8/10/2026 The Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District of California welcomes Corrine Bielejeski as its newest bankruptcy judge. Judge Bielejeski has her chambers in Sacramento, California. Judge Bielejeski was appointed on August 10, 2026.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Bielejeski served as law clerk to the Hon. Edward D. Jellen (ret.) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California, Oakland Division, before entering private practice. She worked for a small law firm before opening her own office. She represented consumer and business debtors in Chapters 7 and 13, as well as individual and small business creditors in Chapters 7, 11, and 13.

Judge Bielejeski is a frequent volunteer. She served as a temporary judge for the Contra Costa County Superior Court, a CEB update author, co-editor of the Contra Costa Lawyer magazine, President of the Earl Warren American Inn of Court, and Co-Chair of the Northern District of California Bankruptcy Court’s Bench-Bar Liaison Committee. She enjoys speaking about civility, ethics, and bankruptcy law.

Judge Bielejeski earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Santa Barbara in 2003. Upon graduation, she was awarded a University Service Award for "distinguished service to the University, its students and the community." She attended UC Davis School of Law (King Hall), earning her JD and a Public Service Law Certificate in 2006.
8/10/2026 Click here to see General Order 26-05, Order Abrogating General Order 25-10 and Assigning New Cases from Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Calaveras Counties to Sacramento Division as of August 10, 2026
7/6/2026 The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California will be closed on the following days for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Holidays: Thursday, November 26, 2026, Friday, November 27, 2026, Thursday, December 24, 2026, Friday, December 25, 2026, Thursday, December 31, 2026, and Friday, January 1, 2027.
6/26/2026 Effective January 1, 2027, the Electronic Public Access (EPA) fee will increase from $0.10 to $0.12 per page to access court records through PACER. This increase is necessary to modernize and strengthen the security of the judiciary’s case management system, which will also improve public access to the judiciary’s electronic docketing information. In addition, the quarterly threshold for automatic exemption from EPA fees will be raised from $30 to $40 per quarter.

For more information, click here to view a press release on the PACER website.
5/8/2026 With sadness, the court announces the passing of Judge Richard T. Ford. Born in 1930, Judge Ford was appointed to the US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of California, in January 1988 and retired in February 1998. He served as an active recall judge between 1998 and 2008 and again between 2009 and 2012. Judge Ford graduated from Fresno State College in 1952 and Hastings College of Law in 1958 and was also a U.S. Army veteran. While in private practice, he was an early president of the Central California Bankruptcy Association. Judge Ford is remembered by his colleagues as the judge they each aspire to be.  A gentle soul by nature, Judge Ford called the balls and the strikes without apology or hesitation.
4/22/2026 Click here to see General Order 26-04, Procedures for Access and Management of Sealed Documents
4/8/2026 Click here to see General Order 26-03, Order Abrogating Previous General Orders, Referring Certain Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Cases for Review to the Judge Assigned to the Case, and Setting Orders to Show Cause under LBR 2016-4 in front of the Judge Assigned to the Case
4/2/2026 Click here to see General Order 26-02, Order Adopting Revisions to Local Bankruptcy Rules.

Click here view the Local Rules of the United States Bankruptcy Court, effective April 2, 2026.

Click here to view the redlined version of the Local Rules, effective April 2, 2026.
2/2/2026 Click here to see General Order 26-01, Order Adopting Revisions to Local Bankruptcy Rules.

Click here view the Local Rules of the United States Bankruptcy Court, effective February 1, 2026.

Click here to view the redlined version of the Local Rules, effective February 1, 2026.
1/26/2026 The Court invites public comment on its proposed redlined Local Rule 7030-1, Deposition Transcripts.
Comments can be made by clicking here until February 26, 2026
1/15/2026 With sadness, the court announces the passing of Judge Robert S. Bardwil. He was 71. Judge Bardwil was appointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of California, in July 2005. He retired in August 2019 and was subsequently recalled, sitting until September 2020. Prior to his appointment, Judge Bardwil was the sole shareholder of Robert S. Bardwil, PC, from 1994 to 2005. He was a shareholder and partner at Bardwil & Dahl, PC, from 1986 to 1994, and was the managing attorney for the Sacramento Law Office of Max Cline, from 1981 to 1984. Judge Bardwil received his B.S. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1976, and his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 1979. Judge Bardwil left an indelible mark on bankruptcy law, the Eastern District of California, and all those who worked with and alongside him. Judge Bardwil leaves behind his spouse, Linda, two children and six grandchildren.