DETROIT (AP) — Much of what you need to know about JudgeSteven Rhodes, friends and former
colleagues say, can be gleaned from ahandful of hours amid the hundreds he’s logged overseeing the
largestpublic bankruptcy filing in U.S. history.On a September day inDetroit’s grand federal court building,
the veteran bankruptcy judgeinvited retirees and residents to tell him what the city’s massiverestructuring
would mean for them. Each had three minutes, but Rhodeswas generous with the clock and let them have their
say.He didn’t have to do it."Thereis no requirement that a bankruptcy judge has to listen to
individualswho are represented by (lawyers)," said former bankruptcy Judge RayReynolds Graves, who
worked with Rhodes for 17 years. "Steve put that toone side and had the retirees come into court and
address himpersonally. Listening to people who could be adversely affected byhaving their pensions cut —
that tells you something about the man’ssensitivities."Rhodes’ character and conduct are more
closelyscrutinized since last week’s ruling that Detroit was eligible to fixits broken finances in
bankruptcy court. Friends and colleagues say thechief bankruptcy judge in Detroit — approaching retirement
himself —aims to push the human impact to the front of an often arcane,impenetrable case of creditors and
complex financial formulas.Manyworkers and retirees were crushed to hear him say their pensions
aren’tprotected by the Michigan Constitution and could be cut, though hisorder came with a less legal and
more reassuring caveat: He vowed to besensitive to how retirees are treated and won’t "lightly or
casually"approve any reductions.Much of what the broader public knowsabout the grandfather who also
plays rhythm guitar in a band ofbankruptcy officials is through what he’s said in court — particularlyhis
90-minute oral opinion on the day he greenlighted the bankruptcy.And on the bench he isn’t reluctant to
express his views, often strikinga populist tone. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder took the unprecedented stepof
testifying at trial about his role in approving the bankruptcy filingonly after the judge strongly suggested
that his attendance would notbe excused.During the eligibility trial, Rhodes sharplyquestioned Detroit
emergency manager Kevyn Orr about a summer commentthat pensions are "sacrosanct" and wouldn’t be
touched."What would you say to that retiree now?" Rhodes asked, a reference to Orr’s subsequent
decision to propose cuts to pensions.Atanother hearing, an investment banker, James Saakvitne, said it
wasimportant that his firm help the city but only under certainconfidential terms."What’s very
important to you is to make money," the judge interjected.Thoseexchanges, said Wayne State University
law professor Laura Bartell,reveal his professional bearings. She said in his nearly 30 years on thebench in
Detroit, Rhodes has guided far more individuals through thebankruptcy process than public or private
entities. Detroit’s other mostfamous bankruptcy reorganizations, General Motors and Chrysler, werefiled in
New York."You’ve got to remember, bankruptcy in Detroitis about people," said Bartell, who has
invited Rhodes to speak to herclasses and knows him through academic circles because of his roles asan
adjunct professor and lecturer at the University of Michigan LawSchool, his alma mater. "He’s not going
to allow big-city lawyers tocome in and tell him that people are not important."Both Bartelland
University of Michigan law professor John Pottow say Rhodes was theright judge selected to oversee the
complex and unusual case, and heaccepted the assignment as he was planning to retire."He’s going to
stay on … because he wanted to finish this case out," Pottow said.Pottowsaid Rhodes realizes
"the plight of the city and workers," who lack thefederal pension protections of their private
sector counterparts."Thiscase is moving him," said Pottow, who also welcomes Rhodes back tospeak
and teach. "Rhodes is trying to shame the political leaders to dosomething about this. … There’s a
moment where he can say things, and Ithink he’s taking advantage of the moment."When he’s free of
thedark robe, he plays in a band, the Indubitable Equivalents. The band’sweb site says the off-hours rhythm
guitarist first serenaded his wife,Kathy, then his daughters and granddaughters, with songs such as
"Soundof Silence," ”Eve of Destruction" and "Sloop John B."Anotherpiece of his
past diverges from jurisprudence, at least at first blush:Rhodes received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical
engineering fromPurdue University in 1970, three years before earning his law degree atMichigan.Graves said
he used to tease Rhodes about being"half-Boilermaker and half-Wolverine," but the retired judge
said Rhodesputs his first degree to good use."As an engineer, he wantsthoroughness, completeness and
precision — he’s not a fan of sloppylawyering," Graves said. "I’d say to him, ‘Human beings are
messy andsloppy. If they weren’t, we wouldn’t have these jobs.’"Graves said Rhodes isn’t likely to
leave any loose ends, something that’s important in such a high-profile case."Heknows he’s writing on a
blank slate — a new law for the country — andhe wants to get it right," Graves said. "Chapter 9 is
a new model forall distressed cities in the country. … He’s not passing this off onanybody
else."___Associated Press writer Ed White contributed to this story.___Follow Jeff Karoub on Twitter:
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2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
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