U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California
43 judges profiled from their own signed orders: how each rules on motions, with the orders quoted. Court-wide standing orders ↓
John E. RyanRetired 2007
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Arthur M. GreenwaldDeceased
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Julia W. Brand
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Sheri Bluebond
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Neil W. Bason
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Scott C. Clarkson
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Barry Russell
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Geraldine MundRecalled to service
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Deborah J. Saltzman
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Martin R. Barash
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Robert N. KwanLeft active service 2021
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Alan M. AhartRetired 2015
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Mark D. Houle
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Sandra R. KleinRecalled to service
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Erithe A. SmithRecalled to service
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Vincent P. Zurzolo
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Scott H. Yun
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Ronald Alonzo Clifford III
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Mark S. WallaceRetired 2022
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Victoria S. Kaufman
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Thomas B. DonovanRetired 2017
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Ernest M. RoblesLeft this court 2023
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
James R. DooleyDeceased
Bankruptcy judge
Kathleen Thompson LaxRetired 2011
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Peter M. ElliottDeceased
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Samuel L. BuffordRetired
Bankruptcy judge
Theodor C. Albert, Jr.Deceased
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Maureen A. TigheLeft active service 2022
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Meredith A. JuryRetired 2018
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
James N. BarrDeceased
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Ralph G. PagterRetired
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Kathleen P. MarchRetired 2002
Bankruptcy judge
Mitchel R. GoldbergRetired 2008
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Robin L. RibletDeceased
Bankruptcy judge
David N. NaugleRetired 2008
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Richard M. NeiterRetired
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Peter H. CarrollRetired 2018
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
John D. AyerRetired
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Robert L. OrdinDeceased
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Wayne E. JohnsonRetired 2025
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Ellen CarrollRetired 2012
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Catherine E. BauerRetired 2020
Bankruptcy judge, appointed by Merit selection
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 10, 2026). Courts revise these, so confirm the current version before you file. The court's local rules ↗
- General Order 26-01: Procedures for Access and Management of Sealed Documents ↗
- Amended General Order 23-02: Complex Chapter 11 Case Definition and Pre-Filing Procedure ↗
- General Order 24-01: Procedures for Loan Modification Management Program ↗
Filing
Before filing a complex Chapter 11 petition, debtor’s counsel must contact the court to arrange early hearings within 48 hours of filing or the next business day after a weekend or holiday.
“before filing the petition, counsel for a Complex Case Debtor must contact the court to advise the court of the planned filing and schedule Early Case Hearings within 48 hours of the filing or, if that is a weekend or holiday, on the next business day.”
Sealing
Sealed documents remain subject to existing submission procedures but are no longer viewable electronically.
“Sealed documents will continue to be submitted at the Court in the manner described in The Central Guide and in accordance with Local Bankruptcy Rule 5003-2(c), but will no longer be accessible or viewable by electronic means;”
Sealing
Serve sealed documents by an appropriate method outside CM/ECF.
“Parties will have to serve sealed documents by other appropriate means as provided by the applicable Federal Rules of Procedure;”
Other
Participants in the loan modification management program must follow the procedures and forms posted in section 3-10 of The Central Guide.
“Participants in the LMM must comply with LMM Procedures and LMM Forms that are posted in section 3-10 of The Central Guide”