Mark J. Conway
How Judge Conway rules, drawn from 12 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Conway
Mark J. Conway has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania since July 2021. Before joining the bench, he practiced bankruptcy law and served as a Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 trustee. He earned degrees from the University of Scranton and Temple University School of Law.
Judge Conway's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Conway, 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.
- Judge Mark J. Conway ↗
- Order Approving Motion to Modify Plan (PDF) ↗
- Order Approving a Stipulation (PDF) ↗
- Order on Motion to Extend Stay (PDF) ↗
Key rules
Filing
Format proposed orders with one-inch margins, Times New Roman 12-point type, at least two inches of bottom space for signature and date, and a line of text on the signature page.
“Proposed orders should have one (1) inch margins, utilize Times New Roman 12 point font with at least two (2) inches at the bottom of the order for the insertion of the electronic signature and date. At least one line of text must be included on the page that will bear Judge Conway’s signature and the date of the order.”
Filing
Include a Certificate of Use of Generative AI for any filing prepared with a generative AI tool, identifying the tool and generated portions and certifying human accuracy review.
“must include with the document a Certificate of Use of Generative AI in which the party must disclose and certify: The specific AI tool that was used; The portions of the filing prepared by the AI program; and That a person has checked the accuracy of any portion of the document generated by AI, including all citations and legal authority.”
Motions
For emergency consideration, attach the underlying pleading to the expedited motion and email chambers; file the underlying pleading immediately once the expedited hearing is granted.
“a motion for expedited consideration be filed with the underlying pleading for which emergency relief is being sought attached as an exhibit and email notification be provided to Chambers: [email protected]. Once the motion for expedited consideration is granted, the movant should immediately file the underlying pleading with the hearing date included”
Conferences
Register for permitted remote appearances before the hearing date; same-day registration is unavailable.
“Remote appearances are permitted for most non-evidentiary hearings. All parties are required to follow the procedures for remote appearances. Please note, same day registrations are not permitted.”
Trial
Appear in person for trials and evidentiary hearings; remote witness testimony requires prior court approval and good cause.
“ALL Trials and Evidentiary Hearings will be conducted in-person at the Max Rosenn U.S. Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. In very limited circumstances and only with prior Court approval upon a showing of good cause, Judge Conway will permit witness testimony by remote appearance.”
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 Conway decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Reconsideration requires more than relitigating issues already decided and is constrained by the interest in finality.
“motions for reconsideration should be granted sparingly because of the courts’ ‘strong interest in finality of judgment.’”
In a discharge-injunction adversary case, he denied a motion to strike proposed class allegations where a request for declaratory or injunctive relief left open a possible nationwide class remedy; he did not decide class certification at that stage.
“the sole remedy sought by the Plaintiff is not a contempt judgment.”
Cautions
He scrutinizes Chapter 13 counsel compensation even after earlier interim approvals. In one routine case he reduced aggregate amended fee requests and allowed $13,337.25 in fees after reviewing the work and billing records.
“The Court concludes that the Applicant is entitled to a total fee allowance for the Amended Fee Applications in the amount of $13,337.25 plus reimbursement of expenses of $1,596.79.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“For the reasons stated below, the Amended Motion to Redeem the Property is DENIED and the Motion for Relief from Stay is GRANTED.”
“For the reasons stated above, Debtor’s Objection to Claim # 12-1 is overruled and Claim # 12-1 will be allowed in the amount of $29,074.47.”
“Based upon the above stated reasons, the Court will grant the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss on the quantum meruit claim only. The Motion to Dismiss is denied as to all other Counts.”
“Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that the Motion for Relief from Automatic Stay, Dkt. # 50, is DENIED without prejudice.”
“Accordingly, the Motion is hereby DENIED.”
“For all the reasons stated, the Motion is DENIED.”
“Freedom’s Objection to the Third Amended Schedules is overruled.”
“the Objection is sustained”
“confirmation of the Plan is denied.”
“the Court grants the Motion to Dismiss the Complaint as to the Department of Treasury”
“Denies the Motion to Strike the Class Allegations.”
“McZeal is ordered to pay Defendants $75,000. Payment is due in thirty (30) days.”
“the Applicant is entitled to a total fee allowance in the amount of $4,364.30”
“the Applicant is entitled to a total fee allowance for the Amended Fee Applications in the amount of $13,337.25 plus reimbursement of expenses of $1,596.79.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Six of the eight reviewed matters were terminated; two remained pending in the public record.
Draft for Judge Conway with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge Conway, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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