COURT OPERATIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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.
Courthouse Operations / Emergency Matters
The Court is operating in Phase 3 of its recovery plan. See USDC Standing Order 22-01 for current masking requirements in the courthouse. All persons entering the courthouse must also be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, or (for an interim period) provide a negative COVID-19 test result from a test administered no more than 48 hours prior. See this Memorandum regarding the Court's Vaccination Policy and USDC Standing Order 2021-15 and USDC Amended Standing Order 2021-16 for more details on requirements to enter the courthouse, including the waiting period following a COVID-19 diagnosis or contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.
Most hearings in Bankruptcy Court are being conducted as video conferences on the ZoomGov platform, unless the parties are otherwise notified. Any parties seeking to have their matter heard “in person” should contact the presiding Judge’s courtroom deputy or chambers, copying all pertinent parties.
Public Intake Open – The Clerk’s Office public intake counters are open Monday through Friday (except for federal holidays) from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Clerk’s Office also remains open to the public through telephone access and the after-hours drop boxes located in the lobby of each courthouse. Drop box hours are Monday through Friday, from 4:00 p.m. until midnight in Baltimore and from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in Greenbelt. The Electronic Document Submission System Pilot Program (EDSS) is also available to self-represented parties who need to file documents with the court as an alternative to mailing or bringing the documents to the courthouse. 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.
Additional Information / Orders
For additional information, please refer to the following links:
- Virtual Hearings Access Information and Resources
- Court Vaccination Policy
- Employee Vaccination Policy
- USDC Standing Order 2022-01
- USDC Amended Standing Order 2021-16
- USDC Standing Order 2021-15
- USDC Amended Standing Order 2021-07 (superseded by Standing Order 2021-15)
- Current Operational Status of Bankruptcy Court (as of January 3, 2022)
- Informational Notice Regarding Emergency Rental Assistance Programs
- Information for Parties Without an Attorney
- Administrative Orders / Standing Orders
- Notices Regarding 341 Meetings of Creditors
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U.S. Bankruptcy Court
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 21-01
Rescinding Administrative Order 20-02 and Amended Administrative Order 20-06.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-16
Rescinding Administrative Order 20-09.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-15
Rescinding Administrative Order 20-10.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-14
Rescinding Administrative Order 20-08 and Administrative Order 20-04.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-13
Authorizing as presumptively reasonable certain attorneys’ fees in Chapter 13 cases related to work necessitated by the COVID-19 Pandemic, as a supplement to Appendix F of the Local Bankruptcy Rules.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-12
Authorizing implementation of the pilot Electronic Document Submission System (EDSS).U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-10
Addressing the modification of confirmed plans pursuant to the CARES Act and expedited treatment of Chapter 13 motions to suspend plan payments or to vacate wage orders.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-09
Setting deadlines for certain motions and applications.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-08
Addressing the temporary suspension of courtesy copy deliveries.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-07
Addressing the prohibition against recording telephonic or video hearings.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-05
Addressing signatures on electronic filings.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Administrative Order 20-04
Addressing Greenbelt Division operations.U.S. Bankruptcy Court Memorandum
Addressing the continuation of hearings/extension of filing deadlines in USDC Standing Order 2020-05. -
U.S. District Court
U.S. District Court Standing Order 2022-01
U.S. District Court Amended Standing Order 2021-16
U.S. District Court Standing Order 2021-15
U.S. District Court Standing Order 2021-10
U.S. District Court Amended Standing Order 2021-07 (superseded by Standing Order 2021-15)
U.S. District Court Standing Order 2021-01
U.S. District Court Standing Order 2020-20
U.S. District Court Phase Three Recovery Order
U.S. District Court Phase Three Recovery Plan Attachment
U.S. District Court Amended Standing Order 2020-18
U.S. District Court Standing Order 2020-11
U.S. District Court Standing Order 2020-09
U.S. District Court Standing Order 2020-07
U.S. District Court Pandemic Procedures Discovery Order