Under § 921(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, the chief judge of the court of appeals designates the bankruptcy judge to administer the case. This page provides resources regarding the designation of the bankruptcy judge in a Chapter 9 case, including general guidance for the bankruptcy clerk of court in requesting the designation of a bankruptcy judge from the court of appeals, CM/ECF event codes needed for the designation, a sample request and order for designation, and requests and designation orders used in a selection of cases.

At the request of the Advisory Committee on Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, the Center collected and reviewed local bankruptcy rules regarding signatures of non-registrants of CM/ECF (e.g., debtors) and requirements for retention of documents bearing original handwritten signatures of non-registrants. Staff also reviewed district court rules regarding signatures and retention, reviewed an OMB document on the use of electronic signatures in federal transactions, and solicited the views of interested parties regarding potential rules changes in these areas.

This manual provides trial judges a handbook on managing civil cases. It sets out a wide array of case-management techniques, beginning with early case screening and concluding with steps for streamlining trials and final disposition. It also discusses a number of special topics, including pro se and high visibility cases, the role of staff, and automated programs that supports case management. This new edition incorporates statutory and rules changes and contains updated advice on electronic case management, electronic discovery, and ways of containing costs and expediting cases.