The Hon. Jean K. FitzSimon

Jean FitzSimon was appointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in June 2006 and retired on June 29, 2020.

Prior to her appointment, she was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Whitehall Jewellers, Inc.; and before that served as General Counsel with Bridge Associates LLC, and as Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President for Compliance, Business Risk, and Regulatory Affairs with Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Judge FitzSimon began her legal career in the U.S. Department of Justice, supervising litigation under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts. She also developed federal legal policy in a variety of areas and served as the U.S. Trustee for the Northern District of Illinois. She then spent several years in private practice in Phoenix, Arizona.

She writes and lectures on topics including bankruptcy, governance and compliance issues.

EDUCATION: St. Johns College, B.A.; University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D.