Christopher M. López
How Judge López rules, drawn from 2 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge López
Christopher M. López has served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Texas since August 2019. He practiced law in Houston from 2003 to 2019 and earned degrees from the University of Houston, Yale University, and the University of Texas School of Law.
Judge López's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge López, 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
Motions
File emergency motions with the Emergency CM/ECF event code and explain the need for emergency consideration.
“Emergency motions should be filed using the ‘Emergency’ CM/ECF event code. When filing an emergency motion, (i) please identify the date by which emergency relief is needed”
Conferences
Select a self-calendared hearing at least 25 days after filing the motion.
“You must select a date that is at least 25 days from the date that you file the motion.”
Trial
Bring two paper copies of exhibits to a hearing.
“Two paper copies of exhibits are required by the Court at the hearing, and may be handed up to the courtroom deputy shortly before the start of the hearing.”
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 López decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
When the historical case file had been destroyed and no contrary evidence remained, the confirmation order's uncontroverted notice findings carried decisive weight.
“The Court gives full weight to the findings of fact in the Confirmation Order because it is the only evidence of what occurred during the cases.”
In the reviewed exemption dispute, prepetition state court property findings carried through to the bankruptcy ruling.
“This Court, bound by those findings, need not revisit them.”
Procedural preferences
The reviewed decision enforced the confirmed plan and its discharge provisions despite the age of the case and loss of the archived docket.
“A plan confirmation order and Sections 524 and 1141 of the Bankruptcy Code are essential elements of that fresh start.”
Cautions
A claimant could not overcome an old confirmation order's notice findings without evidence contradicting the surviving record.
“Judge Wheless’s findings in the Confirmation Order that notice to parties-in-interest was proper is uncontroverted and stands.”
The objection to personal property exemptions failed because the objector offered no supporting evidence.
“Barroso did not provide evidence on these objections. It is therefore denied.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“United Refining’s Motion for Determination of Dischargeability of Claim of Robert W. Dorrion (Docket No. 12) is GRANTED.”
“Barroso’s objection to the homestead exemption is GRANTED.”
“Barroso’s objection to claimed exemptions in the personal property identified in the Objection is DENIED.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Nine sampled matters were terminated and four remained pending. Ten early streams contained no paired motion entries; the Steward outcomes were predominantly case-administration matters. No merits-rate or duration estimate is reported.
Draft for Judge López with the record in hand
Ezel grounds your drafting and research in this profile: what has persuaded Judge López, and what has not, cited to the signed orders.
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