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News & Announcements: 2020

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.

07/21/2020

To limit the spread of coronavirus, Chief District Judge James D. Peterson issued an order closing the Robert W. Kastenmeier U.S. Courthouse in Madison to the general public from July 17-24, 2020.  The public notice and related order can be viewed at:  https://www.wiwd.uscourts.gov/news/temporary-court-closure

07/13/2020

Effective immediately and until further notice, the U.S. Trustee for the Western District of Wisconsin will conduct all Madison Chapter 7 § 341 Creditor Meetings remotely via ZOOM beginning with hearings scheduled on August 10, 2020.  Debtors, counsel, creditors, and parties in interest SHOULD NOT APPEAR IN PERSON.   The court has also posted specific § 341 meeting video information here.  

07/01/2020

Both the Madison and Eau Claire office of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin will be closed Friday, July 3, 2020.  Offices will reopen Monday, July 6, 2020.

06/30/2020

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin has entered General Order 2020-7 regarding Temporarily Suspending “Wet” Signature Requirement.  The general order suspends the court’s requirement that attorneys receive and maintain “wet signatures” on documents, such as Petitions, Schedules, Statements of Financial Affairs, Plans, and other similar documents until August 30, 2020, unless further extended by the court.  The general order can be found on the court’s website under Code, Rules & Fees > General Orders.  You can also view the general order here.  

06/26/2020

 Check out PACER’s newly redesigned, informational and resource website, https://pacer.uscourts.gov. The website provides information about how the public can access federal court records electronically and have easy access to PACER and PACER-related applications. New features include: Mobile friendly design; New tool to search for court-specific information; Interactive format to search frequently asked questions; Search engine has been optimized to improve content findability; JSON and XML feeds of court-specific information; and New accessibility tools. In addition, two PACER applications—Manage My Account and Registration—have new designs to create an improved user experience. Email any feedback to the PACER Service Center. 

06/17/2020

The U.S. Trustee for the Western District of Wisconsin is extending the requirement that all §341 meetings for cases filed through October 10, 2020, be conducted only through telephonic or other alternative means not requiring in-person appearances.  The specific announcement can viewed on the U.S. Trustee’s website here. The court has also posted specific §341 meeting procedures here.  

06/16/2020

In light of the continuing COVID-19 public health emergency, all bankruptcy hearings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin will be conducted either by teleconference or videoconference until at least June 30, 2020. This period may be extended by further order. Following guidance from the Judicial Conference of the United States, and under authority provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT), members of the press and public will be permitted to hear telephonic and video hearings, free of charge, to the extent practicable. Information on public and press access to telephonic or video hearings will be available in the specific case docket on PACER. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, or rebroadcasting of federal court proceedings (including those held by telephone or videoconference). Recording of a federal court proceeding held by...

06/03/2020

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin has started to receive requests for suspension of payments for chapter 13s due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  For your convenience, the court has drafted the following sample form order: Order Allowing Suspension of Payment to Chapter 13 Trustee.  You can view the sample form order here.  

05/28/2020

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin has entered General Order 2020-6 regarding Temporarily Suspending “Wet” Signature Requirement.  The general order suspends the court’s requirement that attorneys receive and maintain “wet signatures” on documents, such as Petitions, Schedules, Statements of Financial Affairs, Plans, and other similar documents until July 1, 2020, unless further extended by the court.  The general order can be found on the court’s website under Code, Rules & Fees > General Orders.  You can also view the general order here.

05/26/2020

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin has posted instructions on how to prepare to participate in a Zoom video hearing with the court.  The instructions can be viewed here.  Please note that the court will not provide any type of support on Zoom for participants or attendees. Participants should contact the Zoom Help Center, your local IT support, or other online guidance. Important: Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, or rebroadcasting of federal court proceedings (including those held by telephone or videoconference). Recording of a federal court proceeding held by video or teleconference is strictly prohibited. Violation of these rules may result in the denial of entry to future hearings or any other sanction deemed necessary by the court.