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Chief Judge Mary Watts Colón

 

Biography

The Honorable Mary Watts Colón was appointed as chief bankruptcy judge for the Northern District of Florida on July 25, 2026.  Judge Colón was appointed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, which appoints all bankruptcy judges in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Judge Colón succeeds the Honorable Karen K. Specie and will preside in the Tallahassee, Pensacola, Gainesville, and Panama City divisions. 

Judge Colón earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) with honors from the Florida State University College of Law in 1999 and a Bachelor of Science from Auburn University in 1995.  Prior to joining the bench, she was a partner with Smith, Thompson, Shaw, Colón & Power, P.A.  where she handled real estate transactions, commercial litigation, and bankruptcy matters.  She has served as a Chapter 7 panel trustee for the past 16 years, has been an active member of this Court’s Local Rules Committee, serving as secretary, and has been a part of this Court’s Chapter 13 Ad Hoc Committee.   

Judge Colón is also a member of the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar, Real Property/Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar, the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, American Bankruptcy Trustee Journal editorial board, American Bankruptcy Institute, International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation, and the Northern District of Florida Bankruptcy Bar Association.  

Judge Specie, Clerk of Court Traci E. Abrams, and the staff of the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida offer Judge Colón our warmest congratulations and look forward to serving with her.