William J. Fisher
How Judge Fisher rules, drawn from 15 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Fisher
William J. Fisher is a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Minnesota. He has served on the court since June 2016.
Judge Fisher's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Fisher, as published on the court's website (checked October 11, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Filing
Convert proposed orders directly from Word to PDF for electronic submission; avoid scanned orders.
“All proposed orders must be submitted in electronic form. The document should be converted directly from Word to PDF. If it is scanned, additions or changes cannot be made. Chambers staff may contact you for a word processing version of your proposed order.”
Filing
State the actual relief in the dispositive part of a proposed order and do not add relief absent from the motion.
“Make sure the relief granted is actually stated in the dispositive part of the order. Do not simply say ‘the motion is granted’ or ‘the trustee’s objection is overruled.’ If real property is involved, include the legal description. Make sure the legal description is correct. Lastly, do not include as part of your relief anything which you did not request in the motion.”
Filing
Omit “Proposed” from the title or caption of a proposed order.
“Proposed orders should never include the word ‘Proposed’ in the order's caption or title.”
Motions
Obtain a hearing date from the assigned judge’s courtroom deputy, then file a notice of hearing and a written motion.
“Parties or attorneys seeking relief from the court must obtain a hearing date and time from the courtroom deputy for the judge assigned to the case, and file a Notice of Hearing (setting forth the date and time of the hearing provided by the courtroom deputy) and a written Motion specifying the relief sought.”
Conferences
For Chapter 13 calendar changes beginning June 2026, file by 3 p.m. Monday before the calendar.
“recommended confirmations, requests for continuances, withdrawals of motions or objections, or other actions that would result in a change to the Chapter 13 calendar must be filed in CM/ECF by 3:00 p.m. the Monday before the calendar.”
Conferences
Starting with the June 2026 Chapter 13 calendars, attend in person unless the presiding judge advises otherwise.
“Unless otherwise advised by the presiding judge, the proceeding will be held in-person.”
Conferences
Attorneys may self-calendar stay-relief and compensation motions; trustees and the U.S. Trustee may self-calendar all their motions, except in closed cases.
“Attorneys may self-calendar lift stay motions and applications for compensation. Trustees, attorneys for Trustees and the United States Trustee may self-calendar all of their motions. Attorneys need not contact the courtroom deputy to schedule these motions or applications, except for those being filed in a closed case.”
Conferences
Notice Judge Fisher’s hearings as telephonic unless the court directs otherwise; notify the deputy at least 48 hours before an in-person appearance.
“All hearings in front of Judge Fisher must be noticed as telephonic, unless otherwise instructed by the Court. Please see the Court’s policy on telephonic hearings. If you would like to appear in person, you should notify the courtroom deputy at least 48 hours prior to the hearing.”
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 11, 2026).
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Computer Forensic’s motion for summary judgment, ECF No. 49, joined by MAG Law and Ms. Miller, is GRANTED”
The signed fee-review order is retained for context but excluded from motion statistics.
“The Complaint is dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.”
The signed trial judgment is retained for context but excluded from motion statistics.
The signed trial judgment is retained for context but excluded from motion statistics.
“The Defendant U.S. Department of Education’s motion to dismiss treated as a motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED”
“The Plaintiff William Arnold Schultz’s summary judgment motion is DENIED”
“The Trustee’s Motion for Summary Judgment is Granted”
“The Debtor’s Motion for Summary Judgment is Denied”
The signed trial judgment is retained for context but excluded from motion statistics.
“Count I of the Complaint filed by the Plaintiffs is GRANTED”
The signed trial judgment denying discharge is retained for context but excluded from motion statistics.
“This adversary proceeding is remanded to the Ramsey County District Court”
“The Debtors’ objection to Claim No. 20 is sustained”
Draft for Judge Fisher with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Fisher, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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