FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
1.6.0_13

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :


A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
We have a Webstart application we've been using for years.
After upgrading to Java 1.6.0_13, it suddenly is no longer working. The Java console doesn't show anything, however it looks like certain Java objects aren't getting instantiated properly.

Example: We have a JPanel object called SubmissionPanel that is being created simply as SubmissionPanel lPanel = new SubmissionPanel().

This object has many global variables. With the new Java version, those global variables are now all NULL when being referenced. Previously they would all get created properly and I could set break points in the code and step through to see them get created. Now, the break points don't get recognized. I don't think it's an Eclipse issue because the error still occurs in a runtime environment.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :

Here's a very rough test case, but it essentially reproduces what we're trying to do. With 1.6.0_13, you'll get a pop up window that says the value is null.
Older versions will tell you the value is not null. Just run java test.JavaTest

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
 Older versions will tell you the value is not null.
ACTUAL -
With 1.6.0_13, you'll get a pop up window that says the value is null.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

Release Regression From : 6u10
The above release value was the last known release where this 
bug was not reproducible. Since then there has been a regression.