Robert A. Mark
How Judge Mark rules, drawn from 12 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Mark
Robert A. Mark has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Florida since November 1990. He served as the court’s chief judge from 1999 through 2006. Before joining the bench, he clerked for a federal district judge and practiced bankruptcy law in Miami.
Judge Mark's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Mark, 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
Motions
Outside permitted Chapter 7 and 13 self-calendaring, the courtroom deputy exclusively maintains Judge Mark’s calendar.
“With the exception of certain Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 matters that may be self-calendared (see Guidelines for Self-Calendaring ), Judge Mark’s calendar is maintained exclusively by the Courtroom Deputy.”
Conferences
Video-conference participants must register at least 24 hours ahead, or one hour ahead for an emergency hearing.
“Participants must register at least 24 hours prior to the hearing, except for hearings set on an emergency basis, in which case participants must register at least one hour prior to the hearing.”
Trial
Unless a separate order says otherwise, witnesses and examining counsel must appear in court.
“Unless otherwise directed by separate order, Judge Mark requires in-court appearance for all witnesses and all counsel who will be examining or cross-examining witnesses.”
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 Mark decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Clear statutory language controls even when its application produces an unusual distinction.
“But unusual is not the same as absurd. By its plain and unambiguous terms, the domestic violence exception applies to any civil action ‘regarding domestic violence.’”
In a tax-sale dispute, Mark held that the debtor’s equitable rights and colorable title claim brought the home within the bankruptcy estate despite the absence of record title.
“the Debtor has at least equitable rights in the Home and viable claims to establish”
Procedural preferences
A remote examination complies with the subpoena-distance rule when the witness participates from a location within the geographic limit.
“Instead, and as discussed earlier, the Court concludes that a Zoom examination from a location within 100 miles of where a witness resides is an appropriate place of compliance.”
Cautions
Creditors who receive notice cannot disregard a proof-of-claim deadline and expect to share in a later distribution.
“But deadlines matter in bankruptcy cases. The Objecting Creditors failed to timely file proofs of claim despite receiving notice of the deadline and there is no legal basis to allow them to file their claims now.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Motions for Protective Order [DE#’s 58 and 69] are denied.”
“For these reasons, the Court ORDERS that the Motions for Recusal are denied.”
“The Debtor’s Motion [DE# 73] is denied.”
“The request in Ms. Farrell’s Response in Opposition [DE# 99] to retroactively annul the automatic stay is denied without prejudice as moot.”
“The Second Motion to Compel is granted in part and as detailed herein, the Respondents must produce unredacted copies of the Withheld Documents identified as Log Entries 1, 2, 13, 14, 36, 43, 46 and 47, and Wiggin 0121-122”
“All the Objections [DE#s 479, 482, 487, 491, 492 and 494] are overruled.”
“VBM is awarded attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $45,000.00.”
“The Motion to Reopen is denied.”
“The Motion to Vacate is denied.”
“ORDERED that the Motion to Reconsider is denied in its entirety.”
“The Motion is denied to the extent it requests a sanctions award under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9011.”
“The Motion to Set Hearing is denied as moot.”
“Debtors’ Objection to Claim No. 1 [DE# 79] is sustained and Claim No. 1 is stricken.”
“Debtors’ Objection to Claim No. 10 [DE# 77] is sustained and Claim No. 10 is stricken.”
“Debtors’ Objection to Claim No. 5 [DE# 85] is sustained in part to the extent the claim amount exceeds the scheduled amount.”
“Debtors’ Objection to Claim No. 3 [DE# 75] is sustained in part and overruled in part.”
“Debtors’ Objection to Claims No. 13 and No. 14 [DE# 83] is sustained in part and overruled in part.”
“Debtors’ Objection to Claim No. 4 [DE# 81] is overruled.”
“Debtors’ Objection to Claim No. 12 [DE# 82] is sustained in part and overruled in part.”
“The Stay Relief Motion is denied.”
“The Motion to Enforce Stay is granted. The automatic stay applied to the Tax”
“The Motion is denied to the extent it seeks a finding that the subject lease was”
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Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Mark, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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