Announcement Archive

The Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) is experiencing a nationwide service outage that has prevented the delivery of paper and electronic notices since Friday, October 9, 2026. This outage also impacts related websites including bnc.uscourts.gov, bankruptcynotices.uscourts.gov, notices.uscourts.gov websites, and the NCRS (National Creditor Registration Service) website that supports generating lists of creditors. The Court will provide further updates as information becomes available.

The Court will be closed on Monday, October 12, 2026 in observance of Columbus Day.

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 receiving 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 requests must be received via email no later than Friday, June 26 2026 at 5:00pm PDT.

To all parties interested in attending the plan confirmation hearings for the Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland Chapter 11 case, Case No. 23-40523-WJL, on Monday June 15, 2026 and Tuesday June 16, 2026:

The Court anticipates potentially high public interest in the plan confirmation hearings for the Chapter 11 case of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Oakland.  The plan confirmation hearings are open to the public and to the extent that space is available in courtrooms 215 and 220, spectators may attend and observe the proceedings. The Court’s usual security requirements will be observed for all visitors, including parties and their attorneys, as well as members of the public wishing to attend and observe the proceedings. All attendees will be required to access the courtrooms and other court facilities via the security portal and via the screening mechanisms located in the lobby of the second floor at 1300 Clay Street, Oakland, CA, and to obey any requests and adhere to any requirements imposed by the Court Security Officers with responsibility for maintaining such procedures.  In order to lessen the burden on parties attending the proceeding, their counsel, and members of the public, members of the public who are not participating in the trial but who wish to observe the hearings will be admitted through security only between 8:30 a.m. PDT and 9:15 a.m. PDT.  The public will be admitted to the extent that the courtrooms have available seating capacity.   Members of the public are advised that the hearings will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. PDT on both days and will conclude at approximately 4:30 p.m. PDT.

General Order 47 - Assignment of Bankruptcy Cases; and Abrogation of First Amended General Order 33, General Order 46, and Partial Abrogation of Order For Reassignment of Cases in the San Jose Division dated July 1, 2015

The Bankruptcy Judges of the Northern District of California announce the pending retirement of Chief Judge Emeritus Charles Novack. He will leave the court on May 15, 2026. The court expresses its sincere gratitude to Judge Novack for sixteen years of faithful service, including his significant contributions to the education of the bankruptcy bar of this district.

Effective April 15, 2026, Judge Novack will cease receiving new case assignments.  Cases filed on or after April 15, 2026, in the Oakland, Santa Rosa and San Francisco Divisions will be assigned to Judges Dennis Montali, William J. Lafferty, and Hannah L. Blumenstiel.

Effective May 15, 2026, the Court will issue an order reassigning cases pending before Judge Novack to other judges of the district.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for three (3) Bankruptcy Judgeships for the Northern District of California. The official duty stations for these positions are one in San Francisco, California, and two in San Jose, California. Please visit the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals website for more information.