David J. Fickel is currently serving as Clerk of Court in Charge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division ( Toledo ). He received a B.A. from Gettysburg College in 1975 and his J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law in 1978. Upon graduation from law school, Professor Fickel practiced substantially in bankruptcy, contracts and consumer law. As a staff attorney with the Toledo Legal Aid Society, he litigated early Truth in Lending issues and emerging debtor defenses involving warranties, unlawful creditor solicitations and prepaid contracts under state law ill addition to bankruptcy. Later practice experience involved representation of both debtors and creditors in bankruptcy and litigation on contract and collection rights.

He has previously served as Estate Administrator in the Bankruptcy Court, supervising the work of panel trustees and monitoring case administration.   He has been a visiting lecturer in law at the University of Toledo College of Law since 1994, and as an adjunct professor at Ohio Northern University Pettit College of law since 1986 teaching creditors rights, bankruptcy and secured transactions. Professor Fickel is also a frequent speaker for the Federal Judicial Center and local bar associations on bankruptcy case administration and general debtor-creditor relations. In 1996 he was invited to present suggested Bankruptcy Code amendments in a hearing before the National Bankruptcy Review Commission. Among other academic and community involvements, Professor Fickel has served as President of Taft Inn of Court at ONU Law and as Founding President of the Waite Inn of Court at Toledo. He is past President of the Board of Trustees for Toledo Legal Aid and Public Defender, and serves on the Board of the Corporation for Legal Assistance and Services to the Poor and the Board for Goodwill Industries in NW Ohio.