The current term of United States Bankruptcy Judge David E. Rice expires on March 31, 2025.  The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is considering the reappointment of Judge Rice to a new 14-year term of office.

Members of the bar and concerned citizens are invited to comment on whether the incumbent bankruptcy judge should be reappointed.  Interested parties wishing to provide comments can participate in a survey or submit written comments may be sent to James N. Ishida, Circuit Executive,  via email at [email protected].  The deadline for submitting comments via email or survey is 5:00 p.m. EDT on October 3, 2024.  Click here to see the Notice.

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland has approved for publication and public comment amendments to the Court’s Local Bankruptcy Rules.  Please click here for a summary of the proposed changes, a redline copy of the amendments, and instructions on how to submit comments. Comments on the proposed revised rules should be submitted on or before October 8, 2024.  If adopted, the amended Local Bankruptcy Rules will go into effect on December 1, 2024.

CM/ECF users please be aware the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland has recently discovered that CM/ECF infrequently but erroneously reuses a transaction ID for two unrelated case transactions, which may interfere with the proper docketing of a filing.  When this happens the filer gets an unusual message from CM/ECF that appears to indicate a filing has been accepted, but reports two separate case numbers. If users receive this unusual ECF message they must check the docket sheet to confirm that the intended transaction was docketed, and resubmit the transaction if it does not appear on the docket sheet.  For more information including a screen shot of the ECF message at issue, click here.

Amendments to Bankruptcy Rules 3011, 8003, 9006, and new Rule 9038 are effective December 1, 2023. The text of the amended rules and new rule and the accompanying committee notes can be viewed here.  In addition, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland has approved amendments effective December 1, 2023, to the Court’s Local Bankruptcy Rules and Appendices D, F, G, H and J.  To view the Administrative Order implementing the amendments, a summary of the changes, and a redlined copy of the amended local rules, please click here.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland is pleased to introduce COURTney, the Court’s new chatbot.  COURTney is located on the Court’s public website and visible when viewing any page on the website.  COURTney not only provides relevant information when users click on buttons in the chat (e.g., list of fees, forms, filing information, etc.), but during regular business hours it will enable users to chat directly with Clerk’s Office staff members.