Federal bankruptcy Judge Paine retires

January 18, 2011

Tennessee: George C. Paine II, chief judge of the United States bankruptcy court for the Middle District of Tennessee, plans to retire by the end of 2011. The 66 year old said that he is "ready to move on to the next thing". He is also dissatisfied with the salaries of federal judges, who have been denied multiple cost-of-living increases and whose last salary increase was in 1989. Paine has served on the bankruptcy court since 1981 (chief judge since 1984) and currently makes $154,000 a year. Nashville bankruptcy attorney Tom Lawless stated, "I don't know a single lawyer that's practiced in the bankruptcy court that isn't going to miss him." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit will select a replacement judge, who will be appointed to a 14-year term.

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