Peter W. Henderson
How Judge Henderson rules, drawn from 18 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Henderson
Peter W. Henderson has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of Illinois since April 2023. He succeeded Thomas L. Perkins and currently serves as chief judge, with chambers in Peoria.
Judge Henderson's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Henderson, 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
Conferences
For a telephone hearing, call Cisco Webex at least five minutes before court begins using the toll-free number and access code in the clerk’s notice.
“Each party desiring to be heard MUST CALL Cisco Webex at least 5 minutes prior to the commencement of court. Participants will need the following information provided in the clerk’s hearing notice in order to participate by telephone: TOLL FREE CALL IN NUMBER ACCESS CODE OR MEETING NUMBER”
Conferences
The court will proceed with the scheduled hearing if a participant does not call in.
“If participant(s) fail to call in, the hearing will go forward as scheduled.”
Conferences
Do not announce yourself on joining a telephone hearing; wait until your hearing is called to speak.
“DO NOT announce your presence when you call into the conference except for when requested to do so by the Cisco Webex prompt.”
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).
- Standing Order Regarding Attorney Fees for Debtor’s Counsel in Chapter 13 Cases ↗
- Second Revised Standing Order Regarding Credit Counseling ↗
- Second Supplemental Standing Order Regarding Mandatory Use of Local Chapter 13 Plan Form ↗
- General Order Regarding the Filing of Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- General Order Regarding Electronic Signatures ↗
- General Order Regarding Electronic Filing of Documents ↗
- Order Formatting ↗
How Judge Henderson decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Reinbold v. Menard, Inc., he required the parties at summary judgment to identify supporting evidence rather than reserve proof for trial.
“Summary judgment is the ‘put up or shut up’ moment in litigation.”
Procedural preferences
In In re Crowder, he treated the confirmed plan as a final judgment and found the proposed sale and employment requests were unnecessary vehicles for changing plan treatment.
“A confirmed plan is a final judgment.”
Cautions
In In re Karpuleon, he found projections of future income and asset sales too speculative to establish Chapter 13 plan feasibility.
“Projections of the income necessary to finance a Chapter 13 plan must be concrete, not speculative.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Debtor’s objection to Claim #4-1 is therefore SUSTAINED.”
“Because the plan may provide for the curing of default through deferred payments, that objection is OVERRULED.”
“The objection to the Debtors’ claim of exemption is OVERRULED.”
“The motion will therefore be granted, and Littmann shall not receive a discharge.”
“The current motion to sell and application to employ, however, were unnecessary and therefore were denied.”
After trial, part of the debt was excepted from discharge and the remainder was discharged; the opinion did not decide a motion.
“Menard’s renewed motion for summary judgment (Doc. #155) is therefore GRANTED and judgment shall be entered in favor of Menard.”
“The Trustee’s cross-motion for partial summary judgment (Doc. #176) is DENIED.”
“The Bank’s motion will be granted by separate order.”
“A separate order granting the Trustee’s motion for partial summary judgment and denying Menard’s motion for summary judgment will be entered.”
“The Trustee’s objection to the Debtor’s plan is therefore overruled in part.”
“The Trustee’s request that the Debtor file an amended Schedule I is well taken and will be granted.”
After trial, the creditor failed to prove fraud and the debt remained dischargeable; the opinion did not decide a motion.
“Judgment will be entered for the Plaintiffs in a separate order.”
Draft for Judge Henderson with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Henderson, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Grounded in Judge Henderson's own signed orders
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace