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General Order on Continued Operations During COVID-19 National Emergency

Monday, March 16, 2020

The Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has today issued a general order on continued operations during the COVID-19 national emergency.  The order is available HERE. 

Until further notice, the court will conduct all hearings by telephone, unless specifically ordered otherwise. Additionally, the court is requiring all persons to be by telephone; in-person appearances are allowed only if specifically ordered. The judges will likely reschedule pending evidentiary hearings that are not time sensitive. But the order also authorizes the taking of evidence by telephone or video conference, and the judges may conduct evidentiary hearings, especially more routine ones, by telephone. The court is also posting a modified notice for motions to continue the stay that provide for a telephonic evidentiary hearing. This new notice should be used while the court is operating under the COVID-19 plan.

Appearance at, participation in, and observations of hearings must be by telephone, unless ordered otherwise; call-in informaiton is as follows:

  • For hearings before Chief Judge Halfenger call (888) 684-8852, access code: 7183566#
  • For hearings before Judge Hanan call (888) 808-6929, access code: 9122579#
  • For hearings before Judge Ludwig call (888) 808-6929, access code: 5457889#
  • For hearings before Judge Perhach call (888) 675-2535, access code: 9918878#

Also, most court and clerk’s office staff will be teleworking. Counsel and parties who seek information about or relief from the court on specific matters, including rescheduling hearings, should make their inquiries and requests in writing, either by letter or motion. Persons making telephonic inquiries of the Clerk or court staff, about scheduling hearings or otherwise, should be prepared to leave a message; staff will be monitoring voicemails and will endeavor to act on them as soon as practical under the circumstances. The clerk’s office will remain open during regular business hours.

The court is discontinuing operation of the help desk until further notice. And all Lou Jones events scheduled for before June 1, 2020, are canceled.