The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and following all recommended guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maryland Department of Health.The Bankruptcy Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland have issued orders limiting operations, suspending various proceedings, and extending certain deadlines.
Courhouse Operations / Emergency Matters
The Clerk’s office remains open to the public through telephone access and the drop boxes located in each courthouse’s lobby. Drop box hours are 9:00 a.m. until midnight in Baltimore and 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. in Greenbelt. CM/ECF will continue to be available for electronic filings. Any emergency matters, including first day motions as necessary, should be filed consistent with past practice and brought to the attention of the courtroom deputy for the presiding judge or the clerk of court.
All in-court proceedings in the Greenbelt Division are temporarily suspended until further order of the Court. All emergency bankruptcy matters arising in the Greenbelt Division shall be heard in Baltimore unless the presiding judge orders otherwise.
Deadlines
“Filing deadlines” that expire between March 16, 2020 and June 5, 2020 have, in most instances, been extended, with certain important exceptions. Please refer to the Court’s Current Operational Status for a summary of the filing deadline extensions as set forth, or explained, in:
- USDC Standing Order 2020-11
- USDC Standing Order 2020-07
- USBC Admin. Order 20-09
- USBC Admin. Order 20-10
- USBC Memorandum Providing Guidance on Deadlines
Additional Operational Information / Orders
For more complete information on the Court’s operations during the Covid-19 pandemic, please refer to the following links:
- USDC Phase One Recovery Order
- USDC Phase One Recovery Plan Attachment
- Current Operational Status of Bankruptcy Court (as of April 27, 2020)
- Information for Parties Without an Attorney
- Electronic Document Submission System Pilot Program
- Administrative Orders / Standing Orders
- Notices Regarding 341 Meetings of Creditors
Court Locations
Notice of Vacancy, Case Administrator I, The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland
Please click here to view the Notice of Vacancy from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, Greenbelt Division.
Passing of The Honorable James F. Schneider
It is with great sadness that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland announces that the Honorable James F. Schneider passed away on April 6, 2020 at his residence. Judge Schneider retired from the Bench on May 9, 2017, after more than 35 years of dedicated service to the Court. He was immediately recalled and continued to serve as a recalled Bankruptcy Judge until his passing. Judge Schneider was a tremendous public servant, a highly respected jurist, always kind, and loved by all. A Memorial Service will be conducted virtually on Wednesday, April 15. Information on how to view that service can be found in the Notice of Judge Schneider’s passing, available here.
Amendments to Local Bankruptcy Rules – Effective February 19, 2020
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland has approved amendments to the Court’s Local Bankruptcy Rules effective February 19, 2020. To view the Administrative Order implementing the amendments, a summary of the changes, and a redlined copy of the amended rules, please click here.
Small Business Reorganization Act – Resources and Materials
The Court has created a Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (SBRA) resources webpage. The webpage can be accessed here or by clicking on SBRA Materials under the For Attorneys tab on the Court’s website. Additional resources and materials and optional Forms related to the SBRA will be posted on this page when they are finalized.
Notice of Proposed Amendments to Local Bankruptcy Rules
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 February 11, 2020. If adopted, the amended Local Bankruptcy Rules will go into effect on February 19, 2020.