Christine M. Gravelle
How Judge Gravelle rules, drawn from 19 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Gravelle
Christine M. Gravelle is Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey. She joined the court in July 2013.
Judge Gravelle's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Gravelle, 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
Email Chapter 7 and 11 adjournment forms to chambers; submit Chapter 13 adjournment forms to the standing trustee.
“Adjournment Request forms for Chapter 7 and 11 matters should be emailed to Judge Gravelle's Chambers and Chapter 13 Adjournment Request forms should be submitted to the Standing Chapter 13 Trustee.”
Filing
Send courtesy copies only for voluminous exhibits or when the court requests them.
“courtesy copies of papers to Chambers are required only when there are voluminous exhibits or upon request of the Court.”
Trial
A proposed joint scheduling order and required mediation order ordinarily eliminate the need to appear at the pretrial conference.
“Upon the filing of a proposed Joint Scheduling Order and Mediation Order (when required under D.N.J. LBR 9019-2), Judge Gravelle will generally not require appearances at the pre-trial conference.”
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 Gravelle decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Rosa v. Wells Fargo, Gravelle dismissed one mortgage-servicing theory but denied dismissal of the claim under the separate independent-review provision.
“the motion to dismiss any claim arising under that provision is denied.”
Procedural preferences
In Slater, she rejected the trustee’s discharge objection after finding that the debtor lacked fraudulent intent and had credibly relied on counsel.
“Therefore, the Court finds the Trustee failed to meet her burden of proof as to dischargeability. The Court further finds Debtor met his burden in proving his reliance on the advice of Counsel.”
Cautions
In Rones, she denied a condominium association’s plan objection because the plan preserved the lien’s statutory-priority portion while stripping its wholly unsecured balance.
“the balance due, after payment of the amount given statutory priority, may be stripped off as it is wholly unsecured.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Rosa has not stated a claim under that section. However, Rosa has presented facts sufficient to call into question whether Wells Fargo conducted an independent evaluation her the Appeal Letter as required under § 1024.41(h), and the motion to dismiss any claim arising under that provision is denied.”
“Because an adversary proceeding was not timely filed pursuant to F.R.B.P. 4007(c) the debt is dischargeable, and the motion is DENIED.”
“Debtors’ motion for summary judgment is GRANTED, and Arianna’s cross-motion for summary judgment is DENIED.”
“The Court’s review of services performed shows that Debtor incurred $6,060.00 in counsel fees after the Court awarded fees in January 2013, including the preparation of the motion for sanctions. Because the time included travel and entries for services that the Court believes would have been necessary to complete the negotiations in any event, the Court will award $5,000.00 to Debtor to be paid by Nationstar.”
“For the reasons set forth above the Court DENIES confirmation of Debtors’ Modified Chapter 13 Plan.”
“this Court GRANTS Debtor’s Motion to Expunge Claims numbered 2-1, 2-2, and 16-1 and DENIES Debtor’s Motion to Expunge Claim 15-1, instead MODIFYING that claim”
“The Court granted McDowell’s Application for Compensation”
“allowed dismissal rather than conversion of Debtor’s Chapter 13 proceeding”
“Her Request for Payment of Administrative Expense under section 503(b) is disallowed.”
“This Court GRANTS the Debtor’s Motion to Reduce the Claim of the IRS.”
“the Refunds constitute property of Debtor’s bankruptcy estate, and must be turned over to the Trustee.”
“The Trustee’s objection to Debtor’s exemption is denied.”
“judgment will be entered in favor of Kopec as to the § 548 fraudulent transfer count and in favor of Tower as to the § 547 preference count.”
“the Court will GRANT the Trustee’s Motion to Strike Exemptions as to the Bank Accounts, DENY the motion as to the Debtor’s present possessory interest in the Property, and GRANT the motion as to the Debtor’s contingent right of survivorship.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
All ten sampled matters were terminated. Four express default-judgment outcomes were retained; a deficient request and a consent settlement were not counted as separate rulings.
Draft for Judge Gravelle with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Gravelle, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
Opens in Ezel Pro.
- Grounded in Judge Gravelle's own signed orders
- Cites every source it relies on, so you can verify it
- Chat, drafting and research in one workspace