On Thursday, May 1, 2025, Reuters reported that U.S. Circuit Judge Edith Jones dismissed a judicial misconduct complaint filed with the 5th Circuit Judicial Council against a bankruptcy judge in Houston, who matches the description of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur.
The complaint alleged that Isgur failed to report an undisclosed romantic relationship between another judge in his court, David Jones, and an attorney at the law firm Jackson Walker. Judge Jones cited a lack of evidence that Isgur had “reliable” information about the relationship before it became public knowledge.
While the ruling does not explicitly name either judge, the details provided align with those of Isgur and Jones. Jones himself was previously the subject of a judicial ethics probe that concluded after his resignation from the bench in 2023. The details included a quote from a presentation given by Isgur and business records showing him as a registered agent for a business entity owned by his adult child, described in the complaint as a “political persona.” Isgur did not provide a comment when requested.
David Jones resigned in 2023 after acknowledging a years-long relationship with bankruptcy lawyer Elizabeth Freeman, who was employed at Jackson Walker, a firm that frequently handled cases before him. The couple also shared a home.
Before his resignation, Jones was considered the busiest bankruptcy judge in the United States, overseeing high-profile bankruptcies such as JCPenney, Neiman Marcus, Party City, and Chesapeake Energy.
The revelation of the relationship led to a scandal, prompting a criminal investigation into Jones and a legal challenge by the U.S. Trustee, the Justice Department’s bankruptcy watchdog. The U.S. Trustee sought to compel Jackson Walker to return millions of dollars in legal fees that Jones had approved in at least 35 bankruptcy cases involving the firm.
The complaint against Isgur was filed by an unnamed individual representing themselves in an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court. The complainant argued that Isgur should have recused himself from the case, as it involved a fraud perpetrated by a law firm employing a partner described as a friend of the judge.
The complainant highlighted the public discussions between Isgur and Jones regarding their close professional and personal relationship, suggesting that Isgur likely attended social events where both Jones and Freeman were present. However, specific details regarding the allegations remain unclear, as the 5th Circuit typically does not make judicial misconduct complaints public.
According to the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings, cognizable misconduct by a judge can include failing to report “any reliable information reasonably likely to constitute misconduct.” Judge Jones stated that the complainant lacked evidence that Isgur possessed reliable information about Jones’ relationship. Furthermore, Jones noted that when she contacted Isgur during an inquiry into the allegations, he denied any prior knowledge of the relationship before it became public.
Isgur, whose daughter is conservative legal media commentator Sarah Isgur, had previously been a mentor and law partner to Jones, whom he referred to as his “stubborn adopted son” in a 2023 speech.
Source: Reuters
