David S. Jones
How Judge Jones rules, drawn from 94 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Jones
David S. Jones has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of New York since February 19, 2021. He earned an A.B. from Brown University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Before joining the court, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York, including leadership of its Tax and Bankruptcy Unit.
Judge Jones's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Jones, 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.
- Chambers' Rules ↗
- Transcript Restrictions & Redaction Guidelines ↗
- Scheduling Order ↗
- Rule 2004 Order ↗
- Joint Pretrial Order ↗
Key rules
Contacting chambers
Request a hearing date from Jones’s courtroom deputy by phone or email before filing a motion that requires a hearing.
“All scheduling requests should be directed by telephone or email to Courtroom Deputy Lynda Calderon at [email protected].”
Filing
Email Chambers a copy of every pleading and its exhibits when filing and serving it.
“Parties must provide a copy of every pleading, with exhibits, to Chambers at the time of filing and service, by email to [email protected].”
Motions
Limit moving and responsive briefs to 35 pages and reply briefs to 15 pages unless the court permits otherwise.
“Except as otherwise permitted by the Court, moving and responsive briefs shall be no more than 35 pages in length and reply briefs shall be no more than 15 pages, in each case exclusive of the cover and tables of contents and authorities.”
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).
- Procedures for the Filing, Signing, and Verification of Documents by Electronic Means ↗
- General Order 633: Procedures for the Filing, Service, and Management of Highly Sensitive Documents ↗
- Amended Guidelines for Fees and Disbursements for Professionals ↗
- Procedures for Monthly Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses of Professionals ↗
- Procedural Guidelines for Prepackaged Chapter 11 Cases ↗
- Procedures Governing Mediation of Matters and the Use of Early Neutral Evaluation and Mediation/Voluntary Arbitration in Bankruptcy Cases and Adversary Proceedings ↗
- General Order 634: Guidelines for Combined Disclosure Statement and Plan, Combined Hearings, and Conditional Approval ↗
How Judge Jones decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
When claims remain subject to a live appeal, preserving a disputed-claim reserve can prevent premature depletion of estate assets.
“It is just this sort of concern that animates the practice in Chapter 11 cases of creating disputed claim reserves”
In Wonderwork, Jones enforced a confirmed plan’s reserve distribution term despite the administrator’s funding shortfall.
“this unfortunate circumstance cannot overcome the Plan’s explicit requirement”
Procedural preferences
Whether a case is fully administered is a case-specific discretionary judgment; a pending confirmation appeal may justify delaying a final decree.
“determining when a case is ‘fully administered’ is a decision for the bankruptcy court based on a consideration of numerous case-specific, procedural, and practical factors”
In Levin v. Modi, Jones deemed requests for admission admitted after finding that a pro se defendant had been warned of the deadline but still submitted proposed responses months late.
“Nothing requires treating pro se litigants so laxly as to excuse such flagrant disregard of the rules.”
In a remand dispute among nondebtor parties, Jones abstained after finding that the claims arose entirely under state law and would not materially disrupt the bankruptcy case.
“This is a dispute entirely among non-debtor parties that presents entirely state-law claims”
In Molner, Jones declined remand after finding that the dispute centered on the underlying bankruptcy despite the complaint’s state law framing.
“bankruptcy- related issues predominate here, such that it would be inappropriate to permissively abstain from hearing this action.”
Cautions
Repeated bad-faith filings can support dismissal with a refiling bar longer than 180 days.
“Cause exists to prohibit debtors from filing petitions for periods of time exceeding 180 days in cases of serial filers and their bad faith abuse of the bankruptcy process.”
The court declined to stay litigation against a third party where the foreign representatives did not show a direct economic impact on the debtor’s estate or its administration.
“Multichain’s liquidators have not identified a direct adverse economic impact that the outcome of the Newton Proceedings would have on Multichain’s estate or the fair administration of its assets.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the foregoing reasons, the Court DENIES Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction.”
“The Court therefore hereby DENIES the Motion”
“debtor’s motion for entry of a final decree and an order closing this case is hereby DENIED.”
“the Court DENIES Defendants’ summary judgment motion in its entirety”
“GRANTS the Trustee’s cross-motion for partial summary judgment on the issue of whether the applicable statute of limitation was validly shortened by agreement of the parties.”
“the Court GRANTS the Trustee Motion”
“DENIES the Defendant Motion.”
“the motions of the Creditor and the United States Trustee to dismiss these bankruptcy cases are granted.”
“The case’s dismissal moots Creditor’s request in the alternative for relief from the automatic stay.”
“the motion to vacate accordingly is DENIED.”
“GRANTS the TPG MTD with respect to the contribution claim asserted against the TPG Defendants; (ii) DENIES the TPG MTD with respect to the constructive fraudulent transfer claim”
“GRANTS the Individual MTD and dismisses both claims pled against the Individual Defendants.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Motion is GRANTED and the Debtor’s objection is overruled.”
“the Court DENIES the Debtor’s Claims Objection”
“GRANTS the Lift Stay Motion.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Motion is GRANTED and the Debtor’s objection is overruled.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Sale Motion is granted and Chase’s objection is overruled.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
All six sampled matters were pending in the search metadata. The opinion-linked adversary proceeding supplied one grounded motion outcome.
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