Announcement Archive
Effective January 1, 2023, the Northern District of California |
Federal Holiday - Thanksgiving (November 24 and 25)
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on November 24th and 25th, in observance of Thanksgiving.
Federal Holiday - Veterans Day
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Friday, November 11th, in observance of Veterans Day.
Judge Novack will Reinstitute In-person/In-Courtroom Hearings
Beginning October 17, 2022, all matters before Judge Novack will be conducted in person, in the courtroom, unless otherwise ordered by the court. Counsel and interested parties may appear at the hearing either in person or by Zoom. Judge Novack's Practices and Procedures for In-Person Hearings are available here
REGISTER NOW! Bay Area Bankruptcy Judges Conference
Attachment:
Bench Bar 2022 Registration Announcement Federal Holiday - Columbus Day
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, October 10th, in observance of Columbus Day.
NEW Notice of Proposed Revisions to the Bankruptcy Local Rule 9014-1
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Court is considering changes to Bankruptcy Local Rule 9014-1. A PDF of the proposed changes (redlined version) is below, along with the Local Form for Certificate of No Objection. Comments regarding the proposed changes may be submitted by emailing ron_mastroianni@canb.uscourts.gov by September 30, 2022.
Attachment:
Proposed BLR 9014-1 Redline, Proposed BLR 9014-1 CNO Local Form Third Amended General Order 37
Adopts Interim Bankruptcy Rule 1020 and notices the use of amended Official Forms 101 and 201 in this Court.
Attachment:
3rd Amended General Order 37 CM/ECF Temporarily Unavailable on Saturday, September 17, 2022
CM/ECF will be temporarily unavailable on Saturday, September 17th from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM due to system maintenance. Following the system maintenance, CM/ECF will undergo tests to ensure proper back-up system operations. During this time, you may experience temporary intermittent access to certain CM/ECF features. Testing will conclude on Saturday, September 24, 2022.
If you experience any issues, please contact the helpdesk.
Federal Holiday - Labor Day
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, September 5th, in observance of Labor Day.
Chapter 13 Plan - Comments Requested
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Court is requesting comments on the new Chapter 13 plan that it has drafted in consultation with a committee of lawyers and Martha Bronitsky, Chapter 13 Trustee. PDF versions of the Chapter 13 plan and its attachments are below. Comments regarding the new plan may be emailed to Ron_Mastroianni@canb.uscourts.gov by September 1, 2022. The subject line of the email should be “Chapter 13 Plan Comments.”
Attachment:
Chapter 13 Plan, Addendum: A Class 1, Addendum: B Class 3, Addendum: C Class 4, Addendum: D Class 6 CM/ECF Temporarily Unavailable on Saturday, August 27, 2022
Access to CM/ECF will be temporarily unavailable on Saturday, August 27, 2022, from 5:30 AM to 07:30 AM due to system maintenance.
Judge Lafferty's Notice of Judicial Law Clerk's Post-Clerkship Employment
Notice of Judicial Law Clerk's Post-Clerkship Employment Judge Montali's Revised Open Calendar Procedures
Judge Montali's Revised Open Calendar Procedures Federal Holiday - Independence Day
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day.
Recruitment to the Bench-Bar Liaison Committee
The Bench-Bar Liaison Committee (the “Committee”) is seeking members of the bar to serve a three-year term on the Committee. There are currently four (4) vacancies on the Committee and service will commence on July 1, 2022.
Prospective Committee Members should review the requirements and selection criteria of General Order No. 15. Trustee’s and employees of the U.S. Trustee are eligible to apply. Applications must commit to participate in six to eight Committee meetings each year during their membership term and to otherwise actively further the Committee’s mission. To apply for a position on the Committee, please send a letter of interest along with a current resume or curriculum vitae to the Committee Co-Chairs, Cheryl C. Rouse rblaw@ix.netcom.com and Michael A. Sweet msweet@foxrothschild.com by June 24, 2022.
CM/ECF Temporarily Unavailable on Saturday, June 25, 2022
Access to CM/ECF will be temporarily unavailable on Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM due to system maintenance.
Federal Holiday - Juneteenth
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, June 20th, in observance of Juneteenth.
