Thomas B. McNamara
How Judge McNamara rules, drawn from 21 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge McNamara
Thomas B. McNamara is a United States bankruptcy judge for the District of Colorado. He has served on the court since March 2015.
Judge McNamara's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge McNamara, 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.
- Court Filings Exceeding 100 Pages ↗
- Initial Pretrial Scheduling Conference Order and Joint Report ↗
- Vacating Hearings or Trials ↗
Key rules
Filing
Promptly deliver paper copies of filings over 100 pages including exhibits to chambers, with exhibits marked and tabbed.
“Filings, including exhibits, exceeding 100 pages in the aggregate, must be delivered promptly to Chambers in paper form. Exhibits shall be marked and tabbed.”
Conferences
In an adversary proceeding, submit the required joint report before the scheduling conference.
“The Pretrial Scheduling Conference Order also will require the parties to submit a ‘Joint Report’ in advance of the Scheduling Conference.”
Conferences
Move to vacate a hearing or trial by noon the preceding day.
“The parties must file a motion to vacate the hearing or trial no later than 12:00 p.m. on the day prior to the scheduled hearing or trial.”
Conferences
Without an advance motion to vacate, both parties must appear in person or by phone and one must state the agreement on the record.
“the hearing or trial may be vacated upon the appearance, in person or via telephone, by both of the parties”
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 McNamara decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Public access to judicial records required concrete statutory and factual grounds before sealing.
“Public access is a foundational attribute of the Federal Judiciary.”
Expert testimony was excluded where the proposed methodology lacked adequate information and reliable application.
“Mark Dennis simply did not have adequate information or data to reach a conclusion”
Procedural preferences
A subpoena challenge must begin in the district where compliance is required, even when another court issued the subpoena.
“the only place that the Movants initially may pursue the Motion to Quash is in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.”
In Wolfe, he denied a creditor’s late proof-of-claim request because the creditor received two timely notices of the filing deadline.
“sufficient notice due to the two separate notices”
Cautions
A professional who does not obtain approval before serving the estate risks being treated as a volunteer for compensation purposes.
“any professional not obtaining approval is simply considered a volunteer if [he] seeks payment from the estate.”
In Signia, he denied a Subchapter V plan-filing extension where the debtor’s pending financing dispute was within its control.
“That type of rationale is not beyond the Debtor’s control.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Court DENIES, in part, the Motion to Quash. The Court has no authority to adjudicate the portion of the Motion to Quash directed to the Subpoenas served on SBN PCCG LLC and Summitbridge National Investments, LLC.”
“ORDERS that Ms. Irwin's ‘Motion to Avoid Judicial Lien’ of GE Money Bank (Docket No. 31 is DENIED; and”
“FURTHER ORDERS that Ms. Irwin's ‘Motion to Avoid Judicial Lien’ of LVNV Funding (Docket No. 34) is DENIED.”
“the Court denies confirmation of the Debtor's Plan for lack of good faith under Section 1325(a)(3).”
“ORDERS that the Trustee’s Objection is OVERRULED to the extent he seeks to require Debtors to include in their Plan”
“the Court DENIES the Motion.”
“the Court GRANTS the Motion to Exclude.”
“The Debtors’ Amended Chapter 13 Plan is DENIED as unconfirmable;”
“Mr. Waring is DISMISSED as a Debtor from this case;”
“SUSTAINS the Debtor’s Second Claim Objection.”
“the Court finds that the underfunding objection and the priority objection are not valid and do not bar confirmation of the Third Plan.”
“ORDERS that all claims asserted by the Debtor in the Complaint are DISMISSED.”
“the Trustee’s Objection is SUSTAINED;”
Draft for Judge McNamara with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge McNamara, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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