Neil J. Verbrugge Appointed as Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Hawaii
N E W S R E L E A S E
Sept. 2, 2026
Contact: Katherine Rodriguez
mediarelease@ce9.uscourts.gov
SAN FRANCISCO — Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit have appointed Neil J. Verbrugge as a bankruptcy judge to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Hawaii. His 14-year term began on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. Judge Verbrugge assumed the chief bankruptcy judge post when Judge Robert J. Faris’ term ended. Judge Verbrugge maintains his chambers in Honolulu.
“I am delighted that Judge Verbrugge succeeded me. The bankruptcy court is in excellent hands,” said Judge Faris.
“I am honored to be appointed as bankruptcy judge. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the bankruptcy community and public with respect, dignity, and diligence. I look forward to hearing and resolving cases and proceedings under the Bankruptcy Code, rules, and applicable law,” said Judge Verbrugge.
Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Verbrugge practiced law in the public and private sector for nearly 30 years. He served for nearly a decade as a trial attorney for the U.S. Trustee Program, a component of the Department of Justice, in the Honolulu Field Office, Region 15, where his duties included overseeing bankruptcy case administration, assisting in trustee oversight, and investigating and litigating civil enforcement matters in Chapter 7, 11, and 13 cases in Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and San Diego. Judge Verbrugge’s private sector experience spanned 16 years as a civil litigation associate with one of Honolulu’s largest law firms and as an associate and partner with a Honolulu boutique business bankruptcy law firm. While in private practice, he focused on bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation, commercial litigation, real estate foreclosure and business disputes. He has represented debtors, creditors, committees, and trustees in bankruptcy cases and proceedings. Before entering private practice, Judge Verbrugge began his legal career serving as a judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps where he gained extensive trial experience. While serving as judge advocate, he was a monitor of Japanese legal proceedings under the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement.
Judge Verbrugge graduated, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Special Studies in economics, philosophy, and political science from Cornell College in 1993 and earned his Juris Doctor, with distinction, in 1996 from the University of Iowa College of Law where he was a member of the Iowa Law Review.
Judge Verbrugge is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute. He has served as vice-president of the Hawaii Bankruptcy Bar Association and as director and treasurer of the Bankruptcy Law Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association. He has been a frequent speaker on bankruptcy topics at continuing legal education seminars in Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Hawaii reported 1,194 bankruptcy filings in calendar year 2025. The court is authorized one permanent judgeship.
Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit have statutory responsibility for selecting and appointing bankruptcy judges in the nine western states that comprise the 9th Circuit. The court uses a comprehensive merit selection process for the initial appointment and for reappointments. Bankruptcy judges serve a 14-year renewable term and handle all bankruptcy-related matters under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
# # #