Congratulations to Judge Misty A. Perry Isaacson

Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit have appointed Misty A. Perry Isaacson as a bankruptcy judge on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. Her 14-year term began Thursday, June 25, 2026, when Chief Bankruptcy Judge Julia W. Brand administered the oath of office. Judge Perry Isaacson will maintain chambers in Riverside.

The Orange County Bankruptcy Forum (OCBF) extends its heartfelt congratulations to Judge Perry Isaacson on this well-deserved appointment. She was the 2022 recipient of the Peter M. Elliott Award, the OCBF’s highest honor recognizing exceptional service and contributions to the Orange County bankruptcy community. While we are saddened to lose her as a valued member of our board, where she served with distinction since October 2024, we are thrilled to see her join the bench and are confident she will be an outstanding addition to the bankruptcy court.

“I am delighted to welcome Judge Perry Isaacson to the bankruptcy bench in our Riverside division. Her wealth of experience across all chapters of the bankruptcy code, her history of public service, and her dedication to the Riverside community make her a strong addition to the bench,” said Judge Brand.

“I am deeply honored by this appointment and am sincerely grateful to my family, friends, colleagues, and judges of our Circuit who have supported me throughout my legal career and during this appointment process. Their guidance and encouragement have meant a great deal to me. I look forward to serving the bankruptcy community and the Ninth Circuit with fairness, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to the administration of justice,” said Judge Perry Isaacson.

Before her appointment to the bench, Judge Perry Isaacson was an attorney at Pagter and Perry Isaacson APLC since 2010, where her practice focused exclusively on bankruptcy and related litigation, representing debtors, creditors, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 trustees, the U.S. Trustee, and both plaintiffs and defendants in adversary proceedings. Previously, she served as a trial attorney from 2009 to 2010 in the Office of the U.S. Trustee, Department of Justice, in Riverside, where she supervised the administration of bankruptcy cases and the conduct of trustees in cases filed under Chapters 7, 11, and 13.

Judge Perry Isaacson served on the Ninth Circuit’s Lawyer Representatives Coordinating Committee as chair from 2022 to 2023, chair-elect from 2019 to 2022, and vice chair from 2018 to 2019. She also served as co-chair and as a member of the Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representatives for the Central District of California.

Judge Perry Isaacson earned her Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Long Beach, and her Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California reported 29,591 bankruptcy filings in calendar year 2025, up 14.2% from 2024. The court is authorized 21 permanent judgeships.

Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit have statutory responsibility for selecting and appointing bankruptcy judges in the nine western states that comprise the Ninth Circuit. The court uses a comprehensive merit selection process for initial appointments and reappointments. Bankruptcy judges serve 14-year renewable terms and handle all bankruptcy-related matters under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.