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News & Announcements
Check this page, or the News and Announcements box on the homepage, for the latest official news and announcements released by the court. You can also access archived news and announcements from this page.
Thu, 12/10/2020
General Order 20-03 amends LBR 2083-1 effective December 3, 2020. The new rule may be accessed by clicking...
Mon, 12/07/2020
The Ninth Circuit hosts an annual essay and video contest open to high school students in the Western United States...
Mon, 11/16/2020
The Judicial Conference approved adjustments to the Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule (28 U.S.C. § 1930) to take effect on December 1, 2020. The approved...
Fri, 11/06/2020
The Advisory Committee has recommended an amendment to local bankruptcy rule LBR 2083-1. The redline version of the affected rule can be found here.
Please...
Tue, 11/03/2020
The Honorable Whitman L. Holt has been appointed Chief Bankruptcy Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington, effective November 2, 2020. Judge Holt was appointed a United States Bankruptcy Judge on...
Mon, 11/02/2020
According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, personal and business bankruptcy filings fell 21.1 percent for the 12-month period ending Sept. 30,...
Mon, 08/31/2020
The U.S. Trustee Program has extended its requirement that section 341 meetings be conducted by telephone to the date that is 60 days after the expiration of the President's "...
Thu, 08/13/2020
The Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules has published proposed amendments to the following rules: Restyled Rules Parts I and II; Rules 1007, 1020, 2009, 2012,...
Wed, 07/29/2020
The Administrative Office for the U.S. Courts reports bankruptcy case filings fell 11.8 percent for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2020, compared with the year ending...
Wed, 07/29/2020
General Order 20-02 amends LBR 2002-1, 3016-1, 3017-1, 3022-1, 7055-1, and 9004-1 and adds LBR 9014-1 and 9033-1 effective August 1, 2020. The new rules may be accessed by clicking...
Mon, 06/29/2020
On June 28, 2020, the Judiciary launched a redesigned PACER information website, https://pacer.uscourts.gov
The website provides information about how the public can access federal court records...
Tue, 06/23/2020
The Advisory Committee has recommended amendments to six local bankruptcy rules and adoption of two new local bankruptcy rules. Redline versions of the affected rules can be found...
Mon, 06/22/2020
Effective June 30, 2020, CM/ECF users will be required to run the Judge/Trustee assignment program in CM/ECF when filing a Chapter 7 case. The counties affected by this change are...
Fri, 06/12/2020
The United States Trustee is extending the requirement that 341 meetings be conducted by telephone to all cases filed through October 10, 2020. Additional information about special circumstances and in-person meetings is available on the USTR...
Fri, 04/24/2020
A Notice of Mortgage Forbearance event has been added to CM/ECF to allow attorneys and parties to file notice pursuant to the CARES Act, Section 4022.
The filing event can be found on two menus:
Bankruptcy Events → Claims – Misc...
Thu, 04/16/2020
Payment of court fees (filing fees and installment payments, copies, recordings of hearings, etc.) may now be paid online via debit card, PayPal, or ACH (electronic payment from a bank account); To make a payment click...
Mon, 04/13/2020
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The Cares Act requires one-year amendments to five official forms (Official Forms 101, 201, 122A-1, 122B and 122C-1) to account for a new...
Wed, 03/25/2020
The meetings originally scheduled for the week of March 16 have been continued to the week of March 30 and will be held telephonically. The United States Trustee is providing a...
Mon, 03/23/2020
On March 16, 2020, the Office of the United States Trustee issued a notice that all in-person section 341 meetings were continued to a later date, unless telephonic or other alternative means of conducting the meeting were arranged which did not...
Thu, 03/19/2020
Civics Contest Deadline Extended
Do you have teenagers at home with nothing to do? Good news! The deadline for the Civics Contest is now extended to April 15th. This would be a great time for teenagers to research one of our most...
Tue, 03/17/2020
Effective March 18, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court’s facilities in Spokane and Yakima will be closed. Employees are teleworking and available to assist users via telephone from 8:30...
Mon, 03/16/2020
The United States Trustee has announced the following: Effective immediately, all in-person chapter 7, 12, and 13 section 341 meetings scheduled through April 10, 2020, are hereby continued until a later date to be determined. Absent special...
