Announcement Archive


Effective January 1, 2023, the Northern District of California
adopted a new Chapter 13 Plan


Federal Holiday - Labor Day

All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, September 4th, in observance of Labor Day.

Judicial Feedback Survey for Judge Hannah L. Blumenstiel

Survey now Closed

Judge Hannah L. Blumenstiel of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California asked the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) to survey attorneys and trustees to obtain feedback about her judicial performance. The FJC is the research and education agency for the federal courts. The judge's decision to ask the FJC to conduct this survey is entirely voluntary and reflects Judge Blumenstiel's ongoing commitment to provide the highest level of public service possible.

During the week of July 17th, the FJC will send an email to each attorney or trustee who has had a case assigned to Judge Blumenstiel since January 1, 2019. The email will explain how to access and complete an online questionnaire.

The survey procedure is set up so responses are anonymous. Research staff at the FJC will compile the survey responses and provide Judge Blumenstiel a report, including the comments that are provided in response to the open-ended questions and tables or figures aggregating the responses to the closed-ended questions. The survey results and report are exclusively for Judge Blumenstiel's use in improving her performance.

If you do not receive a survey link from the FJC and want to participate, please contact Jessica Snowden of the FJC at 202-502-4049 or at jsnowden@fjc.gov.

If you have questions about the survey or encounter any technical difficulties, please also contact Jessica Snowden.



Attachment: PDF icon Judicial Feedback Survey for Judge Hannah L. Blumenstiel

Guidelines for Adversary Proceedings under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8) in which the United States is a Defendant

Effective April 24, 2023, the court has adopted Guidelines for Adversary Proceedings under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8) in which the United States is a Defendant.  These Guidelines are intended to accommodate guidance recently promulgated by the United States Department of Justice in cooperation with the United States Department of Education.  See below pdf.
 

Going forward, the court will expect litigants in adversary proceedings under § 523(a)(8) to comply with these Guidelines.



Attachment: PDF icon Guidelines for 523(a)(8) Proceedings US is a Defendant

Solicitation for Transcription Services

The Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California (the Court) is soliciting vendors to include on an approved list of qualified transcription services providers that will be publicly posted on the Court’s website. Vendors interested in received a solicitation packet detailing the Court’s requirements should send an email request to the Procurement Administrator, Suzanne McBride, at: suzanne_mcbride@canb.uscourts.gov.

All proposals must be received via email no later than Friday, July 28 2023 at 5:00pm PDT.

Federal Holiday - Independence Day

All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Tuesday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day.

Judge Blumenstiel’s New Practices and Procedures (effective April 24, 2023)

Link: Judge Blumenstiel’s New Practices and Procedures.

Federal Holiday - Juneteenth

All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth.

FREE Webinar: DOJ Guidance on Discharging Federal Student Loans in Bankruptcy Cases

On June 8, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT, the Boston Bar Association will present a FREE webinar explaining the U.S. DOJ’s New Guidance on Discharging Federal Student Loans in Bankruptcy Cases.  Panelists include:  Hon. Hannah L. Blumenstiel (Bankr. N.D. Cal.); John Rao (National Consumer Law Center); and William Austin Hinkle (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).  Among many other things, the panelists will discuss the Guidelines and related forms recently promulgated by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California concerning the Guidance.  You do not need to be admitted to the Massachusetts bar and do not need to be a member of the Boston Bar Association to join the webinar.  No CLE credit can or will be provided for this program.  Please see the below program announcement for more information and a link to online registration.



Attachment: PDF icon BBA Student Loan Guidance Program

Invitation for Public Comment on the Reappointment of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stephen L. Johnson

Attachment: PDF icon Invitation Public Comments re Chief Judge Johnson

Federal Holiday - Memorial Day

All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, May 29th, in observance of Memorial Day.

