René Lastreto II
How Judge Lastreto rules, drawn from 4 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Lastreto
René Lastreto II has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of California since September 2015. He previously practiced law for 34 years, focusing on creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, and commercial litigation.
Judge Lastreto's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Lastreto, as published on the court's website (checked October 10, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Filing
Do not send chambers copies of law-and-motion pleadings unless the court orders otherwise.
“Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, ‘chambers copies’ of pleadings for law and motion calendar items are not to be provided to the court and will be automatically recycled (not returned to counsel) by the Clerk if submitted.”
Conferences
Judge Lastreto holds hearings simultaneously in person, by Zoom, and by telephone unless otherwise ordered.
“Beginning July 20, 2022, and unless otherwise ordered, hearings in Judge Lastreto’s courtroom are now simultaneously, (1) IN PERSON, (2) VIA ZOOM, and (3) VIA TELEPHONE.”
Conferences
For video hearings, Judge Lastreto prefers participants to use video.
“The court prefers participation by video.”
Trial
List trial exhibits in the joint pretrial order; unlisted exhibits are excluded except for cross-examination or good cause.
“Exhibits not listed by plaintiff or defendant may not be used at trial except (a) for cross-examination purposes or (b) if good cause for its exclusion from the pretrial order is shown.”
Trial
When delivering the pretrial order, lodge one working exhibit copy with the clerk for Judge Lastreto and deliver one to opposing counsel.
“On the date the parties deliver the Pretrial Order, each party shall lodge (not file) one (1) working copy (not originals) of all exhibits to be offered into evidence to the clerk of the court, attention Chambers of Judge Lastreto, and one (1) working copy delivered to opposing counsel.”
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 Lastreto decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A prior state-court judgment can establish nondischargeable defalcation when the governing issue was already necessarily decided.
“judgment shall be entered in favor of Susan P. Peterson and against Michael Lloyd Lusk that the sum of $146,877.00 awarded by the Ventura County Superior Court is nondischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(4).”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
After trial, the court held the state-court award nondischargeable and reserved attorney fees.
“for the forgoing reasons defendant’s motion for summary judgement shall be denied.”
“the court finds the conversion was in bad faith and thus the property of the estate in this case consists of property of the estate on the date of the conversion.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Completed-case duration is reported for 5 terminated matters in the fixed sample.
Draft for Judge Lastreto with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Lastreto, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Grounded in Judge Lastreto's own signed orders
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace