The United States Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Georgia

Please review the Public Notice Regarding Court Operations During COVID-19 Outbreak for information regarding scheduled court hearings beginning the week of March 16, 2020 and other important matters.

In light of the developing issues with the Covid-19 virus and the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and other public health officials, the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia will cease all in person hearings at the conclusion of the day, March 13, 2020.

BEGINNING, MONDAY MARCH 16, 2020, ALL HEARINGS NOTICED FOR THE BANKRUPTCY COURT IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA WILL BE HELD TELEPHONICALLY ONLY UNLESS ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE OTHERWISE WITH CHAMBERS.  THIS APPLIES TO THE ATLANTA,  GAINESVILLE, ROME AND NEWNAN DIVISIONS. The hearings will be held via AT&T call in numbers.  You can find the dial in number and passcode on each “Judges’ Information” tab and on each judge’s webpage at www.ganb.uscourts.gov.  When scheduling future hearings, please continue to schedule them for in person hearings, but add the following to the hearing notice: “Given the current public health crisis, hearings may be telephonic only.  Please check the “Important Information Regarding Court Operations During COVID-19 Outbreak” tab at the top of the GANB Website prior to the hearing for instructions on whether to appear in person or by phone.”

The Court will continue to be open and staff will continue to be present.  We are prepared to handle any emergencies that may arise in our cases.

This Notice does NOT apply to §341 meetings of creditors or any other requirements of the United States Trustee and does not apply to any court other than the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

We recognize this is an unusual step, but it is an unusual time.  We ask all parties to be patient as we work through this new procedure.  You can each facilitate the telephonic hearings by contacting your opposing counsel and interested parties well in advance of hearings to resolve any issues that can be resolved.  We also encourage you to use the Voluntary Notice Procedures set out in General Order 24-2018) to avoid the need for hearings.

If you have questions about a specific case, please contact the appropriate judge’s chambers.  If you have questions about the Clerk’s office or of a general nature, please email:  info@ganb.uscourts.gov.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Wendy L. Hagenau, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge
M. Regina Thomas, Clerk of Court
3.12.2020