Reassignment of Cases Pending in the Oakland Division and the Santa Rosa Division

Attachment: PDF icon Reassignment of Cases Pending in the Oakland Division and the Santa Rosa Division

CM/ECF Temporarily Unavailable on Saturday, April 22 at 8:00 AM to Sunday, April 23 at 11:59 PM

CM/ECF will be temporarily unavailable from Saturday, April 22, 2023, at 8:00 AM to Sunday, April 23, 2023, at 11:59 PM due to system maintenance.

Amended General Order 33

Assignment of Santa Rosa Cases Filed on or After July 1, 2017 (Effective 2/1/2023)

Attachment: PDF icon Amended General Order 33 (Effective 2/1/2023)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: CM/ECF Temporarily Unavailable on Friday, March 10 at 5:00 PM to Monday, March 13 at 8:00 AM

The California Northern Bankruptcy Court will upgrade our Case Management and Electronic Case Filing system to version 1.7.1. The system will be temporarily unavailable from Friday, March 10, 2023, at 5:00 PM to Monday, March 13, 2023, at 8:00 AM.
 

Invitation for Public Comment on the Reappointment of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Charles D. Novack

Attachment: PDF icon Invitation Comments for Reappointment Judge Novack

Judge Blumenstiel's New Practices and Procedures

Link: Judge Blumenstiel's New Practices and Procedures

Federal Holiday - Presidents' Day

All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, February 20th, in observance of Presidents' Day.

New Chapter 13 Plan Online Seminar Recording

Presented on December 15, 2022

Prior to viewing the recording, please download the below pdfs as they will be referred to by the presenters.

To view the recording in a web browser, click here.

Topics discussed: Completing and ECF Filing the Chapter 13 Plan, Distributions under the Chapter 13 Plan, Defaulted Home and Vehicle Loans and Reporting Thereon, Treatment of Government Claims, Estimated Plan Lengths, and Lien Strips and Cramdowns

Presenters: Judge Hammond, Judge Johnson, Brisa Ramirez, Esq., Office of Trustee David Burchard, Darya Druch, Esq., and James S.K. (“Ike”) Shulman, Esq.

 



Attachment: PDF icon Ralph and Alice Cramdown Hypothetical, PDF icon Ralph and Alice Cramdown Hypothetical Plan, PDF icon Ralph and Alice Cramdown Hypothetical Attachment A Addendum Class 1, PDF icon Ralph and Alice Cramdown Hypothetical Attachment B Addendum Class 3, PDF icon Ralph and Alice Cramdown Hypothetical Attachment C Addendum Class 4, PDF icon Ralph and Alice Cramdown Hypothetical Attachment D Addendum Class 6

Fourth Amended General Order 37

Abrogation Of General Order 37, And Third Amended General Order 37; Retention Of Interim Rule 1020 And Temporary Amended Official Form 201

Retains adoption of Interim Bankruptcy Rule 1020 and use of amended Official Form 201 in this Court


Attachment: PDF icon 4th Amended General Order 37

Judge Roger Efremsky to Retire on January 31, 2023, and the Assignment of Oakland and Santa Rosa Cases effective November 1, 2022

After 17 years on the Northern District of California bankruptcy bench, Judge Roger Efremsky is retiring, effective January 31, 2023.  Given the Northern District’s relatively low weighted caseload, it is not anticipated that the Ninth Circuit will replace him in the foreseeable future.  To ensure a smooth transition, effective November 1, 2022, Judge Efremsky will be removed from the Oakland and Santa Rosa divisions’ case assignment “wheels,” and no bankruptcy cases filed on or after that date will be assigned to him.  All new Oakland bankruptcy cases will be assigned to Judges Novack or Lafferty, and Judge Lafferty will replace Judge Efremsky on the Santa Rosa wheel.  With regard to Judge Efremsky’s Oakland cases that are pending on February 1, 2023, all cases that end in an “even” number will be assigned to Judge Novack, and all cases that end in an “odd” number will be assigned to Judge Lafferty.  Pending adversary proceedings will follow the main bankruptcy case. Judge Efremsky’s Santa Rosa cases and adversary proceedings that are pending on February 1, 2023, will be assigned to Judge Lafferty.

 

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