Happy Autumn! It’s the time of year when trick-or-treaters come aknocking, and ghosts and goblins come a-haunting, reminiscent of when mortgage creditors suddenly and spookily pop out past Month 60 in a
Chapter 13 alleging failure to cure arrearages, like “Jason” in a Friday the 13th film.

Welcome to our final newsletter of 2025, the last of my fourth term as President of cdcbaa. It has been my supreme privilege to lead and serve this esteemed organization again, and to be part of such a talented and dedicated team of professionals.

2025 was a bookend of sorts to where things began in my first term. In 2020, we transitioned from in-person at Southwestern Law School to Zoom-only; this year, from Zoom back to Southwestern. Prior, we had been broadcasting via Zoom to a handful of members remotely as we regularly gathered at Southwestern Law School one Saturday morning each month for education programs. Then, events overtook normalcy. We pivoted to present our CLE programs exclusively by Zoom, to very positive member feedback. Finally, in 2025, we returned to Southwestern for our first in-person program and board meeting there in exactly five years (and again, with quorum – thank you Board!). With its comfort and convenience, Zoom will always an option. However, it’s our hope that we’ll continue to gather at a centralized location for the intangible benefits of networking, information-sharing, and professional fellowship.

This year also marked the first time that the tireless duo -- Judge Meredith Jury and Professor Jon Hayes – offered Quarterly Reviews of recent Ninth Circuit bankruptcy cases, exclusively to our members. These Zoom meetings, which allowed for questions and discussion from the audience, were added benefits -- in addition to our usual 16 hours of MCLE offered each year. The informative quarterly reviews were well-attended, and well-received. Best of all, due to positive feedback, there is a very good chance that these special sessions will continue in 2026, so renew your membership now.

Looking forward, the Annual Ninth Circuit Review will continue; it remains our most well-attended program of the year. It is essential each year for the bankruptcy professional -- the top attorney who is committed to stay informed about all the key decisions and developments in our field. Save the date: on Saturday, January 24, 2026, Jon Hayes will be joined by Judge Gary Spraker from the District of Alaska, and our own Judge Scott Yun from the Riverside Division.

Also upcoming: the Calvin Ashland Awards Dinner, where this year, we honor M. Erik Clark as the Attorney of the Year. Erik works tirelessly on behalf of consumer debtors not only in our district, but also advocates for legislative changes to help those in need, in Sacramento and beyond. Please come and join us on November 6, 2025 at the beautiful ballroom atop the Sheraton Universal Hotel. It promises to be a special evening.

And this is a very special organization. I’m very grateful for this opportunity the past year to serve the cdcbaa members a fourth time as President, and to be part of such a selfless team of Directors that is dedicated to the cause of advocating for consumer debtors and the betterment of our system of fresh starts. As always, I am humbled by the honor of stewarding the reins of such an incredible institution. The cdcbaa is in strong and tremendous shape, and hands, moving forward, and I am excited to continue supporting and serving the cdcbaa in its certainly bright future.

It’s been a treat.

Hale Andrew Antico is President of the cdcbaa and has

practiced bankruptcy law in Palmdale and Santa Clarita for

over 20 years.

- Hale Andrew Antico