James J. Tancredi
How Judge Tancredi rules, drawn from 17 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Tancredi
James J. Tancredi has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Connecticut since September 2016. Before joining the court, he practiced commercial litigation and business restructuring law for thirty-seven years.
Judge Tancredi's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Tancredi, 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.
- Judicial Practices and Procedures ↗
- Chambers Order No. 1: Hartford County Voluntary Mediation Program ↗
Key rules
Contacting chambers
Direct calendar communications to Judge Tancredi’s courtroom deputy.
“All communications which relate to the Court’s calendar must be directed to the Courtroom Deputy”
Filing
Submit courtesy copies of complex orders or legal memoranda to chambers.
“counsel are encouraged to submit courtesy copies of complex orders or memoranda of law to Chambers.”
Filing
File a redline showing changes when amending a Chapter 9, 11, or 12 plan.
“In Chapter 9, 11, and 12 proceedings, the filing of an amended plan MUST be accompanied by a redline copy detailing all changes from the immediately-prior filed plan.”
Motions
Limit moving and responsive briefs to 25 pages and replies to 10 pages unless the court permits otherwise.
“moving and responsive briefs shall be no more than twenty- five (25) pages in length, exclusive of the table of contents and table of authorities. Reply briefs shall be no more than ten (10) pages”
Discovery
Before seeking a discovery dispute conference, file an affidavit showing a good faith meet and confer.
“The Court will entertain scheduled conference calls for the purpose of resolving discovery disputes after the filing of an affidavit that the parties have met and conferred in good faith.”
Conferences
Request permission for a telephone appearance by emailing the courtroom deputy at least two business days before the hearing.
“parties seeking permission to participate telephonically must email the Judge’s Courtroom Deputy at least two (2) business days prior to the hearing”
Conferences
After agreeing to voluntary mediation, jointly file a stipulation for the court’s endorsement.
“When an agreement between the parties for a voluntary mediation referral pursuant to this Order has been reached, the parties shall jointly file for the Court's endorsement a ‘Stipulation for Reference to Mediation’”
Trial
Appear in person for evidentiary hearings, including witness examination or submission of evidence.
“Counsel and pro se parties are not permitted to participate telephonically for hearings of an evidentiary nature, including the examination of witnesses or the submission of evidence.”
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 Tancredi decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A contempt request requires evidence connecting each respondent's conduct to a violation of the stay or discharge order.
“Absent such proof, there is no basis to hold eBay in contempt.”
Procedural preferences
In QSR Steel, he approved the previously authorized $109,680 in professional fees and denied the additional $24,840 requested.
“The Application is approved with respect to the $109,680 that were approved in the Court’s prior order approving compensation but denied with respect to the $24,840 of additional compensation sought in the Application;”
Cautions
A fraud-based nondischargeability complaint should identify the specific challenged transactions and the allegedly false statements when the plaintiff controls those facts.
“no information about which specific bonds were suspect, nor the what, where, when,”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Motion is granted in part and denied in part as set forth herein.”
“The Application is approved with respect to the $109,680 that were approved in the Court’s prior order approving compensation but denied with respect to the $24,840 of additional compensation sought in the Application”
“The Application is approved in part and disallowed in part”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Motion is GRANTED.”
“The Debtor’s demand for an immediate cessation of collection activities is moot because CorePlus has terminated the Debtor’s access to online statements, but the Court rejects the demand to the extent that it requests that CorePlus cease any attempt to repossess the Truck.”
“Court rejects the Debtor’s request for formal acknowledgment and an apology”
“Court rejects the Debtor’s request for emotional distress damages, awarding instead $100 in nominal damages.”
“demand for written confirmation of discharge of the Truck loan is moot by the discharge order”
“Court rejects the Debtor’s request for a release of the lien on the Truck”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Motion is GRANTED.”
“The Motion to Dismiss is granted with prejudice”
“Motion is GRANTED.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Motion is DENIED on a final basis”
“Confirmation of the Debtor’s Plan is DENIED”
“The Debtor’s Chapter 13 Case is DISMISSED”
“This Chapter 13 case is DISMISSED with a one-year bar to”
“For the foregoing reasons, in rem relief is granted.”
Draft for Judge Tancredi with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Tancredi, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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