releases and compensation for the benefit of their current and former senior officers.
United States bankruptcy court
United States bankruptcy courts are courts created under Article I of the United States Constitution. They function as units of the district courts and have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal district courts have original and exclusive jurisdiction over all cases arising...
Judge for the Southern District of New York. Gonzalez received his undergraduate degree from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in 1969. Following graduation, he worked as a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
public school teacher until 1982, earning a masters degree from the Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
School of Education. After earning a law degree
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in the Evening Program at Fordham in 1982, Gonzalez became an attorney for the Manhattan District Counsel Office of the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
(IRS). He left the IRS in 1988 and worked as a private lawyer for several firms. During this period, he earned a Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU). In 1991, Gonzalez re-entered government to become an Assistant United States Trustee for the Southern District of New York. He was promoted in 1993 to become Trustee for New York, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, and Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. Judge Gonzalez was appointed Bankruptcy Judge in 1995.
Significant cases
Currently, Gonzalez is handling the ChryslerChrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
LLC bankruptcy case. Previously, Gonzalez presided over the bankruptcy proceedings for WorldCom, at that point the largest U.S. bankruptcy case (since overtaken by the collapse of Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Before declaring bankruptcy in 2008, Lehman was the fourth largest investment bank in the USA , doing business in investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales and trading Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (former NYSE ticker...
in 2008), and Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
. The criminal proceedings against the corporate executives of WorldCom and Enron did not originate from the bankruptcy proceedings before Gonzalez via mandatory referral of possible crimes under Title 18 U.S.C. § 3057, in contrast the post petition corporate entities both sought releases and compensation for the benefit of their current and former senior officers.