Tour of Historic Courthouse & Courtroom Conversation with U.S. Bankruptcy Chief Judge Latham and Judge Marum

On March 26, 2026, the San Diego Chapter of the FBA and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California co-hosted a tour of the historic Jacob Weinberger U.S. Courthouse, followed by a lunch and courtroom conversation with Chief Judge Christopher B. Latham and Judge Barrett Marum, with bankruptcy attorney Kristin Mihelic of Fennemore Law serving as moderator.

The event began with a fascinating tour of the Weinberger Courthouse in downtown San Diego, expertly guided by the court’s Administrative Officer, Elizabeth Mayercin, and court personnel. Authorized by Congress in 1906 and completed in 1913, the courthouse was the first permanent federal building in San Diego, designed to house the U.S. Post Office, the U.S. District Court, and U.S. Customs.

In 1966, ceremonies were held there to establish the Southern District of California, comprised of San Diego and Imperial Counties. In 1975, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In April of 1976, a new federal office building and courthouse were completed just northeast of the old building, leaving its future uncertain. On April 29, 1994, following four years of extensive renovation, it became home to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California.

Following the tour, FBA members mingled with court staff over delicious boxed lunches from Mendocino Farms. Attendees then headed to the beautiful central courtroom downstairs, where Ms. Mihelic moderated a courtroom conversation with Chief Judge Latham and Judge Marum, delving into their respective paths to the bench, their respective philosophies and approaches to case management, and pointers for practitioners in their courtrooms.

Chief Judge Latham started his legal career as a law clerk for the Hon. Earl B. Gilliam, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California. He then entered practice with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. After fourteen years at the firm, Judge Latham joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he oversaw criminal bankruptcy fraud prosecutions and handled a variety of civil matters, including bankruptcy, tax, eminent domain, and mortgage fraud cases. Judge Latham also served on the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Board of Directors and regularly performed pro bono service. He was appointed as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge on October 1, 2012, and was appointed to a seven-year term as Chief Bankruptcy Judge on November 1, 2021.

Judge Marum was appointed to the bench effective August 30, 2024. Prior to judicial service, he clerked for the Hon. Thomas J. Whelan, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California, and developed a successful private bankruptcy practice at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, LLP.

Attendees from bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy backgrounds alike asked the judges questions about their approach to cases and how bankruptcy practice differs from traditional civil practice in the district court. Both judges emphasized the important role of civility and cooperation in bankruptcy practice, where excessive adversarial zeal by advocates can waste the parties’ resources and ultimately deplete the value of the assets in dispute. The judges also discussed the Bankruptcy Court’s new order requiring parties to attest whether their filings were drafted with the assistance of generative AI.

The San Diego Chapter of the FBA extends its thanks to: Chief Judge Latham

and Judge Marum for their participation and wise guidance; Elizabeth Mayercin, Mark Schnakenberg, and the Bankruptcy Court personnel for the tour and hosting of the luncheon; and Kristin Mihelic for her thoughtful moderation. The Chapter also thanks our previous VP of Professional Advancement, Melissa Holmes, for setting this event in motion before her term ended in December.