Wed, 03/04/2020
The Bankruptcy Court is pleased to announce a new version of the ChapMobile app. ChapMobile is a free app that shows the court’s hearing calendars, organized by judge. In addition, view 341 Meetings and quickly search for attorneys, debtors, and...
Wed, 02/26/2020
The Administrative Office for the U.S. Courts reports bankruptcy filings increased slightly for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2019, compared with calendar year 2018. It was the second straight quarter that bankruptcy filings rose, after...
Wed, 02/26/2020
The Eastern District of Washington Bankruptcy Court now offers an interactive statistics dashboard showing real-time filing and closing data in chapters 7, 11, 13 and adversary proceedings. In addition to the dashboard, the statistics webpage has...
Thu, 02/06/2020
The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (“SBRA”) is effective February 19, 2020. The SBRA creates a new subchapter V of chapter 11 for the reorganization of small business debtors. To aid in the implementation of the SBRA, the Judicial...
Mon, 01/27/2020
The Poverty Guidelines, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and used for considering applications to proceed in forma pauperis, have been updated for 2020. View the 2020 Poverty Guidelines...
Wed, 01/22/2020
The Judicial Conference of the United States, at its September 17, 2019 session, amended the Electronic Public Access Fee Schedule. The fee schedule was amended to increase the quarterly threshold for waiving Public Access to Court Electronic...
Thu, 01/02/2020
The right to vote is one of our democracy’s most cherished civil rights. Voting is how we choose our leaders and express our support or opposition to government policies. The year 2020 marks the anniversary of the ratification of the 15th...
Wed, 12/04/2019
The following amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure took effect on December 1, 2019:
- Rule 4001 Relief from Automatic Stay; Prohibiting or Conditioning the Use, Sale, or Lease of Property; Use of Cash Collateral,...
Fri, 11/01/2019
SAN FRANCISCO — Whitman L. Holt has been appointed as the next judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington. He begins his 14-year...
Tue, 10/29/2019
The United States Department of Justice, Office of the United States Trustee, seeks resumes from persons wishing to be considered for inclusion in a pool of trustees who may be...
Wed, 10/16/2019
On February 19, 2020, the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019, P.L. 116-54 (SBRA) will go into effect - long before the normal three-year rules amendment process runs its course. As a temporary measure, the Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy...
Thu, 10/10/2019
Effective November 1, 2019, the telephonic conference hearing line for Judge Whitman L. Holt will be 1-877-402-9757, Access Code 7036041.
Fri, 10/04/2019
The comment period for proposed revisions to Bankruptcy Rules 2005 (Apprehension and Removal of Debtor to Compel Attendance for Examination), 3007 (Objections to...
Tue, 09/24/2019
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for the position of Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Idaho. The position will become available on or after August 1, 2020, however, the...
Fri, 09/13/2019
The Spokane Chapter 13 Trustee's Office administers bankruptcy plans that are filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court under Chapter 13. The office is seeking a Staff Attorney with bankruptcy experience. Duties include representing the Trustee at...
Fri, 08/02/2019
General Order 19-01 amends LBR 2082-1, 2083-1, 3016-1, and 9070-1 effective August 1, 2019. The new rules may be accessed by clicking here. A redline version of...
Thu, 08/01/2019
Bankruptcy filings fell 0.3 percent for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2019, according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. For the year ending June 2019, annual bankruptcy filings totaled 773,361,...
Tue, 07/30/2019
The ABJA is sponsoring a Certified Bankruptcy Assistant (CBA) Seminar and Exam on October 8 & 9, along with a Professional Skills Seminar on October 10 & 11, in Spokane, Washington. Details and registration information may be viewed...
Mon, 07/08/2019
The Advisory Committee has recommended amendments to four local bankruptcy rules. Redline versions of the affected rules can be found here.
...
Tue, 04/23/2019
Statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts show that nationally, bankruptcy filings fell by 0.9 percent for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2019, compared with the year ending March 31, 2018. The March 2019 annual...
Fri, 03/08/2019
On April 1, 2019, automatic adjustments to the dollar amounts stated in various provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and one provision in Title 28 of the United States Code will become effective. The adjusted dollar amounts will apply to cases filed...
Wed, 01/30/2019
The Administrative Office for the U.S. Courts reports bankruptcy case filings fell 2 percent for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2018, compared with calendar year 2017. According to newly released data, 773,418 cases were filed in 2018,...
Tue, 01/29/2019
The Poverty Guidelines, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and used for considering applications to proceed in forma pauperis, have been updated for 2019. View the 2019 Poverty Guidelines...
Wed, 01/16/2019
The United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Washington, is pleased to offer the ChapMobile court calendar app to all court users.
Developed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Utah, ChapMobile provides a fast and easy...
Fri, 11/30/2018
The following amended rules and forms will become effective on December 1, 2018:
Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Practice 3002.1, 5005, 7004, 7062, 8002, 8006, 8007, 8010, 8011, 8013, 8015, 8016, 8017, 8021, 8022, 9025, new Rule 8018.1 and new...
Tue, 11/13/2018
According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, national bankruptcy case filings fell 2.2% for the 12-month period ending September 30, 2018,...
Fri, 10/26/2018
The Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules has published proposed amendments to Bankruptcy Rules 2002(f), (h), and (k) (Notices), 2004(c) (Examination), and 8012 (Corporate Disclosure Statement). The proposed amendments are...
Wed, 09/26/2018
With the upgrade to NextGen on October 1, 2018, there will be a change in the processing of filing fees at case opening. Filers will be required to submit payment after each case...
Wed, 09/19/2018
On October 1, 2018, the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington will implement a new version of the Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) System. The new system is titled "NextGen". NextGen simplifies electronic filing...
Tue, 09/11/2018
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for the position of Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Washington. The duty station is Yakima, WA. This position will be available on or...
Fri, 08/31/2018
The court will be upgrading its Electronic Case Filing (ECF) system to NextGen at the end of September. Electronic services (ECF, PACER and McVCIS) will be unavailable from Friday, September 28, 2018 at 4:30 PM through Sunday, September 30, 2018...
Tue, 08/28/2018
At its March 2018 session, the Judicial Conference approved a new fee for providing copies of records in electronic form when those records are not stored in the Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system or available on the Public...
Wed, 08/01/2018
General Order 18-01 amends LBR 2016-1 and LBR 2083-1, effective August 1, 2018. The new rules may be accessed by clicking here. A redline version of the rules may...
Fri, 06/15/2018
The Advisory Committee has recommended amendments to two local bankruptcy rules. Redline versions of the affected rules can be found here.
...Mon, 06/04/2018
The Eastern District of Washington Bankruptcy Bar Association will hold its 28th Annual Bankruptcy Seminar and Retreat June 15-16, 2018, at Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop, Washington. Please see the attached...
Thu, 05/10/2018
The 12th Annual Federal and Civil Trial Practice Seminar will be held on Friday, May 18, 2018, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building Public Auditorium, 825 Jadwin Avenue, Richland, Washington. Six CLE credits...
Thu, 05/03/2018
According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, national bankruptcy case filings fell 1.8% during the 12-month period ending March 31, 2018, compared to the previous year. Bankruptcy filings as of March...
Wed, 03/07/2018
The 12th Annual Federal Civil Trial Practice Seminar will be held on Friday, May 18, 2018, in the Richland U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building, 825 Jadwin Avenue, Richland, Washington. Click...
Thu, 01/25/2018
According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, national bankruptcy case filings fell 0.7% for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2017, compared to the previous year. This is the smallest one-year...
Mon, 01/22/2018
The Poverty Guidelines, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and used for considering applications to proceed in forma pauperis, have been updated for 2018. View the 2018 Poverty Guidelines...
Tue, 01/09/2018
The theme for this year’s essay and video contest is “The 14th Amendment - 150 Years after Ratification – What Does Equal Protection Mean to Students?” The top three finishers in the essay...
Mon, 11/13/2017
The following amended rules and modified forms will become effective on December 1, 2017:
Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Practice 1001, 1006, 1015, 2002, 3002, 3007, 3012, 3015, 3015.1 (new), 4003, 5009, 7001 and 9009. Local Bankruptcy Rule...
Fri, 11/03/2017
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington has adopted a new Local Form 2083 – Chapter 13 Plan, which becomes effective December 1, 2017. The form is available on the court’s website at...
Wed, 11/01/2017
According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, national bankruptcy case filings fell 1.8% for the 12-month period ending September 30, 2017, compared to the previous year. This is the lowest one-year...
Wed, 08/09/2017
Local Bankruptcy Rule 1009-1 outlines the procedure for amending Voluntary Petitions, schedules, lists and statements. When a schedule is amended to include additional creditors or equity security holders,...
Wed, 08/02/2017
Corrections have been made to pages 5-6 of the court’s newly-adopted Chapter 13 Plan (LF 2083), which can be viewed here. Its use will become effective on December 1, 2017.
Tue, 08/01/2017
General Order 17-01 amends LBR 1017-4, LBR 2002-1, LBR 3007-1, LBR 5005-3, LBR 9013-1, and LBR 9019-2. The amendments to LBR 3007-1 will be effective December 1, 2017. The remainder of amended rules are effective August 1, 2017. The new rules may...
Mon, 07/31/2017
The court has adopted a new Chapter 13 Plan (LF 2083), which can be viewed here. Its use will become effective on December 1, 2017.
Thu, 07/27/2017
Kennewick Public Hospital District filed a chapter 9 bankruptcy petition on June 30, 2017. The deadline to file a Proof of Claim is December 29, 2017. To view the Notice of Deadlines for Filing Proof of Claim and access the claim form, please...
Thu, 07/27/2017
The Administrative Office for the U.S. Courts reports bankruptcy case filings fell 2.8 percent for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2017, compared with the year ending June 30, 2016. The June 2017 annual bankruptcy filings totaled 796,037,...
Fri, 06/30/2017
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Washington, invites applications from highly qualified candidates for the position of Career Law Clerk or Judicial Assistant. The position is open until filled, and is set to begin on October 1, 2017...
Thu, 06/29/2017
The Advisory Committee has recommended amendments to six local bankruptcy rules. Redline versions of the affected rules can be found here.
Please send comments to...
Thu, 06/15/2017
The court’s standing advisory committee is composed of the judges of the court, the president of the Bankruptcy Bar Association, the Clerk of Court, representatives from the office of the U.S. Attorney and U.S. Trustee, the Chapter 12 and 13...
Thu, 06/08/2017
The court has implemented a new local form, Motion for Waiver of Credit Counseling (LF 1007-3), which is available on the court’s website at www.waeb.uscourts.gov under the heading Code, Rules &...
Wed, 04/26/2017
ET Research, Inc., doing business as Positive Changes Hypnosis Centers (Beaverton, Bellevue, Boise, and Spokane), filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition on April 20, 2017. To access the Notice of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Case, please click...
Thu, 04/13/2017
This newsletter is intended to provide helpful tips, reminders and information on changes, additions and procedural revisions that affect all parties who file in our Court. To view the first edition, please click...
Fri, 03/03/2017
Effective April 1, 2017, the following new CM/ECF events must be used when initiating a deposit or disbursement of funds under 28 U.S.C. 1335.
Interpleader Deposits:
Bankruptcy Events > Motions/Applications >...
Tue, 02/14/2017
Gail B. Geiger, Acting United States Trustee for Region 18, has appointed Matthew J. Anderton to the panel of Chapter 7 trustees for the Eastern District of Washington, effective February 10, 2017. He will be appointed in cases filed in Yakima,...
Fri, 02/03/2017
Attached you will find a flyer announcing an essay and video contest open to high school students in the western United States and Pacific Islands. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern...
Tue, 01/31/2017
Updated Poverty Guidelines – The Poverty Guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and used for considering applications to proceed in forma pauperis have been updated for 2017. View the 2017 Poverty Guidelines...
Fri, 12/09/2016
General Order 16-02 amends LBR 4001-3 and LBR 7008-1, effective December 10, 2016. The new rules may be accessed by clicking here. A redline version of the rules may be accessed by...
Thu, 12/01/2016
Amendments to the following Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure are effective today:
- Rule 1010 – Service of Involuntary Petition and Summons
- Rule 1011 – Responsive Pleading or Motion in Involuntary Cases
- ...
Wed, 11/09/2016
Several Official Bankruptcy Forms will be amended effective December 1, 2016. Forms 420A and 420B (Notice of Motion or Objection and Notice of Objection to Claim) will be amended to conform to the numbering scheme of the Forms Modernization...