PACER Services and CM/ECF Connections Temporarily Intermittent on Sunday, June 12
PACER users and Next Generation (NextGen) Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) e-filers may experience intermittent authentication issues when logging on, and intermittent connection issues when making payments through Pay.gov on Sunday, June 12 from 3:55 AM to 4:00 PM due to PACER system maintenance.
Judge Lafferty will Reinstitute In-person/In-Courtroom Hearings
Beginning April 1, 2022, all matters before Judge Lafferty will be conducted in person, in the courtroom, unless otherwise ordered by the court. Eureka/McKinleyville matters will, until further notice, be conducted via Zoom Webinar. Counsel and interested parties may appear at the hearing either in person or by AT&T Teleconference. Beginning May 25, 2022, counsel and interested parties may appear at the hearing in person or by Zoom Webinar. Prior court approval is not required for Zoom or AT&T appearances. The Zoom or AT&T information will be included in each calendar posted weekly, as applicable. Judge Lafferty’s Practices and Procedures for In-Person Hearings are available at https://www.canb.uscourts.gov/procedure/lafferty/judge-lafferty%E2%80%99s-practices-and-procedures-person-hearings
Federal Holiday - Memorial Day
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, May 30th, in observance of Memorial Day.
Judge Blumenstiel's Notice of Unavailability
Please be advised that the Honorable Hannah L. Blumenstiel will not be available on Friday, May 20, 2022 through and including Monday, May 30, 2022.
Attachment:
HLB Notice of Unavailability (20 May - 30 May 2022).pdf NEW Second Amended General Order 37, Abrogation of Amended General Order 37
This order rescinds Amended Interim Bankruptcy Rule 1020, and the use of amended Official Forms 101, 122A-1, 122B-1, 122C-1, and 201 in this Court.
Amended Bankruptcy Local Rule 1001-2(a) as it pertains to Amended Civil Local Rule 79-4
Effective November 1, 2021, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California amended its Civil Local Rules (“Civil L.R.”). In light of these amendments, the Bankruptcy Court has amended Bankruptcy Local Rule (B.L.R.) 1001-2(a) as it pertains to Civil L.R. 79-4. The changes incorporated into amended B.L.R. 1001-2(a) are highlighted in red below:
1001-2. Applicability of Civil Local Rules.
(a) Incorporation of Civil Local Rules. Except as hereinafter set forth or otherwise ordered by the Court, the following Civil Local Rules shall apply in all bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings:
…
- 79-4 Custody and Disposition of Exhibits and Transcripts (except that, unless ordered by the court, exhibits admitted into evidence under seal and portions of the record ordered sealed are not available for public inspection)
Amended B.L.R. 1001-2(a) has been published and takes effect immediately. Should you have any questions, you may contact the court by calling 888-821-7606 or by using the Live Chat feature on the court’s website.
UPDATED Procedures for Filing Redacted or Sealed Confidential or Highly Sensitive Documents
Attachment:
Procedures for Filing Redacted or Sealed Confidential or Highly Sensitive Documents (REDLINE VERSION).pdf CM/ECF Temporarily Unavailable on Saturday, March 5, 2022
Access to CM/ECF will be temporarily unavailable on Saturday, March 5, 2022, from 5:30 AM to 10:00 AM due to system maintenance.
CM/ECF Temporarily Unavailable on Saturday, February 26th, 2022
Access to CM/ECF will be temporarily unavailable on Saturday, February 26th, 2022, from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM due to system maintenance.
Federal Holiday - Presidents' Day
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, February 21st, in observance of Presidents' Day.
Amendment to Bankruptcy Local Rule 1017-2
1017-2. Voluntary Dismissal of Chapter 13 Cases.
A debtor who wishes to dismiss a pending chapter 13 case that has not previously been converted shall file a “Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1307(b)”. This Notice shall be executed by the debtor(s) under penalty of perjury and shall attest that the case to be dismissed has not previously been converted under 11 U.S.C. §§ 706, 1112, or 1208. At the same time that the debtor files this Notice, they shall submit an Order of Dismissal.
