Honorable Stephen L. Johnson, Chief Judge • Edward Emmons, Clerk of Court
News and Announcements
Effective January 1, 2023, the Northern District of California |
Judge Charles Novack Returns to the Northern District Bankruptcy Bench in a Recall Capacity
Beginning November 1, 2026, Judge Charles Novack, who retired from the Bankruptcy Court in May 2026, will return to the bench in a recall capacity. He will be assigned cases currently pending and those filed thereafter in the court’s San Jose Division. His service will continue pending the appointment of two new judges, which the court hopes will occur in 2027.
The court is grateful to Judge Novack for his willingness to take on this important task and for his continued service to the bankruptcy community. The court thanks the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for approving his recall service.
UPDATE: Bankruptcy Noticing Center Resumed Operations
The Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) has resumed normal operations following a recent disruption. Notices generated between Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and Saturday, October 24, 2026, were impacted.
To address the backlog, BNC will print and distribute outstanding notices in phases. Concurrently, daily notices will resume standard processing, beginning Monday, October 26, 2026. BNC hopes to be caught up on its notices by November 1, 2026.
Older notices began arriving on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Due to the extended delay, some hearings and deadlines listed in these notices may require adjustment. If so, you will receive an updated notice.
If website or system users have specific questions regarding BNC notice privacy or the recent cybersecurity incident, they may contact BAE directly at ebn@baesystems.us.
Holiday - Veterans Day
The Court will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in observance of Veterans Day.
Judge William J. Lafferty, III, appointed Chief Judge effective December 1, 2026
Chief Judge Announcement eff 12.1.26 Oakland Division Brown Bag Lunch (New Date)
Oakland Brown Bag Lunch San Jose Division Brown Bag Lunch
San Jose Brown Bag Lunch Notice to the Bar and Public: Upcoming Case Assignments Throughout the District
Due to judicial retirements and new appointments in Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, the Bankruptcy Court will be undergoing a transitional period through 2027.
To ensure access to judicial resources, Counsel and parties should expect the court will reassign matters as needed. This process will be ongoing through 2027. Note that during this transition, matters may be assigned to judges sitting in divisions other than the filing division.
The court has a robust system for remote (Zoom) appearances. Counsel and parties are welcome to take advantage of those opportunities, especially for cases that are assigned to a judge in a different division.
The court remains committed to providing prompt dispute resolution and sincerely appreciates the cooperation of both the bar and parties.
If you have questions, please contact the Helpdesk at (415) 268-2349.
