Jeffrey J. Graham
How Judge Graham rules, drawn from 11 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Graham
Jeffrey J. Graham has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Indiana since October 2014 and is now its chief judge. His chambers serve the Indianapolis and Terre Haute Divisions.
Judge Graham's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Graham, 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.
- Notice to Those Requesting Remote Participation Before Judge Jeffrey J. Graham ↗
- Notice to Those Appearing Before Judge Jeffrey J. Graham ↗
- Motions to Continue and Telephonic Appearances ↗
Key rules
Conferences
Request remote participation at least two business days before a hearing, emailing the judicial assistant and copying the law clerk.
“All requests to appear by remote means must be made at least two business days prior to a scheduled hearing. Exceptions will be made for those matters set on an emergency or expedited basis or for other exigent circumstances if stated in the request. Requests must be made by email to [email protected] and copied to [email protected].”
Conferences
Remote requests ordinarily are granted only for non-evidentiary matters or legal argument, consensual resolutions, continuances, or observation.
“Requests will only be granted for non-evidentiary matters, or if you anticipate presenting only legal argument, intend to report a consensual resolution, request a continuance, or only listen/observe.”
Conferences
Judge Graham holds hearings and trials in person by default, while pretrial conferences use Zoom.
“The default location for hearings and/or trials will be live and in-person, subject to the following: (a) pretrial conferences will be via Zoomgov.com videoconference”
Conferences
For Terre Haute hearings, file continuance motions at least three days in advance; later motions must show consent or a compelling reason and an attempt to obtain consent.
“all motions to continue be filed at least three days before a scheduled hearing. If the motion is filed within three days of the scheduled hearing, it must reflect opposing counsel’s consent or otherwise state a compelling reason for the requested continuance. In the very least, the motion must reflect that a timely attempt to obtain opposing counsel’s consent was made.”
Trial
A lawyer appearing by telephone in Judge Graham’s Terre Haute matters may not present evidence or examine witnesses.
“if you appear telephonically, you will not be permitted to present evidence or examine any 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).
- General Order 26-0002: Discharge of Debtors with Plans Confirmed Under 11 U.S.C. § 1191(b) ↗
- General Order 26-0001: Chapter 13 Discharge Following Death of One Joint Debtor ↗
- General Order 25-0002 Amended: Service of New Official Forms Under Rule 3002.1 ↗
- General Order 25-0001: Maximum Chapter 13 Presumed Reasonable Fee ↗
- General Order 24-0003: Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- General Order 23-0002: Presentation of Evidence During Virtual Hearings ↗
- General Order 23-0001: Resumption of In-Person Hearings ↗
- General Order 22-0003: Loss Mitigation Program for Chapter 13 Cases ↗
- General Order 21-0002: Mandatory Electronic Filing by Non-Attorneys ↗
- Order Guidelines for the Bar ↗
How Judge Graham decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
The court may decline arbitration when splitting a core bankruptcy dispute across forums would undermine the fresh start and efficient centralized resolution.
“enforcement in this case would create an inherent conflict with the Bankruptcy Code’s fundamental policies of affording debtors a fresh start and centralizing disputes about a debtor’s obligations for efficient resolution.”
Procedural preferences
A summary-judgment response should identify determinative factual disputes and support them with designated evidence.
“Debtor merely posed a series of questions, with citations not to designated evidence but to pages within the United States supporting brief.”
Cautions
Bankruptcy counsel should not exclude heavily litigated matters from a debtor representation when those services may be most needed.
“Allowing an attorney to walk away when the going gets tough is a representation step that cannot be skipped.”
Chapter 11 requires a valid reorganizational purpose; using bankruptcy to manage mass litigation did not justify relief for financially healthy debtors backed by a solvent parent.
“these cases were not prompted by concerns over financial distress or impending insolvency but were initiated to manage the MDL process”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“the Court concludes that summary judgment in favor of Central and against Holcim is appropriate.”
“The Court therefore SUSTAINS Roth’s objection and DENIES the Motion to Compel in its entirety.”
“Because the Firm refunded all amounts paid by Debtors, the Court DENIES AS MOOT the Motion to Examine to the extent it seeks disgorgement.”
“The Court GRANTS the Motion to Examine in that respect and finds that unbundling ‘heavily contested matters’ violates Ind. R. Prof. Conduct 1.2(c).”
This original summary-judgment order was superseded by the amended order entered five days later.
“Court therefor GRANTS the Motion and holds that the District Court’s rulings in both the Terminating Sanction Order and Judgment preclusively establish that Dalton’s conduct was willful and malicious”
The companion judgment implemented the amended summary-judgment order and was not counted as a second outcome.
“the trustee’s objection is SUSTAINED and Debtor’s motion for change of venue is DENIED.”
“Based on the foregoing, the Court concludes that Whirlpool’s reclamation rights in the Whirlpool Goods are subordinate to Wells Fargo’s and the DIP Lenders’ security interests in the Whirlpool Goods.”
“Accordingly, the Court grants the Trustee’s crossmotion for summary judgment and denies the Non-Debtor Defendants’ motion for summary judgment.”
“For the reasons stated below, the Court GRANTS the Motion.”
“Before concluding this decision, the Court must address Debtor's request-made in the event she was denied a full discharge-for a partial discharge of the Loans. The Court declines Debtor's request.”
“the Court hereby GRANTS the Motions to the extent they seek dismissal of the Aearo Entities’ Chapter 11 cases but DENIES the Respirator Committee’s request to appoint a Chapter 11 Trustee.”
Draft for Judge Graham with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Graham, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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