Jimmy L. Croom
How Judge Croom rules, drawn from 26 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Croom
Jimmy L. Croom is Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Tennessee, a position he assumed in April 2026. Before joining the bankruptcy bench, he worked for eighteen years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the district.
Judge Croom's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Croom, 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
Submit written communications about pending cases as pleadings rather than letters.
“Letters to the Judge regarding pending cases are discouraged; written communication ordinarily should be through pleadings.”
Filing
Submit proposed Chapter 13 orders to the Chapter 13 trustee.
“Proposed orders in Chapter 13 cases must be submitted to the Chapter 13 Trustee.”
Conferences
Request a telephone appearance from the courtroom deputy by noon the day before the hearing.
“If you would like to appear telephonically, please contact Courtroom Deputy Melissa Beacham NO LATER THAN noon the day prior to your hearing.”
Conferences
For Chapter 13 matters, give announcements and continuance requests to the trustee at least one day before the 10 a.m. hearing.
“announcements or requests for continuances must be presented to the Chapter 13 Trustee at least one day prior to the date of a scheduled 10:00 a.m. hearing.”
Trial
Do not appear by telephone for a trial, evidentiary hearing, or witness examination.
“Telephonic appearances are NOT allowed if the matter requires a trial, evidentiary hearing, or witness examination.”
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 Croom decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
Detailed valuation methodology and explained adjustments carried more weight than an unsupported bottom-line estimate.
“He thoroughly explained how he arrived at a value of $69,200.00 for the mobile home.”
A secured creditor's lack of notice of a sale supported relief from the prior sale orders and recovery of the proceeds.
“failure to serve AgDirect with notice of the motion to sell and the orders related thereto resulted in a lack of due process”
Procedural preferences
A dischargeability complaint must plead concrete facts that make undue hardship plausible.
“The Debtor in this case has failed to set forth sufficient facts that make relief seem plausible in this adversary proceeding.”
Cautions
A request to continue the automatic stay must be filed and heard before the statutory period expires.
“The automatic stay in this case terminated on November 21, 2024, and the Court lost its authority to reinstate the stay at that time.”
A taxing authority seeking estate funds held by a Chapter 13 trustee must first obtain relief from the automatic stay.
“the IRS must first seek and obtain leave from the automatic stay before seeking to enforce notices of levy against creditors in any pending bankruptcy cases”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“The Complaint in this adversary proceeding is hereby DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“It is THEREFORE ORDERED that Debtor’s Motion to Impose Stay Under Section 362(c)(4) as to All Creditors (ECF No. 36) is DENIED.”
“the Court hereby GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART the Debtor’s Motion Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 506(A)(1) and Rule 3012”
“the Court DENIES WITHOUT PREJUDICE the Debtors’ Pro Se Application for Payment of Unclaimed Funds (ECF No. 187).”
“the Court GRANTS AgDirect’s Motion for Relief from Order Granting Debtor Authority to Sell Asset Free and Clear of Lien, Claim and Encumbrance, and Request for Correction of Priority and Entitlement to Proceeds from Sale to Paul Herbert”
“the trustee’s motion is GRANTED.”
“CNHi’s Application for Allowance of Administrative Expenses is DENIED.”
“the trustee’s motion is GRANTED.”
“CNHi’s Application for Allowance of Administrative Expenses is DENIED.”
“the Motion to Strike Certain Items from Appellants’ Designation of Record on Appeal filed by Agrifund, LLC, dba Ag Resources Management (‘ARM’), on March 27, 2019 is HEREBY DENIED.”
“the Court will issue an order denying the Trustee’s objection to the Debtors’ amended claimed exemptions.”
“Movants’ Motion for Abstention Under 11 U.S.C. § 305 is GRANTED.”
“21st Mortgage Corporation’s Objection to Confirmation as to the Debtor’s proposed valuation of the 2007 Clayton mobile home is SUSTAINED.”
“the Trustee’s Objection is SUSTAINED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
All six matters were terminated. The five oldest sampled matters supplied no express disposition, while the Weems adversary supplied one dismissal outcome.
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