Here are some of the more recent, widely reported developments involving the bankruptcy court in the Southern District of Texas (SDTX)—especially around Houston’s bankruptcy practice and judicial assignment/venue issues.
Key recent SDTX bankruptcy-court news
Ongoing debate over Houston’s case assignment/“judge practice”
A Bloomberg Law report describes continued scrutiny of a Houston assignment system used in SDTX bankruptcy cases, noting that advocates argue it can create unfair advantages and that other courts moved toward different assignment methods. The report also mentions a specific dispute tied to a bankruptcy case and a judge’s response to complaints about the process.[1]
Coverage of SDTX’s “venue” status after a major judge change (broader Texas bankruptcy hub discussion)
Another Bloomberg Law piece discusses how SDTX’s role as a major Chapter 11 venue was thrown into uncertainty after a Houston bankruptcy judge’s resignation, raising questions about whether companies might seek other filing locations.[4]
Where to track the latest (fastest, most reliable)
- SDTX Bankruptcy Court page (official entry point): the court directs users to its Local Rules and to materials for judge procedures & schedules once a case is assigned.[2]
- For ongoing, case-by-case “latest filings,” you’ll generally want to monitor individual bankruptcy dockets (typically via PACER) and/or reputable legal trackers that aggregate docket updates (many cite PACER).
Quick clarification (so I can narrow it down)
When you say “latest news,” do you mean:
1) General policy/court-system headlines about SDTX (judge assignment, venue, procedures), or
2) Specific new Chapter 11 cases currently pending in SDTX?
If you tell me which of those (and, if case-specific, the company name or docket number), I can focus the updates tightly.
Sources
The latest litigation news involving the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts of Southern District of Texas, the government agency
www.law360.comThe sudden resignation of a Houston judge credited with turning his federal district into a corporate bankruptcy hub is raising questions over whether struggling corporations will increasingly look elsewhere to file for Chapter 11.
news.bloomberglaw.comPlease refer to the Local Rules of the Southern District of Texas, as well as the Federal Rules, for procedures and information. Once a case is assigned to a particular judge within the Southern District, please refer to the "Judges' Procedures & Schedules" for specific information.
www.txs.uscourts.govA greater share of large U.S. bankruptcy cases are being filed in Dallas and Fort Worth courthouses, with the Northern District of Texas surpassing busy courts in New York and New Jersey over the past twelve months.
www.reuters.comOctober 18, 2023 - In a shocking turn of events, last week bankruptcy Judge David Jones of the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) abruptly announced his resignation. The resignation came following revelations that Jones has since 2017 been living with a prominent Houston bankruptcy lawyer who represented debtors in many high-profile bankruptcy cases over which […]
www.lsta.orgOne of the most popular bankruptcy courts in the US still employs a case assignment system that others have cut off, despite growing complaints the method provides unfair advantages to bankrupt companies.
news.bloomberglaw.comPublic access to federal court records in Texas Southern Bankruptcy Court Court. Lookup PACER cases for free, search case summary, find docket information, obtain court documents, track case status, and get alerts when new lawsuits are filed.
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