Judge Hammond's Open Calendar Procedure

Revised: 
Friday, September 1, 2023

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SAN JOSE DIVISION
OPEN CALENDAR PROCEDURE

     The San Jose Division uses an open calendar procedure for the scheduling of certain matters. This procedure allows counsel to self-select a designated date and time on the appropriate San Jose Division judge’s calendar and serve notice of that date and time without first having to obtain the date and time from the courtroom deputy.

     The court encourages all parties to set matters using the open calendar procedure whenever possible. The designated dates are set forth on the Court’s website. The courtroom deputy for each judge will be available by telephone and email to schedule hearings not available for setting on the open calendar, or as needed for emergency matters.

San Jose Division
280 South First Street, Ctrm. 11
San Jose, CA

Anna Rosales, Courtroom Deputy
408-278-7581
Anna_Rosales@canb.uscourts.gov

1. Types of proceedings that may be set in accordance with the open calendar procedure:


Motions for Relief from Stay:

• Motions for Relief from Stay before Judge Hammond are heard on designated Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. in Courtroom 11.

Chapter 7 and 11 cases:

• Main case motions in Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 cases are heard on the Law and Motion calendar on designated Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 11. This includes hearings on final accounts, fee applications and Chapter 11 disclosure statement hearings.


Chapter 13 cases:

• Motions in a Chapter 13 main case are heard on the Law and Motion calendar on designated Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 11. This includes hearings on contested and uncontested confirmation.


Adversary Proceedings:

• Motions in adversary proceedings are heard on designated Mondays at 11:00 a.m. in Courtroom 11.


2. The open calendar procedure is not available for the following:


• Initial case management conferences in adversary proceedings.
• Plan confirmation hearings in chapter 11 cases.
• Initial status conferences in chapter 11 cases.
• Trials in adversary proceedings.
• Matters set by the court pursuant to an order to show cause.
• Hearings on reaffirmation agreements.
• Any matter requiring an order shortening time.

Any request that the Court should consider a matter on shortened time must be presented in an Application for an Order Shortening Time. Such Applications must comply with B.L.R. 9006-1 and Rule 9006(c). The underlying motion and supporting documents should be filed on the docket prior to the Application being filed. In addition, such Applications should include a proposed briefing schedule and a proposed hearing date and time. The Applicant must support the Application with a declaration detailing the efforts to meet and confer with all affected parties concerning an abbreviated schedule and expedited hearing date. [BLR 9006-1(c)(4)] Generally, these are considered without a hearing. A courtesy call to advise the court of such filing is appreciated.


3. Procedure:

a. In order to utilize the open calendar procedure, counsel should select an available date and time which can be viewed at the end of this page by opening the attached pdf. The date selected must be no earlier than as required by applicable national or local rules, as nothing in this open calendar procedure alters applicable time limits.

b. After selecting an available date and time, counsel should serve proper notice of the matter in accordance with applicable rules. Note: If a hearing on a motion for relief from stay is set in accordance with this open calendar procedure more than thirty days after the date the motion is filed, the party will be deemed to have waived the thirty-day limitation of 11 U.S.C. § 362(e).

c. Counsel should provide chambers with copies of all appropriate papers in accordance with Judge Hammond’s chambers copies policy, which can be viewed at: https://www.canb.uscourts.gov/procedure/hammond/judge-hammonds-policy-chambers-copies

d. Once a matter is set by the open calendar procedure, with the exception of certain matters in adversary proceedings or matters noticed to all creditors, continuances may be handled through the Judge's Courtroom Deputy, Anna Rosales, by telephone at 408-278-7581 or by email at Anna_Rosales@canb.uscourts.gov. A minimum of 24 hours for any continuance is encouraged. Counsel must receive email or telephonic confirmation of a continuance from the courtroom deputy. Written stipulations and a proposed order are required for continuance of all case management conferences, pre-trials and scheduled trials. Matters noticed to all creditors must be continued on seven days’ written notice or in open court.

e. Counsel must not request that the courtroom deputy call back to confirm that the matter has been placed on the calendar. Counsel desiring confirmation that a matter has been placed on the calendar by the open calendar procedure should review the calendar on the bankruptcy court's website.

f. Failure to comply with the foregoing open calendar procedure will result in the matter not being placed on calendar.

Note: Occasionally there may be a need to reschedule matters that have been placed on the calendar in accordance with this open calendar procedure. Typically, this will be because of calendar congestion or unforeseen schedule changes. In those instances, the courtroom deputy will contact the moving party as soon as possible so that a notice of a rescheduled hearing may be disseminated.