About me
Judge Taylor has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of California since January 2008. She ended a seven year term as Chief Judge in October of 2019.
In January 2013, Judge Taylor was appointed to a seven year term on the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel; she was reappointed December 31, 2019. In August of 2019, she became its Chief Judge.
In March 2019, Judge Taylor was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy.
Judge Taylor served as the Conference Chair for the 2012 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and as Program Chair for the 2011 Conference. She previously served on the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Judges Education Committee and the Ninth Circuit Pro Se Committee.
She also served on the Federal Judicial Center's Chief Judge Education Committee.
She actively participates in educational programs in the area of bankruptcy law and most recently participated in programs sponsored by the American College of Bankruptcy, the Federal Judicial Center, the San Diego County Bar Association, the San Diego Bankruptcy Forum, and the State Bar of California. She is an active member of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, and previously served as Chair and currently serves on the U.S. Trustee Liaison Committee. She also is a Master in the Louis M. Welsh Inn of the American Inns of Court.
From 1983 – 1995 and from 1998 to 2007, Judge Taylor was an associate and partner at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP where she practiced in the Finance and Bankruptcy practice group. For most of her career she was resident in the San Diego office. From June 2005 to November 2007, she served as the San Diego office’s Administrative Partner.
From January 1995 to February 1998, Judge Taylor practiced pro bono law. She was the founder of the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program’s Special Education Project (the “Project”). The Project provided pro bono legal services to disabled foster youth and low income families with disabled children. In connection with her pro bono service, Judge Taylor received the San Diego Bar Association's Public Service Award for 1996, the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program's Attorney of the Year Award for 1997, and the State Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award for 1997.
Judge Taylor received her B.A. with Highest Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her J.D. with Honors from Duke University.
Judge Taylor is married to the Honorable Timothy B. Taylor, Judge of the Superior Court of the State of California.
