The Honorable Frank J. Santoro was appointed as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge on February 21, 2008, sitting in Norfolk and Newport News, Virginia.  His term as Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia commenced on December 13, 2019. 

He received undergraduate degrees, with honors, in political science, and economics and finance from Allegheny College in 1976, where he was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  He received his J.D. degree from the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in 1979.

Prior to his appointment, Chief Judge Santoro was the managing partner of Marcus, Santoro & Kozak, P.C., located in Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia, where his practice concentrated in bankruptcy, corporate reorganizations and corporate finance.  He served as Standing Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 Trustee beginning in 1987 and was also a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee from December 1981 through May 1990.  He was a former law clerk to Judge Hal J. Bonney, Jr.  He has been a frequent speaker at seminars and is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy.  In 2003, Chief Judge Santoro was selected by his peers as the outstanding bankruptcy lawyer in Virginia.

Chief Judge Santoro stays busy with his children and grandchildren.  He is active in a variety of civic organizations and is an official USTA Ironman.