Gary Spraker was sworn in as Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Alaska on October 4, 2012.  Judge Spraker has served as a visiting judge for Nevada since July 2013, hearing cases and conducting settlement conferences.  In June 2017, he was appointed to the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.  Prior to taking the bench he was a partner at Christianson & Spraker where he focused on both consumer and commercial bankruptcy, representing trustees, debtors, and creditors, in Chapter 7, 11, and 13 matters.  Judge Spraker served for over a decade as chair of the Alaska Bankruptcy Section.  Prior to moving to Alaska, he worked as an associate for Morrison & Foerster in Denver, Colorado.  Judge Spraker received his undergraduate degree from Stetson University in Deland, Florida, and his J.D. from the University of Denver.  He is a fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy.