Maria L. Oxholm
How Judge Oxholm rules, drawn from 11 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Oxholm
Maria L. Oxholm was appointed to a Northern District of Iowa bankruptcy judgeship effective August 18, 2016, with a Detroit duty station serving the Eastern District of Michigan. She previously served as a judge on Wayne County's district and circuit courts.
Judge Oxholm's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Oxholm, 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
Contacting chambers
Use filed pleadings for written requests; letters to Judge Oxholm are discouraged.
“Letters to Judge Oxholm are discouraged; written communications should be made only by pleadings.”
Contacting chambers
Do not fax chambers unless Judge Oxholm specifically requests it.
“Faxes to chambers are not permitted unless specifically requested by Judge Oxholm.”
Conferences
Most hearings are by telephone, with Chapter 11 proceedings, adversary trials and dispositive motions, and contested evidentiary hearings excepted unless the court directs otherwise.
“With the exception of Chapter 11 proceedings, trials and dispositive motions in adversary proceedings, evidentiary hearings in contested matters, or unless otherwise noted in the applicable Notice of Hearing or by separate court order, all hearings in cases pending before Judge Oxholm will be conducted by telephone.”
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 Oxholm decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Nathan v. Libra (In re Libra), she rejected the trustee's attempt to avoid a marital-home transfer because he offered no evidence valuing the former spouse's waiver of spousal support, leaving the court unable to compare what she received and gave up.
“Trustee has the burden to prove the value of the spousal support Defendant waived was not ‘reasonably equivalent’ to the value of Debtor's interest in the marital home.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“DENYING DEBTOR'S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION”
“OPINION DENYING DEBTOR'S MOTION TO VACATE”
“OVERRULING TRUSTEE’S OBJECTION”
“DENYING REINSTATEMENT OF CHAPTER 13 PROCEEDING”
“ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION”
“recommending that the United States District Court enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff”
“enter a judgment in favor of Defendant on Count V”
Opinion After Trial.
“DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION”
Opinion and Order (on Remand) Establishing Nature and Amount of Sanctions.
Opinion After Trial.
Draft for Judge Oxholm with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Oxholm, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Grounded in Judge Oxholm's own signed orders
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
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