As if a slew of new, untested bankruptcy statutes and a record number of cases filed in her district this fall were not enough, the new chief judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern District of New York must also follow in the footsteps of a legend.

Judge Melanie L. Cyganowski, a 12-year veteran of the court, was recently named to succeed Judge Conrad B. Duberstein. Affectionately known as “Connie,” the late judge died of cancer on Nov. 18. He had led the court since 1984.