Bankruptcy News

1. Facing Fiscal Crises, Judicial Conference Charted Steady Course

   Over the last 25 years, the federal Judiciary has faced several fiscal emergencies, including sequestration and two government shutdowns. Each event illustrates how the Judicial Conference of the United States has transformed the way federal courts manage their finances.

2. New Americans Celebrated at Stadium Naturalization

   Football fans cheered when a federal judge welcomed 16 immigrants from nine countries as new United States citizens, during a November 13 naturalization ceremony hosted before a Los Angeles Rams game.

3. New Database Eases Release of Judges’ Finance Reports

   A new free public database of federal judges’ financial disclosure reports (FDRs), including periodic transaction reports (PTRs), was launched today by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

4. Bankruptcy Filings Continue to Fall

   Personal and business bankruptcy filings fell 11.7 percent for the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, 2022. Filings continued a fall that coincided with the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

5. New Courthouse in Nashville Maintains Classical Look with Enhanced Security

   A dedication ceremony at the new courthouse will mark the conclusion of a nearly 25-year effort to secure funding to build a safer and more welcoming space for those visiting the federal court in the Middle District of Tennessee.

6. AO Director Updates Congress on Progress in Case Management Technology Modernization

   In a letter to key members of Congress on Wednesday, the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) detailed efforts underway to modernize the Judiciary’s electronic case management system, including replacing Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), the public interface for accessing court records.

7. Chief Justice Names Conference Committee Chairs

   Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., has named six new chairs of Judicial Conference committees and extended the term of five current chairs by one year.

8. 9/11, Weather Disasters Spurred Courts to Stay Open in All Crises

   September 11, was the first of several national emergencies that have challenged the Judicial Conference in the last 25 years. Although the immediate result was confusion, the terrorist attack had a profound and lasting impact on how the Judiciary operates today.

9. Judge Cathy Bissoon Never Let Circumstances Limit Her

   U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon grew up in an impoverished New York City neighborhood in the 1970s, believing in the American Dream. Her parents, immigrants of Hispanic and East Indian descent, instilled in her the value of hard work and perseverance.

10. Judges Welcome New and Native-Born Citizens to Celebrate the Constitution

    Federal judges are taking part in a monthlong celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, presiding over special naturalization ceremonies at sports stadiums and local landmarks, leading public readings of the Constitution, and conducting civics education conversations with students.