Judge Steven Rhodes is a U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. He graduated from U-M Law School in 1973, and has an undergraduate degree from Purdue University. He taught at U-M from 1992-2002. Before becoming a Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District, he was on the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.. He lives in Ann Arbor with his wife and also teaches at the U-M Law School. He also plays rhythm guitar in a classic rock house band called the Indubitable Equivalents, according to the Free Press.
Judge Rhodes is managing Detroit's Chapter 9 bankruptcy proceedings. Alice Batchelder, chief judge of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, assigned him the role on the recommendation of two chief justices of the Eastern District.
He's pushed for some particular arguments in the City's interest. Notable is his suggestion that the City challenge the structure of Kwame's 2005 interest rate swap deal. Rhodes has rejected possible settlements and asked the parties to find better deals. He also has forcefully challenged attorneys for the creditors to consider how their proposals will effect Detroit's city services and pushes back when he thinks they will impact critical areas like public safety.
In the news
- Bankruptcy judge has tough-but-fair reputation. Detroit News. 22 August 2013.
- Disastrous Kilpatrick debt deal might have been illegal, but city may settle anyway. Free Press 25 September 2013.