By Tom Jarvis
The Granite State marked a historic milestone on November 12, when the Honorable Kimberly Bacher became the first woman Chief Judge of the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire at her investiture ceremony. This appointment also marks the last of the firsts for women on the bench in the state.
The historic event at the Warren B. Rudman Courthouse brought together Judge Bacher’s family, friends, colleagues, and mentors, along with a notable turnout of dignitaries, including former US Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
“It’s overwhelming,” Judge Bacher says of becoming a judge. “I’m very proud to have this position. I have dreamed about being a judge for a long time and to have it happen feels surreal. Every day, it still doesn’t feel quite real yet, but it has far exceeded my expectations.”
The Honorable Landya McCafferty, Chief Judge of the US District Court for the District of New Hampshire, served as the master of ceremonies and began the event by inviting Judge Bacher’s daughters, Annabelle and Madeleine, to the witness box for a memorable performance of the National Anthem.
“Judge Bacher brings hefty credentials to the bench, and she is also a terrific person,” says Chief Judge McCafferty. “My colleagues and I are thrilled to welcome her as our newest neighbor on the top floor of the Rudman Courthouse.”
Raised in Niles, Illinois, Judge Bacher is a first-generation college graduate. She earned her BA from the University of Vermont in 2001 – making her “a New Englander at heart,” Chief Judge McCafferty remarked during the ceremony.
While in college, Judge Bacher gained practical experience through internships with the ACLU in Montpelier, Vermont, and the Domestic Violence Unit of the Chicago Police Department. Inspired by the attorneys she encountered in these roles, she developed a desire to pursue a career in law. In 2005, she graduated cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law.
After law school, she completed a two-year clerkship for the Honorable Jack Schmetterer of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. In 2007, she began practicing bankruptcy law at Goldberg Kohn until she transitioned to the boutique bankruptcy firm of Shaw, Fishman, Glantz & Towbin.
In 2012, she was selected to serve as a trial attorney for the Office of the US Trustee in Chicago, a component of the US Department of Justice.
“Since my externship with the US Trustee’s Office in law school, I had my heart set on working for the Department of Justice,” she says. “I truly felt called to public service.”
There, she honed her skills in the consumer side of bankruptcy and became a member of the US Trustee Criminal Enforcement Working Group. She also served as the US Trustee’s Appellate Coordinator for the Northern District of Illinois and the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin. She served on the board of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation from 2011 to 2013 and was a member of the Bankruptcy Court Liaison Committee for the Northern District of Illinois from 2013 to 2017.
In 2018, she transferred to the US Trustee’s Office in New Hampshire, where she remained until becoming a judge.
“I always wanted to get back to New England. I knew we had an office in Manchester, so I started laying the groundwork to see if I could transfer offices,” Judge Bacher says. She recalls that despite one of her daughters having a broken leg while traveling across the country with her family, the transition went smoothly. “I feel like God opened every door to get here. We are absolutely in love with it here.”
Later that same year, Judge Bacher coordinated the creation of the Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) chapter in New Hampshire and has since organized dozens of presentations for young adults about financial management and the consequences of credit abuse. Her dedication to education continues as she integrates these efforts into her role as a judge.
“I’m really trying to get them out here to see what this is like,” she says. “I have a resource now – I have a courtroom – and I want to use it. I’m trying to make that a big part of my focus here, too.”
She also volunteers at the New Hampshire Correctional Facility for Women, helping incarcerated women prepare for reintegration into the community. In 2023, she served on the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association’s Public Service Committee.
“Kimberly Bacher will bring great energy and deep experience in the bankruptcy system to the District of New Hampshire,” US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Chief Judge David Barron said in a press release. “Her evident commitment to public service, concern for those in need, and respect for the Rule of Law will serve her well in this important position, as she takes over the duties of her distinguished predecessor, Bruce Harwood.”
Judge Bacher’s investiture ceremony included three main speakers, the first of whom was the Honorable Gustavo Gelpi, US Circuit Judge of the First Circuit of Appeals, who chaired the selection committee.
