About me
JOHN E. WAITES
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE (RETIRED)
Experience:
1994 to June 2022: Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of South
Carolina.
Served as Chief Bankruptcy Judge (March 1, 2006 to March 1, 2013).
Reappointed to a second 14-year term effective June 2008.
Notable Career Achievements:
March 2024: Recipient of the 2024 William E. S. Robinson Public Service Award by South
Carolina Bankruptcy Law Association
August 2022: Selected as Co-Recipient of the 2022 Public Outreach Award of the National
Conference of Bankruptcy Judges
August 2022: Recipient of the 2022 Bankruptcy Inn Alliance Distinguished Service Award This
award recognizes ongoing dedication to the highest standards of the legal
profession, the rule of law, and the demonstration of personal ethics and integrity
in the field of bankruptcy law.
May 2022: Recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian award
presented by the Governor in recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary
achievement, service and contributions on a national or statewide scale.
2018-2019: President, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ). Previously served
as NCBJ Secretary (2016-2017), Co-chair of the NCBJ Legislative Committee
(2015-2017), Member of the NCBJ Board of Governors (2010-2014), and
Member of the NCBJ Public Outreach Committee.
2018-2024 Inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy. Served on Pro Bono
Committee and Admissions Council for Fourth Circuit.
2018: Founder and first Counselor of the J. Bratton Davis Bankruptcy American Inn of
Court to promote civility, professionalism and mentoring in the South Carolina
Bankruptcy Bar.
2006-2022: Founder of the South Carolina C.A.R.E. financial literacy program. In 2019,
received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the national C.A.R.E. program.
2013-2019: Appointed by Chief Justice Roberts as a member of the United States Judicial
Conference’s Committee on the Administration of the Bankruptcy System
(CABS). Served as a member of the Executive Committee of CABS from 2018-
2019.
2008-2013: Selected as a member of the Administrative Office’s Bankruptcy Judges Advisory
Group (BJAG) by the Director of the Administrative Officer of the U.S. Courts.
Served as Chair from 2011-2013. Served as the Fourth Circuit Representative
from 2008-2011
2007-2022: Appointed by Chief Justice of South Carolina Supreme Court as a member of
South Carolina Access to Justice Commission as its only federal judge
representative. Served as Chairman of the Strategic Plan Committee.
2015-2022: Served as a member of the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Board, which works to
improve the delivery of legal representation to indigent citizens and also seeks to
define and recognize pro bono service by South Carolina attorneys.
2016-2018: Served three-year term as Judicial Chair of American Bankruptcy Institute
Southeastern Seminar.
2016: Recipient of a national Pro Bono Service Award from the Legal Services
Corporation of the United States.
2015-2017: President of the Fourth Circuit Judges for Judicial Conference Meetings.
2015: Recipient of the Matthew J. Perry Jr. Civility Award presented by the Richland
County Bar Association.
2014: Recipient of the J. Bratton Davis Professionalism Award, the highest award
presented by the South Carolina Bankruptcy Law Association
2013: Recipient of Special Pro Bono Awards from both the South Carolina Bar and
South Carolina Legal Services.
2010-2014: Adjunct Professor of Law at Charleston School of Law.
2008-2011: Adjunct Professor of Law at University of South Carolina School of Law.
