Honorable John K. Sherwood

United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey

In Chapter 7 cases, Chapter 11 cases and adversary proceedings, Judge Sherwood is conducting hearings in person. However, attorneys are welcome to attend via Court Solutions rather than appearing in person. The only exception is matters which involve a substantial number of exhibits or evidentiary hearings. Then, in person appearances are necessary. If you are unsure whether an appearance via Court Solutions is permissible, please feel free to contact chambers to check.

To attend via Court Solutions, please simply register for the hearing on Court Solutions. In general, there is NO NEED to contact chambers to request permission to appear via Court Solutions.

NOTE: All Chapter 13 hearings will continue to be held via Court Solutions.

Fee Orders in Chapter 13 cases – Attorneys who elect hourly billing and do not use the standard fee of $4,750 must use the new template entitled “Order Granting Allowances for Chapter 13 Fees (JKS)” which is available on the Court’s website under “Forms” and “All Local Forms.” The “Order Granting Supplemental Chapter 13 Fees” is inapplicable in such fee situations.

Important: All persons are strictly prohibited from making any recording of court proceedings, whether by video, audio, "screenshot," or otherwise. Violation of this prohibition may result in the imposition of monetary and non-monetary sanctions. The Clerk of the Court maintains an audio recording of all proceedings, which recording constitutes the official record of those proceedings.

Staff Information

Noreen Walsh | Career Law Clerk - (973) 645-4693

Zelda Haywood | Courtroom Deputy - (973) 645-4762

Maria Figueria | Court Reporter - (973) 776-3413

Timothy Dumbroff | Law Clerk - (973) 645-2691

50 Walnut Street, 3rd Floor
Newark, N.J. 07102
Courtroom 3D

Chambers e-mail: chambers_of_jks@njb.uscourts.gov

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Communication

Judge Sherwood's staff may be contacted by telephone, email or regular mail. Communication by fax is not permitted except with consent of Judge Sherwood. For emergent applications, parties should notify Chambers via phone call or email. Parties should be guided by D.N.J. LBR 5071-1 regarding adjournment requests.

Proposed orders should be submitted in accordance with D.N.J. LBR 7058-1, 9013-1, 9013-4, and 9019-4.

Copies of Papers

In addition to mandatory efiling, Judge Sherwood requires two (2) courtesy copies of all voluminous filings. This requirement is applicable to any submission, inclusive of Notice of Motion, Memorandum, Certifications, Exhibits, etc., that cumulatively exceed fifty (50) pages or any submission that includes five (5) or more exhibits and as otherwise requested by the Court.

Motions

Motions:

Parties should be guided by D.N.J. LBR 9013-1 through 9013-5 regarding the filing of motions, responsive papers, and cross-motions.

Chapter 7 and 11: Motions in Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 cases are scheduled on Tuesdays. Appearances are required on contested motions, while uncontested matters are decided on the papers.

Chapter 13: Motions and confirmation hearings in Chapter 13 cases are scheduled on Chapter 13 days (the second and fourth Thursdays of each month).

First Day Motions in Complex Chapter 11 Cases: The parties should notify Chambers regarding the filing and scheduling of all first day matters.

For specific hearing dates and times, see: http://www.njb.uscourts.gov/judges-info/hearing-dates/judge-john-k-sherwood-hearing-dates

*NOTE: For emergent applications, parties should notify Chambers via phone call followed by an email with all related documents.

Trials

Trials:

Pretrial Procedures: Parties should be guided by D.N.J. LBR 7016-1.

Pursuant to D.N.J. LBR 9019, all adversary proceedings are presumptively referred to mediation.

Pursuant to D.N.J. LBR 7016-1(b), if the parties submit Local Form Joint Order Scheduling Pretrial Proceedings and Trial and Local Form Mediation Order not later than three days before the scheduled pretrial conference, they do not need to appear at the pretrial conference.

Discovery Disputes: Parties should be guided by D.N.J. LBR 7037-1.

Requests to Enter Default and Default Judgment: Parties should be guided by D.N.J. LBR 7055-1. Judge Sherwood reviews the adversary complaint with respect to which default judgment is requested and will schedule a proof hearing where necessary.

Zoom Proceeding Guidelines

Fee Applications

Fee Applications:

Counsel should be guided by D.N.J. LBR 2016-1 through 2016-5. Fee applications are scheduled on the first and third Thursdays of each month.

Reaffirmation Agreements

Reaffirmation Agreements:

Parties should be guided by 11 U.S.C. § 524 and Fed. R. Bankr.P. 4008.

LEASES: Judge Sherwood does not approve reaffirmation agreements on leases. The parties may enter into a lease assumption agreement without need for Court approval.

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Honorable John K. Sherwood

Staff Information

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