Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit announced the appointment of Brenda Kay Martin to serve as a judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona.

Judge Martin fills a judgeship vacated by Judge George B. Nielsen, Jr., who will continue to serve the court in a limited capacity as a recalled judge. Judge Martin, who received the oath of office on May 1, will maintain chambers in Phoenix.

“We welcome Judge Martin to the bench and look forward to her contributions to the work of the Arizona bankruptcy court,” said Judge Kozinski in announcing the appointment.

Judge Martin had been a partner since 2005 at Osborn Maledon, in Phoenix, where her practice involved representing parties in business cases, and occasionally, individuals in Chapter 11 proceedings. She served as the senior partner of the Bankruptcy and Reorganization Practice Group at the firm. Judge Martin practiced law in Phoenix working as an associate then partner at Stinson Morrison Hecker, from 1998 to 2005; as an associate at FitzSimon Parker & Lustiger, from 1997 to 1998; and as an associate at Johnston Maynard Grant & Parker, from 1990 to 1997.