Christopher B. Latham
How Judge Latham rules, drawn from 15 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Latham
Christopher B. Latham has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of California since October 2012. He currently serves as the court’s chief judge.
Judge Latham's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Latham, as published on the court's website (checked October 11, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Conferences
Judge Latham expects in-person appearances unless there is a substantial reason for a telephone appearance.
“As a rule, the Court expects personal appearances by counsel and litigants at hearings unless there is a substantial reason to appear telephonically.”
Conferences
Request telephone appearance for good cause from the courtroom deputy at least two business days before the hearing.
“Parties and counsel may request a telephonic appearance for good cause shown by contacting Judge Latham’s courtroom deputy clerk, Josie Rodriguez-Olivas, at (619) 557-6019 at least two business days before the scheduled hearing time.”
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 11, 2026).
How Judge Latham decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
For a repeat-filing stay request, recent plan performance and the absence of manipulation or egregious conduct supported a finding of good faith.
“the court sees no evidence of egregious behavior. On the contrary, Debtors made two plan payments in the first thirty days of the case.”
In United States Trustee v. Nevett, Latham granted summary judgment denying a debtor's discharge for failure to preserve records of large loans. He based the recordkeeping conclusion in substantial part on the debtor's education and sophistication and the scale and complexity of the transactions.
“This conclusion is based in large part on Defendant's education, sophistication, and the size and complexity of the transactions in question.”
Procedural preferences
A default does not eliminate the court's obligation to test whether the pleaded facts state a valid claim.
“before granting a default judgment, the court must first ascertain whether the unchallenged facts constitute a legitimate cause of action.”
Cautions
A final sale order cannot later be used through plan confirmation to recover default interest already paid.
“Entz-White does not authorize a debtor, through a plan, to disturb a final § 363 sale order.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the court grants the motion as to all creditors properly served.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the court grants Plaintiff's motion.”
“denies Defendant's motion as to Plaintiff's § 523(a)(15) cause, grants it as to the § 523(a)(6) cause with leave to amend,”
“$11,466.23 small claims judgment against Defendant is nondischargeable in its entirety”
“the court grants Defendant's motion and dismisses the Complaint with prejudice.”
“its $42,003.51 subrogation claim against Defendant is nondischargeable in its entirety.”
“Debtor is not entitled to a credit for the default interest he paid to either U.S. Bank or Sharon.”
“the motion for default judgment is denied”
“the adversary proceeding is dismissed without prejudice.”
“Ms. Larsson’s nondischargeable debt to Mr. Powell is $5,420.”
“Mr. Ortiz is liable to Ms. Sioson in the nondischargeable amount of $893.55 in this matter.”
“The second § 727(a)(4)(A) element fails”
“The court therefore denies this additional request for relief as unwarranted.”
“Mr. Cahaan has not proven all of § 523(a)(2)(A)’s elements.”
“Her claim for $20,316 against Defendant therefore is nondischargeable.”
“The court, however, denies her § 707(b)(3)(A) motion to dismiss the underlying bankruptcy.”
Draft for Judge Latham with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Latham, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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