James R. Sacca
How Judge Sacca rules, drawn from 21 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Sacca
James R. Sacca has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Georgia since October 2010. Before his appointment, he practiced bankruptcy and commercial law in Atlanta. He earned his law degree from Emory University.
Judge Sacca's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Sacca, 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.
- Calendar Procedures for Atlanta Division Cases ↗
- Gainesville Hybrid Mass Calendar Appearance Procedures ↗
Key rules
Contacting chambers
For regular calendar matters, make announcements in person or email [email protected] before noon ET on the business day before the hearing.
“Announcements must be made (a) in person at the call of the calendar or (b) via email to [email protected] prior to 12:00 p.m. ET the business day prior to the scheduled hearing.”
Conferences
For regular calendar hearings, obtain court permission before appearing by telephone or Zoom.
“Parties/attorneys may not appear for calendar calls or hearings via telephone or Zoom without specific permission from the Court”
Conferences
For Gainesville mass calendars in Chapters 7, 11 (non-complex), 12, and 13, attend the calendar call virtually or by telephone, or appear in person.
“Chapters 7, 11 (non-complex), 12 and 13: The calendar call will be virtual/ telephonic via Judge Sacca’s Virtual Hearing Room pursuant to the instructions below or in person at the option of the person appearing.”
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).
- General Order 53-2026: Applications for Admission Pro Hac Vice ↗
- Fifth Amended and Restated General Order 24-2018: Voluntary Notice Procedures ↗
- General Order 51-2025: Loan Modification Management Program ↗
- General Order 50-2025: Procedures for Mediation Referrals ↗
- General Order 49-2025: Pleadings by Unrepresented Individual Debtors ↗
How Judge Sacca decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
A lender's good-faith transferee defense did not support summary judgment where the record left a genuine dispute about the diligence of its investigation.
“the question of whether Fidelity performed a reasonably diligent investigation—and thus whether it financed the Purchase and received its security deed in good faith—presents a genuine issue of material fact regarding what Fidelity should have known about the avoidability of the Transfer.”
Procedural preferences
In In re WBY, Inc., Sacca denied a request to restore a third-party injunction to a confirmed plan. He found that the debtor had removed the provision and had not described the proposed injunction as Rule 3016(c) required.
“had the Debtor complied with Rule 3016(c) to describe its alleged intention, this issue would not be before the Court.”
Virtual participants should enter the hearing room early.
“Join at least 10 minutes before the hearing time.”
Cautions
The court prohibits recording or broadcasting proceedings.
“Pursuant to BLR 5073-1, you are prohibited from recording or broadcasting the proceedings conducted by the United States Bankruptcy Court.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“ORDERED that the Debtor’s Objections to Claims Nos. 2 and 3 filed by the Bank are DENIED and the claims are ALLOWED.”
“Mr. Moncada is entitled to damages, including attorney’s fees, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(k)(1). Mr. Moncada has asked for attorney’s fees of $2,925. This Court finds that an award of attorney’s fees of $2,250 is appropriate for the facts of this case. Furthermore, the Court does not find that an award of punitive damages is appropriate on these facts.”
“ORDERED that the automatic stay of 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) was terminated by operation of law as set forth above on June 26, 2016, so Movant may proceed with its contractual and statutory state law remedies to recover possession of its property and to liquidate any claim it may have for past due rent, but not with respect to the collection of any claim.”
“Regions Partial Motion for Summary Judgment is granted with respect to Count I of the Counterclaim.”
“ORDERED that the Trustee’s and Urstadt’s objection to the Debtors’ exemption is GRANTED and the Debtors may only take the exemptions provided by the Bankruptcy Code in § 522(d).”
“ORDERED that Elite Investor’s Motion to Amend is DENIED.”
“ORDERED that Partnership Liquidity’s Motion to Disqualify is DENIED.”
“ORDERED that Mr. Hurston’s Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED;”
“FURTHER ORDERED that Mr. Anzo’s Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED.”
“For these reasons, the Trustee’s objection to confirmation is is granted.”
“ORDERED that AGC’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED to the extent that the Court concludes the Guaranty is enforceable by AGC against Debtor with respect to debts and obligations of Focus Development arising out of any contracting activities Focus Development may have had in Tennessee during the applicable time, without any monetary limit, subject to any defenses the Debtor may have that have not been disposed of by this Order;”
“ORDERED that the Debtor’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED to the extent the Court concludes that unjust enrichment is not a contracting activity within the meaning of the Tenn. Code. Ann. § 62-6-102 and, therefore, an obligation for unjust enrichment is not within the scope of the Guaranty and the default judgment for unjust enrichment entered against Focus Development in the First Tennessee Proceedings is not conclusively binding on the Debtor;”
“ORDERED that RES-GA’s Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED,”
“FURTHER ORDERED that Mr. Roger’s Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED.”
“ORDERED that the Plaintiffs’ motion to strike the Defendant’s response to their motion for summary judgment is DENIED,”
“FURTHER ORDERED that the Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment is DENIED,”
“FURTHER ORDERED that the Defendant’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED and the Complaint is DISMISSED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
All five early-service sampled matters terminated. Four lasted from 99 to 169 days and one lasted 1,590 days, producing a median duration of 99 days. This fixed sample is descriptive and does not represent the full caseload.
Draft for Judge Sacca with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Sacca, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Grounded in Judge Sacca's own signed orders
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace