Daniel R. Fine
How Judge Fine rules, drawn from 3 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Fine
Daniel R. Fine has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Illinois since January 2026. He earned a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and clerked for federal appellate and district judges. Before joining the bench, he worked for the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board and in private practice.
Judge Fine's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Fine, 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
When another matter in the case is already set for that day, notice an original motion for the time already set.
“If an original motion is to be noticed for a day on which other matters in the same case are to be heard, the original motion should be noticed for the time already set—not the original motion time.”
Conferences
Keep settlement-conference letters to five pages, excluding exhibits, unless the court permits more.
“Settlement-conference letters should be no more than five (5) pages, excluding exhibits, unless the parties seek and obtain advance permission.”
Conferences
Bring a party representative with full settlement authority to the conference in person; telephone availability is insufficient.
“Parties with full settlement authority are required to attend the settlement conference in person.”
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 Fine decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In NDG New Dating Game, Fine granted in rem stay relief after finding that repeated bankruptcies before foreclosure sales and an unexplained property transfer supported a scheme to delay or hinder the secured creditor.
“The actions taken with respect to the property constitute a scheme to delay, hinder, or defraud that triggers Section 362(d)(4)’s protections.”
Procedural preferences
Turnover remains the default when a custodian does not prove that creditors benefit from continued possession.
“Under the Bankruptcy Code, turnover is the default rule.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“If no conversion motion is filed within that time, the UST’s motion to dismiss the case under Section 707(b)(3) will be granted and the case will be dismissed.”
“The Court will separately enter on the docket orders that grant Skiba’s motion for turnover”
“deny Jeff Park’s motion for stay relief”
“For the foregoing reasons, Wilmington’s motion for in rem stay relief under Section 362(d)(4) is GRANTED.”
Draft for Judge Fine with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Fine, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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