Mitchell L. Herren
How Judge Herren rules, drawn from 27 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Herren
Mitchell L. Herren became Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Kansas in June 2026. The Tenth Circuit appointed him to the bankruptcy bench in July 2020 after his work with a Wichita law firm.
Judge Herren's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Herren, 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.
- Communications Regarding Cases ↗
- Guidelines for Obtaining a Default Judgment ↗
- Dispositive Motions ↗
- Dockets, Hearings, and Trials Including Expedited Hearings ↗
- Employment and Compensation of Professionals ↗
- Final Pretrial Order ↗
Key rules
Contacting chambers
Copy all interested counsel or unrepresented parties on case-specific emails or correspondence with court staff.
“All interested counsel or unrepresented parties should be copied on case-specific emails or other correspondence with Court staff.”
Filing
Judge Herren has no standard or no-look Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 debtor-counsel fee.
“Judge Herren does not have a ‘no look’ or standard fee for debtor’s counsel in either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 cases.”
Motions
Support a dispositive motion with a separate brief or memorandum; the requirement covers summary judgment, dismissal, and judgment on the pleadings.
“Dispositive motions subject to the separate brief requirement include: (1) motions for summary judgment (or partial summary judgment) under Fed. R. Civ. P. 56; (2) motions to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b); and (3) motions for judgment on the pleadings under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). A separate brief or memorandum of law in support of the motion is required.”
Motions
For an expedited hearing, file a substantive motion, a separate motion to expedite and shorten notice, and a proposed expedited-hearing order.
“Present any matter to be heard on an expedited basis through a written motion, together with a Motion for Expedited Hearing and a request to shorten notice, along with a proposed Expedited Hearing Order.”
Motions
A default-judgment motion may be filed only after the clerk enters default; upload a proposed order for court approval.
“A Motion for Default Judgment may be filed requesting the Court to enter a default judgment, after the Clerk’s Entry of Default has been entered. Counsel will be responsible for uploading an appropriate Order Granting Default Judgment for the Court’s approval.”
Conferences
Out-of-area counsel may attend regular monthly dockets by Webex.
“Out-of-area counsel may appear by Webex”
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 Herren decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Procedural preferences
Discovery responses should address the requests themselves rather than substitute a party’s own summary of what matters.
“Plaintiff cannot dictate the parameters of discovery based on his own subjective characterization and summarization of the information and documents he fails to produce to the opposing party.”
In In re Thompson, Herren denied PNC Bank's postconfirmation stay-relief motion. The confirmed Chapter 13 plan did not require the debtor to make the mortgage payments PNC invoked, PNC had not objected to its plan treatment at confirmation, and it did not show a later loss of adequate protection.
“Accordingly, absent a change in circumstances, PNC Bank may not attempt to alter its treatment under the Confirmed Plan.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
The court struck portions of a filing containing fictitious authorities and imposed future disclosure requirements.
“The Court grants the Landlord’s Stay Motion.”
“In addition, the Court denies the motion made by Debtor within its Response and Motion to Reimpose Automatic Stay.”
“Overrules Plaintiff’s Objection to Defendant’s Notice of Intent to Issue Subpoena Duces Tecum;”
“Grants in whole Defendant’s Motion to Compel Answers to Interrogatories and Requests for Production;”
“Denies Plaintiff’s Motion for Relief from Abusive Discovery and Motion for Sanctions for Attorney Misconduct;”
“Denies Plaintiff’s Motion to Maintain Provisional Seals and for Leave to File Under Seal;”
“Denies Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike from the Record and Replace Plaintiff’s Earnings Exhibits;”
“Grants in part Defendant’s Motion to Modify Deadlines Contained in Scheduling Order.”
“The Court grants Hailstone’s motion in part by dismissing Count I without prejudice and denies the motion as to Counts II and III.”
“For the reasons set forth below, the Court denies the motion.”
“The Court overrules Cairo’s objection to Debtors’ exemption of the four life insurance policies. The Court concludes, however, the $60,000 postpetition policy loan is not exempt.”
“The Court also concludes the totality of the circumstances does not show appointment of a trustee is in the best interests of the estate under § 1104(a)(2).”
“Based on the uncontested facts, the U.S. Trustee is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on its § 1328(e) revocation claim.”
“Memorandum Order Granting Creditor’s Motion to Modify the Discharge Injunction”
“KDOL is entitled to summary judgment on its claim that Defendant’s $29,154.42 debt, plus the interest accruing thereafter at a rate set by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 44-719(d)(2), should be excluded from Defendant’s discharge pursuant to § 523(a)(2)(B).”
“The Trustee’s motion is granted, in part.”
“Memorandum Opinion and Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment”
Draft for Judge Herren with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Herren, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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