Derek J. Baker
How Judge Baker rules, drawn from 4 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Baker
Derek J. Baker has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania since February 2025. Before joining the bench, he practiced law in Philadelphia and chaired the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference.
Judge Baker's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Baker, 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.
- Judicial Practices and Procedures for Judge Derek J. Baker ↗
- Exhibit/Witness List Form ↗
- Expedited Hearing Form ↗
- Pretrial Order Form ↗
- Order Approving Amendment to Chapter 13 Plan ↗
- Expedited Hearing Order ↗
Key rules
Contacting chambers
File any letter Judge Baker requests on the docket and do not seek substantive relief by letter.
“Judge Baker discourages unsolicited correspondence from counsel. Judge Baker will, however, occasionally invite and/or direct counsel to report on the status of matters via letters. Such letters, if requested, must be filed on the docket. Counsel should not raise or address substantive legal issues or seek relief from the Court via letter. Judge Baker will not consider matters raised via correspondence that should be raised properly by motion practice.”
Filing
Do not send courtesy copies of filed papers unless chambers specifically requests them.
“Parties shall not submit courtesy copies of pleadings, memoranda or other filed documents unless specifically requested by Chambers.”
Motions
File a notice of hearing with a motion; a motion lacking the required notice may be dismissed without prejudice.
“If a party files a motion without a notice of hearing consistent with the Local Rules, it will be referred to the Judge who will dismiss the motion without prejudice subject to refiling with the appropriate notice.”
Discovery
Before a discovery motion, confer substantively by voice; email exchanges alone may lead to summary denial.
“Judge Baker may summarily deny discovery motions if such motion does not contain the required certifications and/or if parties or their counsel have merely exchanged emails or other correspondence but have not made a good faith effort to have a substantive verbal communication (i.e., speak to each other by telephone or video conference) regarding the discovery dispute.”
Conferences
Request continuances by 3 p.m. the day before the hearing.
“for continuances should be made no later than 3:00 PM on the day before the hearing.”
Conferences
Request any contested continuance by written motion.
“All requests for a continuance which are not consensual shall be made by written motion.”
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).
How Judge Baker decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
An unrejected personal-property lease continued to impose the performance obligations stated in the statute, even where the debtor no longer wanted or used the property.
“The statute imposes an unequivocal performance obligation on the Debtor.”
Cautions
A request for an indemnification judgment needs proof that the indemnitor clearly and unconditionally repudiated its obligations; equivocal correspondence and an open invitation to continue discussions did not suffice.
“SeeCubic’s objection to entry of the judgment is sustained, without prejudice to the Trustee seeking similar relief in the future based on new facts and circumstances.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“As a result of the foregoing, the Court hereby DENIES the Motion as it relates to the Municipal Court Action and VACATES the Status Quo Order.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the Court concludes that MBFS is entitled to an administrative expense claim for $18,022.05”
“We Care violated Rule 9011 when it filed and unreasonably litigated its Discharge Objection, and appropriate sanctions will be imposed.”
“the Court finds that the Debtor failed to substantiate any damages resulting from any stay violation and therefore no relief will be granted pursuant to § 362(k) of the Bankruptcy Code.”
“VSI’s objection is overruled and the Settlement Agreement is approved.”
“relief will be denied in this respect without prejudice to the Trustee filing a new action, here or elsewhere, to pursue such a judgment.”
“SeeCubic’s objection to entry of the judgment is sustained, without prejudice to the Trustee seeking similar relief in the future based on new facts and circumstances.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Three sampled matters were terminated within 52 to 113 days; eleven remained pending in the public metadata.
Draft for Judge Baker with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Baker, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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- Grounded in Judge Baker's own signed orders
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