Bankruptcy News

1. Chief Justice Names Conference Committee Chairs

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

2. Judiciary Still Operating as Shutdown Starts

   Despite a federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1, the Judiciary remains open and will continue paid operations through Friday, Oct. 17, by using court fee balances and other funds not dependent on a new appropriation.

3. Judiciary Budget Crisis Could Worsen, Conference Is Told

   The Judiciary’s funding shortfalls could get worse in the coming year, and the effects would be especially severe if federal courts must operate under another full-year continuing resolution, the Judiciary’s policy-making body was told.

4. National Initiative Opens Doors to Next Generation of Court Professionals

   Federal judges are introducing young people to the Judiciary and sparking their interest in a range of careers in the courts – beyond the roles of judges and lawyers – through a national initiative called Open Doors to Careers in the Courts. A new video shows the approach, which starts with students visiting courthouses to interact with court professionals and experience the job functions that keep the wheels of justice turning.

5. New Supreme Court Fellows Begin Term

   Four new U.S. Supreme Court Fellows are set to begin their 2025-2026 fellowships in September.

6. Law Students Guide Tomorrow’s Leaders in Novel Civics Initiative

   When U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story observed a nationwide trend showing that a troubling percentage of citizens are unaware of their rights and the role of the Judiciary, he decided to take action to address this civics deficit.

7. Cybersecurity Measures Strengthened in Light of Attacks on Judiciary’s Case Management System

   The federal Judiciary is taking additional steps to strengthen protections for sensitive case documents in response to recent escalated cyberattacks of a sophisticated and persistent nature on its case management system. The Judiciary is also further enhancing security of the system and to block future attacks, and it is prioritizing working with courts to mitigate the impact on litigants.

8. Bankruptcy Filings Rise 11.5 Percent Over Previous Year

   Personal and business bankruptcy filings rose 11.5 percent in the twelve-month period ending June 30, 2025, compared with the previous year.

9. Funding Crisis Leaves Defense Lawyers Working Without Pay

   The program that pays court-appointed private attorneys to represent indigent federal criminal defendants has run out of money, starting the clock on a painful three-month delay in paying these attorneys and their related service providers for constitutionally mandated legal work.

10. 2024 Wiretap Report: Intercepts and Convictions Rise

    Federal and state courts reported a combined 9 percent increase in authorized wiretaps in 2024, compared with 2023, according to the Judiciary’s 2024 Wiretap Report.