Tue, 11/08/2016
The Advisory Committee has recommended amendments to two local bankruptcy rules. Redline versions of the affected rules can be found here.
Please send comments to...
Mon, 11/07/2016
The Eastern District of Washington has recently added the option to receive notification of opinions through the court’s RSS Feed. Click here and subscribe to start receiving notification of opinions.
Fri, 11/04/2016
The Judicial Conference of the United States has approved inflationary adjustments to fees on the bankruptcy court miscellaneous fee schedule. Additional information on the changes can be accessed by clicking...
Tue, 11/01/2016
The Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules has proposed amendments to Bankruptcy Rule 3015 and adoption of new Rule 3015.1, which may be viewed by clicking...
Wed, 10/19/2016
As required by the E-Government Act of 2002, the court posts the written opinions of the bankruptcy judges in the Eastern District of Washington on its website. Click here to review...
Fri, 10/14/2016
The Office of the United States Trustee is seeking resumes from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to the panel of trustees who administer Chapter 7 cases. For more information click...
Thu, 10/06/2016
On October 5, 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau made the Updated Census Bureau Median Family Income Data available online.
This data...
Fri, 09/23/2016
The Federal Bar Association for the Eastern District of Washington will hold its Annual Conference and CLE on Friday, September 30, 2016 at the Yakima Convention Center. The event will also be video-streamed at the U.S. District Courthouses in...
Mon, 07/25/2016
General Order 16-01 amends LBR 2082-1 and 4001-1, effective August 1, 2016. The new rules may be accessed by clicking here. A redline version of the rules may be accessed by clicking...
Tue, 07/05/2016
The Judicial Conference Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules has published proposed amendments to Bankruptcy Rule 3015, and adoption of a new Bankruptcy Rule 3015.1. The proposed amendments and new rule are available on the U.S. Courts website...
Tue, 06/28/2016
Across the country, bankruptcy cases fell 8.5 percent for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2016, compared with the year ending March 31, 2015. The March 2016 annual bankruptcy filings totaled 833,515, compared with 911,086 cases in the year...
Mon, 06/13/2016
The Advisory Committee has recommended amendments to two local bankruptcy rules. Redline versions of the affected rules can be found here.
Please send comments to...
Fri, 06/03/2016
On May 31, 2016, General Order No. 16-1140-1 was approved by the Article III judges of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. This order establishes a Pro...
Tue, 05/31/2016
Members of the bar are invited to attend a Brown Bag CLE on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the U.S. Federal Courthouse, 6450 North Mineral Drive, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Chief United States Magistrate Judge Ronald E. Bush...
Thu, 05/19/2016
The Bankruptcy Bar Association for the Eastern District of Washington will hold its 26th Annual Bankruptcy Seminar and Retreat on June 10 & 11 at Sun Mountain Lodge, Winthrop, Washington. The featured speaker is Nancy B. Rapoport....
Wed, 03/23/2016
On April 1, 2016, automatic adjustments to the dollar amounts stated in various provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and one provision in Title 28 of the United States Code will become effective. The adjusted dollar amounts will apply to cases filed...
Fri, 02/19/2016
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for the position of Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Montana. The position will become available on or after January 31, 2017, upon the...
Fri, 02/05/2016
The Federal Bar Association is accepting applications for a Lawyer Representative position from the Eastern District of Washington to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. Lawyer Representatives are appointed by the Judges of the U.S. District...
Mon, 11/23/2015
The new bankruptcy forms approved by the Judicial Conference take effect on December 1, 2015, and govern in all proceedings in bankruptcy cases thereafter commenced and, insofar as just and practicable, all proceedings then pending.
...
Mon, 11/16/2015
Bankruptcy cases filed in federal courts for fiscal year (FY) 2015 - the 12-month period ending September 30, 2015 - totaled 860,182, down 11 percent from the 963,739 filings in FY 2014. Filings in the Eastern District of Washington for FY 15...
Mon, 11/16/2015
The December 1, 2015 effective date for The Judiciary Conference’s approved changes to Official Bankruptcy Forms is rapidly approaching. Most Official Forms will be replaced with substantially revised, reformatted and renumbered versions....