Christopher M. Klein
How Judge Klein rules, drawn from 13 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Klein
Christopher M. Klein has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of California since 1988. His earlier public service included the Marine Corps and the United States Department of Justice.
Judge Klein's practices and standing orders
The court's website lists no individual practices or standing orders of Judge Klein's own (checked October 10, 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).
How Judge Klein decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Cross-border relief may be granted without extra restrictions when the statutory protections already balance the affected interests.
“The discretionary relief requested by the foreign representatives will be granted without the previously-announced condition of requiring specific permission, beyond that required by applicable bankruptcy law, for use of funds.”
Procedural preferences
A Rule 2004 examination may proceed when no bankruptcy adversary proceeding or contested matter is pending, while a tailored protective order can address confidentiality concerns.
“Here, there is no pending adversary proceeding or contested matter in the Zoom, Inc. case to which the ‘pending proceeding rule’ could apply.”
Cautions
Multiple bad-faith bankruptcy filings used to delay other litigation can support escalating monetary sanctions against counsel and denial of later relief from an earlier sanction.
“the Motion for Relief from the Order of Sanctions in the amount of $3,500.00 against Joe M. Laub in Case No. 2025-22820 is DENIED.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Ms. Price’s request for transcript at public expense, which is construed as a Motion for Certification Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 753(f), is DENIED.”
“The § 327(e) employment application is approved.”
“The appropriate award for such services for the counsel who is, by virtue of this employment, now qualified under § 330(a)(1) is $3,837.00”
“The proceedings will be recognized as ‘foreign main proceedings’ under § 1502(4).”
“The discretionary relief requested by the foreign representatives will be granted”
“The motion by the plaintiff bankruptcy trustee for an order appointing him to act on behalf of the defendant judgment debt- or to withdraw $250,000 from the ABA Retirement Plan and to direct the delivery of the aforesaid $250,000 to himself is GRANTED.”
“the debtors’ motion for retroactive extension of time is denied”
“the trustee’s objection is nevertheless overruled”
“the judgment entered on docket July 18, 2003, will be vacated and replaced, on reconsideration, by another judgment for the same amount against B-Line”
“Armani’s objections are OVERRULED.”
“Accordingly, the Motion for Protective Order is GRANTED.”
“the Trustee’s Counter-Motion to Compel Armani Financial Group, Inc. to comply with Rule 2004 subpoenas under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45(e), and enforceable per Rule 45(g), is: GRANTED.”
“The thirteen named examples evince continuing and persistent contumacy, for each of which there is no fair ground of doubt as to whether the County’s conduct might be lawful under the discharge order. ... The amount necessary to coerce the County into compliance with the bankruptcy discharge is $39,000 ($3,000 per strike).”
After trial, the court held an embezzlement debt nondischargeable and dismissed a separate fraud count without prejudice.
“the motion of Marble Bridge Funding Group, Inc., to convert or dismiss this chapter 13 case pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1307(c) was heard and granted with a decision to convert to chapter 7.”
“Accordingly, the debtors’ ‘Request’ is DENIED as moot following the conversion of the case to chapter 7.”
“IT IS ORDERED that Attorney Lewis Phon pay sanctions in the amount of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) for violation of Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9011(b)”
“IT IS ORDERED THAT Joe M. Laub, California State Bar No. 141800, and the law firm Laub & Laub are jointly liable to pay a penalty into Court in an amount of $15,000.00 as a sanction”
“the Motion for Relief from the Order of Sanctions in the amount of $3,500.00 against Joe M. Laub in Case No. 2025-22820 is DENIED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Completed-case duration is reported for 3 terminated matters in the fixed sample.
Draft for Judge Klein with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Klein, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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