The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has appointed Mary Jo Heston to U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington. Heston will replace Judge Paul Snyder, who retired on December 31, 2016. Her 14-year term begins on February 1.
According to U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Sidney Thomas, Heston “has a wealth of experience and we expect her to be a great asset to the bankruptcy court for the Western District of Washington and to the Ninth Circuit.”
Heston joined Lane Powell in 1993, where her practice has focused on contract, commercial litigation and transactional work; business bankruptcies, reorganizations, receiverships and workouts; Uniform Commercial Code creditors’ remedies and international insolvency matters. Prior to joining the Firm, Heston served as the U.S. trustee for Region 18 (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) from 1988 to 1993. She has been a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy since 2001, and a member of its Pro Bono Committee from 2013 to 2016. Her background also includes being an adjunct faculty member at Seattle University School of Law and at the University of Washington School of Law.
Heston earned her J.D., cum laude, from University of Puget Sound, and her B.A., cum laude, from University of Washington.