John K. Sherwood
How Judge Sherwood rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
Judge Sherwood no longer sits on this court. This profile is preserved as a historical record of how they ruled here.
About Judge Sherwood
John K. Sherwood became a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey in June 2015. Effective September 9, 2026, the court reassigned his caseload to calendars covered by the remaining Newark judges.
How Judge Sherwood decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In the reviewed student-loan decision, the court tailored relief by loan maturity rather than treating the debt as all-or-nothing.
“The Court hereby orders the discharge of loans maturing before June 2037 as set forth above.”
Procedural preferences
In the reviewed sheriff-sale challenge, the court required an adequate factual record and an adversary proceeding for the requested equitable relief.
“The bottom line is that the extraordinary relief requested by the Debtor here, setting aside a state court sanctioned sheriff’s sale, requires factual findings that the Court cannot make on this record. It is also worth noting that the proper procedure for this relief would be an adversary proceeding, not a motion.”
Cautions
In the reviewed eligibility decision, noncontingent debt above the statutory limit prevented the debtor from proceeding under Chapter 13.
“Debtor is not eligible to be a debtor under Chapter 13 because he exceeds the debt limits set forth in § 109(e) of the Bankruptcy Code.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Nagel Rice’s motion for stay relief as to Szerlip is denied.”
“The Court hereby orders the discharge of loans maturing before June 2037 as set forth above.”
“This request is denied as the Court believes that the Brunner test is applicable.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Adversary Complaint is granted.”
“The Court denies Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Debtors’ plan is confirmed.”
“Debtor is not eligible to be a debtor under Chapter 13 because he exceeds the debt limits set forth in § 109(e) of the Bankruptcy Code.”
“the Court grants Chartwell’s motion seeking post-petition interest on its claim in part.”
“Chartwell’s motion seeking reimbursement of attorney fees is also granted to the extent set forth above.”
“Effect Lake’s motion for summary judgment is granted in part.”
“Debtor’s cross-motion for summary judgment is granted in part.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Plaintiff's motion to reopen the adversary proceeding is denied.”
“The Court grants summary judgment that this debt is nondischargeable under § 523(a)(6).”
“For these reasons, the Court denies the Debtor’s motion to set aside the Sale without prejudice.”
“For the foregoing reasons, Trinity’s motion for summary judgment for dismissal based on lack of jurisdiction is granted.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Nine of the eleven sampled matters were terminated. Six express motion outcomes were retained; generic labels, a later-vacated default judgment, and a mismerged parent-case stream were excluded.
A historical record
Judge Sherwood no longer sits on this court. This profile stays available as a record of how they ruled here. If you're preparing for a matter, start from the court's current bench.