KAPPA NEWS: LAW AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Checking in With the 74 th President: Kevin D. Judd Immediate Past President Represented a Network of more than 60,000 Members of the National Bar Association working under the theme: Securing Justice Through Unity Collaboration
Journal: Can you summarize any no- table differences in litigating in bank- ruptcy court vs a civil/criminal case in district court? Judd: In bankruptcy court, judges have more latitude to decide cases in a fair and equitable manner, because bank- ruptcy courts are courts of equity, in contrast of civil/criminal, which are not. Journal: For those who are not aware, how does your case preparation or pre- sentation change between a Chapter 7 v. Chapter 13 cases? How do you prepare clients for the potential results? Judd: For a Chapter 7 case, I demon- strate that my client does not have any monthly net income to pay his and/ or her debts. For a Chapter 13 case, I do the opposite. I try to show that my client has enough monthly net income to pay their day to day living expenses, as well to contribute into a 3 to 5 year monthly bankruptcy plan to the bankruptcy trustee to cure the client’s secured debt (typically house and car payments) defaults in order for them to retain the collateral. Journal: Any particular case that stands out in your career? If so, what were the facts and how did the issues get resolved? Judd: Yes. A case where I had a client who had a heart attack outside the courtroom before his hearing. He was so fearful and terrified of losing his house. That case drove home what a heavy debt load can do to a person’s physical and mental health. Fortunately, I was able to successfully keep him in his home through the bankruptcy process, by helping him reconfigure his financial practices and then through an evidentiary hearing persuade the bank- ruptcy trustee and the judge that he was capable of paying his monthly mortgage payments and a 5 year monthly payment
like something was missing from my life. I did not feel like I was contributing to society in a significant or meaningful way and intuitively felt I needed to make a major change in my life. My pursuit of a legal career has allowed me to help others, especially in regards to elevating our people. Journal: What were you involved in campus service, athletics or community wise, while at Kean University? Judd: Believe it or not, I served as a male cheerleader, lifting women up in the air while performing for the audi- ence. I was also involved in the student government, which had a very active student association with a budget over 1 million dollars, and that was in the 80s. I served as a student representative and Assistant Director for National Affairs, where I had the opportunity to travel around the country attending National Student Association meetings. My fond- est memories of participating in those activities were of meeting other Nupes . I also served as Vice President of the Black Student Union and, as their chair, led one of the school’s most successful Black History Month programs. Journal: What led you to specialize in bankruptcy and to serve as an Arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Agency? Judd: My financial background and my drive to elevate our people economically. In fact my law firm’s brand is “Your Gateway to Financial Freedom.” I get a great sense of satisfaction when I am able to help individuals secure their home from foreclosure and lift the heavy weight of debt that keeps people in financial bondage. In fact sometimes, I equate undue debt burdens as modern day slavery, because these folks are un- able to contribute in the world’s greatest economic system and cannot live their lives in a fruitful and fulfilling manner.
Members of Kappa Alpha Psi ® Who Were Presidents of the National Bar Association (NBA) include: Earl B. Dickerson, 1945-46 (5 th Grand Polemarch)
William S. Thompson, 1957-58
Archie B. Weston 1973
Robert L. Harris, 1979 (27 th Grand Polemarch)
William A. Borders, 1980
Walter L. Sutton, Jr., 1987
H. T. Smith, 1994
Linnes Finney, Jr., 2006
Kevin Judd, 2016
Journal: What educational background prepared you for a career in the law?
Judd: My undergraduate business de- gree from Kean University, in conjunc- tion with the stellar education I received at Howard University School of Law, provided me with a strong foundation for my legal career. My business degree has been especially useful in informing my understanding of law as it relates to business. Many aspects of the law deal with economic and financial matters, be it commercial transactions, property law, personal injury awards. For me, my undergraduate business education has been a significant asset in my own practice area, bankruptcy law. Journal: What influenced your decision to become an attorney? Judd: Early in my career I was working as a stock broker on Wall Street. I can’t say I was very content in that role. I felt
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