“On behalf of all my colleagues who are sitting here with me, and those who couldn’t make it, we want to officially welcome Judge Bacher to this position, and we look forward to working along with you for many years to come,” said Judge Gelpi.
He also shared a humorous anecdote about notifying Judge Bacher of her selection. Lacking his phone, he borrowed one from Circuit Executive Susan Goldberg, unaware that calls from her during the process typically convey bad news. It took a moment for Judge Bacher to realize he was delivering good news.
The next speaker was Attorney Katherine Sutcliffe Becker, a former colleague and longtime friend of Judge Bacher. She spoke fondly of and with admiration for her friend, weaving in witty recollections along the way. She noted that Judge Bacher pulled double duty when she transferred to the New Hampshire US Trustee’s Office, handling a full caseload while also handling a full slate of cases in Chicago via Zoom.
“I mean this seriously, with sincerity, and from the bottom of my heart: I think that Kimberly becoming the next bankruptcy judge for New Hampshire is one of the best things that has ever happened for our government,” Sutcliffe Becker said.
The final speaker at the ceremony was Attorney Peter Roberts. He had taken Judge Bacher under his wing as a young associate at Shaw Fishman in Chicago and served as a mentor ever since.
“Since I’m a native New Englander, born and raised in Rhode Island and then tutored on the finer points of bankruptcy law by Judge Panos at Craig and Macauley in Boston, I am uniquely qualified to assure you all, without any hesitation or reservation whatsoever, that Kimberly will proudly serve the District of New Hampshire with distinction, dedication, and devotion,” said Roberts.
After the speakers concluded, the Honorable Samantha Elliott, US District Court Judge for the District of New Hampshire, administered the oath as Judge Bacher’s husband, Benjamin Crabtree, helped her don her robe.
Judge Bacher then addressed the attendees with heartfelt gratitude, sharing the personal story of her grandfather, Edward Bacher, whose 46 years of public service inspire her daily as she assumes her role on the bench.
“I fully acknowledge what an honor and gift I have been given to serve the state of New Hampshire,” she concluded at the ceremony. “I stand in the shoes of some incredible bankruptcy judges that have come before me. They left a legacy behind, and I intend to do everything possible to continue their tradition of running a fair court that affords justice to all parties. I am reminded on a daily basis why I moved here, and why I love calling New Hampshire my home. Whether it’s finding myself on the top of a 4,000-footer or watching the Bow Fire Department hose my girls down with the water on the last day of school, I am so proud to call New Hampshire my home, and I am so honored to serve as a bankruptcy judge.”
Following her remarks, Superior Court Judge Charles Temple delivered a blessing for her.
Though her official investiture took place in November, Judge Bacher started in mid-August after her predecessor, Judge Bruce Harwood, retired. Having already spent some time on the bench to reflect, she says she is thankful.
“I know the whole Bar wasn’t part of the merit panel, but if the Bar didn’t support me, I wouldn’t have gotten here,” she says. “So, I really take that to heart. It means a lot to have the support of the Bar. I don’t see this as me sitting in my ivory tower. I want to see what I can do to help the bankruptcy community. Right now, bankruptcy filings are low. There are a lot of attorneys that have left the field, and I don’t see a lot of young people coming in. I think we need to see what we can do to change that, and I want to be part of that.”
Judge Bacher says she is proud to be the first woman chief bankruptcy judge in the state. When asked what she would say to young women lawyers considering a pathway to the bench, she advises focus, determination, and self-advocation.
“Don’t sell yourself short,” she says. “Push, push, push, and then push again. It takes hard work, dedication, and keeping your eye on the prize. So, don’t be deterred. Also, I tell young women that every time I’ve asked for a pay raise, a promotion, or other benefit, I’ve received what I asked for 100 percent of the time. As women, sometimes we think we must accept what’s being put in front of us, but I challenge women to expect more, ask for it, and go after it.”