Judge Hammond will Reinstitute In-person/In-Courtroom Hearings
Beginning March 1, 2022 (postponed from January 18, 2022), all matters before Judge Hammond will be conducted in person, in the courtroom, unless otherwise ordered by the court. Counsel and interested parties may appear at the hearing either in person or by Zoom. Judge Hammond’s Practices and Procedures for In-Person Hearings are available at https://www.canb.uscourts.gov/procedure/hammond/judge-hammond%E2%80%99s-...
United States Trustee Program has Updated UST Form 11-MORs and UST Form 11-PCRs
On June 21, 2021, the United States Trustee Program’s rule entitled Uniform Periodic Reports in Cases Filed Under Chapter 11 of Title 11, published at 28 C.F.R. § 58.8 (the “Final Rule”) became effective. The Final Rule requires that chapter 11 debtors-in-possession and trustees, other than in small business and subchapter V cases, file monthly operating reports and post-confirmation reports using streamlined, data-embedded, uniform forms in every judicial district where the U.S. Trustee Program operates.
The United States Trustee Program has posted on its website updated versions of the UST Form 11-MOR, Monthly Operating Reports (“MOR”) and UST Form 11-PCR, Post-confirmation Reports (“PCR”), that should be used for all reports filed after that date. Designed to improve the overall user experience, the updates will streamline the process of embedding data on the forms by using standard PDF bar-code technology. The updates do not impact the information required to be reported on the MORs and PCRs.
To obtain important information related to periodic reporting under the Final Rule, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ust/chapter-11-operating-reports. While at that webpage, please subscribe to the “Chapter 11 Operating Reports E-mail Updates” feature to automatically receive future email updates about the forms and periodic reporting under the Final Rule.
Changes to Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and Official Bankruptcy Form 122B
Effective December 1, 2021:
Bankruptcy Rules 2005, 3007, 7007.1, and 9036 have been amended. For rule changes click the following link: https://www.uscourts.gov/rules-policies/current-rules-practice-procedure
In addition, Official Form 122B has been updated. For the form change, click the following link: https://www.uscourts.gov/rules-policies/pending-rules-and-forms-amendments/pending-changes-bankruptcy-forms
Federal Holiday - Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Monday, January 17th, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday.
NEW Eighth Amended General Order 38, Matters Pending in the Northern District of California
Judge Blumenstiel's Notice of Unavailability
Please be advised that the Honorable Hannah L. Blumenstiel will not be available on Thursday, December 23, 2021 through and including Friday, January 7, 2022.
Attachment:
Blumenstiel Notice of Unavailability (23 December 2021 - 7 January 2022).pdf Federal Holiday - New Years Day
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Friday, December 31st, in observance of New Years Day.
Judicial Council of California Adopts Emergency Rules
On April 6, 2020, the Judicial Council of California adopted Emergency Rules intended to address issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. These Emergency Rules took effect on April 6, 2020 and some of them pertain to unlawful detainer actions and judicial foreclosure actions. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California has posted the Emergency Rules here for informational purposes only. All parties and counsel should understand that the Judicial Council’s Emergency Rules neither govern nor restrict the power of Bankruptcy Judges to decide matters based upon the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and Rules, nor do they provide a doctrinal basis to enlarge a Bankruptcy Judge’s powers to decide matters before them.
Attachment:
CA Rules of Court (Emergency Rules Adopted and Eff. Apr. 6, 2020) ONLINE PAYMENTS using Pay.gov
IMPORTANT: Do not use to pay Chapter 13 plan payments to the trustee or Chapter 11 quarterly fees to the trustee.
You can pay filing fees and make installment payments for Chapter 7, 11, and 13 cases. You can also pay other fees such as searches, copies, exemplifications, and certifications.
Please call the Clerk's Office at (888) 821-7606, in advance, to verify the fee amount.
Use the following link: https://pay.gov/public/form/start/1130342985
CM/ECF Temporarily Unavailable on Sunday, December 26, 2021
Access to CM/ECF will be temporarily unavailable on Sunday, December 26, 2021, from 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM due to system maintenance.
Federal Holiday - Thanksgiving
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on November 25th and 26th, in observance of Thanksgiving.
Federal Holiday - Veterans Day
All divisions of the Bankruptcy Court will be closed on Thursday, November 11th, in observance of Veterans Day.