Kornreich sworn in as bankruptcy judge

BANGOR – Louis H. Kornreich was sworn in Monday as the state’s newest federal bankruptcy judge during a formal ceremony held at U.S. District Court.

Described as skilled in bankruptcy law, Kornreich, a Bangor attorney for more than 25 years, was praised by friends and former colleagues. The new federal judge has the experience, patience and empathy to succeed in a job that, with the economy’s downturn, has seen increased challenges, they said during a 70-minute investiture. The position pays $133,492 a year. It is a 14-year appointment.

Bankruptcy filings, which have increased by 25 percent over last year, should not be a cause for concern, Kornreich said during his acceptance speech.

“Financial distress is a natural occurrence in our economic system,” he said. The “good news” is that “we have a system able to deal with financial distress.”

“The doctrine of the fresh start” is key in bankruptcy court, Kornreich said.

A New York native, Kornreich is the fourth U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge to preside in Bangor. He replaced U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge James Haines, who transferred to Portland last spring after a 10-year stint. Haines replaced U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James Goodman, who retired March 21. At Monday’s ceremony, he wished Kornreich well.

Senior U.S. Circuit Judge Conrad K. Cyr, the first bankruptcy judge in Bangor, and U.S. Circuit Judge Kermit Lipez headed a selection committee that picked the Bangor resident from a field of 18 applicants. Both attended Monday’s event.

The position serves 11 of the state’s 16 counties. The other five counties – Androscoggin, Cumberland, Oxford, Sagadahoc and York – are served by the bankruptcy court in Portland.

Kornreich, 51, was quietly sworn into office last April so he could quickly delve into a heavy workload.

During the ceremony, Edward Gould, a Bangor attorney and colleague, pointed out that the new judge “in our office was the first one in the door and the last one to turn the lights out.”

About 250 people attended the ceremony, including judges, attorneys, colleagues and friends. Chief Judge D. Brock Hornby of the U.S. District Court in Maine presided. Also present were: Michael Dease, U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge from New Hampshire, U.S. Magistrate Judges David Cohen and Margaret Kravchuk, state Supreme Court Justices Paul Rudman and Donald Alexander and active retired Penobscot Superior Court Justice Ian MacInnis. Judith Brody, widow of U.S. District Judge Morton Brody, also attended.

Kornreich’s wife, Patti Kornreich, sat in the front row. His daughters Ilana, 15; Sarah, 22; Lisa, 25; and Hannah, 17 helped their father don his black judicial robe after Kornreich was sworn in by his longtime friend, U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal.

Singal became a federal judge a year ago. He and Kornreich once were managing partners in the Bangor firm now called Gross, Minsky & Mogul.

Kornreich received a law degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1974. After serving as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1974 to 1975, he became an associate in 1975 with the firm of Goodman and Kornreich. In 1982, he joined Gross, Minsky, Mogul and Singal. His practice emphasized commercial law and bankruptcy cases. For 20 years, he served as an appellate judge for the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court.

On Monday, Singal talked about the qualities of a good judge. Those with “neither heart nor head are to be avoided at all costs,” Singal said. “Those with a head and no heart are about as bad.” Judges with “heart and no head” are “risky but better,” he continued, “and a judge with a “head and a heart – that’s our new judge. Welcome aboard, Louis.”

Kornreich vowed to administer justice, to serve the poor and the rich and to “faithfully and impartially discharge and perform” the duties of a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge.

Kornreich appeared moved when Gary Growe, chief judge of the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court, handed him a Penobscot war club carved by artist Stanley Neptune.

Reacting to the gift, Kornreich said he had “tears of joy” and was “overwhelmed.” He recalled once presiding at a tribal case on Indian Island.

Jewish by faith, Kornreich said he was wearing “the skullcap of an Orthodox Jew and a black robe” and was surrounded by war clubs and Indian artistry.

Mulling the diverse scene, “All I could think of was ‘only in America,'” he said.