George B. Nielsen Jr.
How Judge Nielsen rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Nielsen
George B. Nielsen Jr. joined the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona in July 1983 and later served as chief judge. He remains listed on the court’s calendar as a recalled bankruptcy judge.
Judge Nielsen's practices and standing orders
The court's website lists no individual practices or standing orders of Judge Nielsen's own (checked October 11, 2026), so the court's local rules and general orders are the place to look (court page ↗).
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 10, 2026).
- General Order 26-3: Procedures for Access and Management of Sealed Documents ↗
- General Order 26-1: Chapter 7 Attorney Requirements ↗
- General Order 25-1: Prohibition of Covert Recording Devices in Bankruptcy Courts ↗
- General Order 23-3: Procedure for the Redaction of Personal Identifiers ↗
- General Order 23-2: Mortgage Modification Mediation Program for Individual Bankruptcy Cases ↗
How Judge Nielsen decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In the Kachina Publications bankruptcy, Nielsen held that the creditor’s possession of the subscriber files defeated the trustee’s effort to avoid its Iowa artisan’s lien as a hypothetical bona fide purchaser.
“CDS had possession of the files at the petition date. Trustee has not argued that CDS did not hold a valid Iowa artisan’s lien. Given this, trustee cannot defeat the lien as a hypothetical bona fide purchaser.”
A governmental claimant that files proofs of claim may waive sovereign immunity as to a logically related estate claim arising from the same operative facts.
“The court concludes that sovereign immunity has been waived.”
Procedural preferences
Fraud-based discharge claims had to identify the alleged conduct and statutory grounds with particularity before the case could proceed.
“The circumstances constituting fraud are to be stated with particularity — other than malice or intent which may be generally averred.”
Cautions
Conversion after plan confirmation did not itself recreate an estate when the plan and confirmation order had vested the property in the debtor.
“There is no provision directing that upon conversion, the Court retains jurisdiction over debtor’s property. Accordingly, there is no estate property to administer and conversion is in no party’s interest.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Movant, possessing a valid lien as a holder in due course, is entitled to relief from stay to foreclose upon the parcel as debtors' property.”
“the motion for reconsideration or for separate Arizona trials is denied.”
“Accordingly, plaintiffs will be required to promptly amend their complaint to cure these defects.”
“Accordingly, the sanction request is denied.”
“the government’s papers will be deemed a cross-motion for summary judgment and granted.”
“the State’s motion for summary judgment is granted and debtors’ motion for summary judgment is denied.”
“Defendant HICA’s motion for summary judgment is denied; plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is granted.”
“the application is denied. The objections to the administrative claim by debtors and the United States Trustee are sustained.”
“the trustee’s motion for partial summary judgment is granted.”
“Accordingly, the debtor’s motion for use of cash collateral is granted.”
“Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is granted.”
“Plaintiffs’ request to lift the automatic stay is granted.”
“The objection to the claim is partially overruled and partially sustained.”
Draft for Judge Nielsen with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Nielsen, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Grounded in Judge Nielsen's own signed orders
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace