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News & Announcements
Check this page, or the News and Announcements box on the homepage, for the latest official news and announcements released by the court. You can also access archived news and announcements from this page.
Wed, 05/07/2025
If you have used PACER or CM/ECF recently you are aware that starting May 11, 2025, multifactor authentication(MFA) will be required for all filers. MFA provides an added layer of security to accounts by helping protect against cyberattacks that...
Fri, 05/02/2025
Full implementation of The REAL ID Act is scheduled for May 7, 2025. Requirements for entry to the Seattle and Tacoma Courthouses will not change with implementation of the REAL ID Act. Any current government issued photo ID will still be valid...
Wed, 04/30/2025
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for a Bankruptcy Judgeship for the Western District of Washington. This position is available immediately; however, the selection process may take up to...
Mon, 04/21/2025
On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the Bankruptcy Court will host a training event for those in the legal community who serve as the key CM/ECF filers or document preparers in their office, including paralegals and administrative assistants. If you are an...
Mon, 04/21/2025
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for a Bankruptcy Judgeship for the Northern District of California. This position will be available May 17, 2026. The selection process...
Tue, 04/15/2025
Thank you to all who turned out for the Vancouver Bench Bar event on April 14, 2025. And special thank you to Mike Malaier's office for hosting the luncheon following the event.
Here is a link to the handouts from the presentation on the Anatomy of...
Fri, 04/04/2025
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for two bankruptcy judgeships for the Eastern District of California. These positions are available after August 31, 2025; however, the selection...
Wed, 03/26/2025
The Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit have reappointed Bankruptcy Judge Timothy W. Dore, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge for the W. D. Washington, to a second 14-year term effective April 4, 2025. A press release announcing the...
Wed, 03/19/2025
Save the date! On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in the Seattle Federal Courthouse, the Bankruptcy Court will host an event for those in the legal community who serve as the key CM/ECF filers or document preparers in their office. This training event will...
Tue, 03/18/2025
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for a Bankruptcy Judgeship for the Central District of California. The selection process may take up to 18 months to complete. The official duty station...
Tue, 03/04/2025
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for a Bankruptcy Judgeship for the District of Hawaii. This position will be available September 1, 2026. The selection process may take up to 18 months...
Fri, 02/21/2025
Updated Homestead numbers for 2025 are now available: https://wcrer.be.uw.edu/housing-market-data-toolkit/annual-median-price/
Tue, 02/04/2025
The Court will host a one-hour bench bar event in Vancouver on Monday, April 14, 2025, immediately following the 11 a.m. calendar, which is being held in person. The event will focus on practice tips, a Court update, and chapter 13 updates. An off-...
Fri, 01/24/2025
The 2025 Bench Bar Meetings held earlier this week in Seattle and Tacoma were a success. Thank you to all who attended and participated in the events. As promised, the handouts from the meetings are now posted on the Court website, beneath the Best...
Tue, 01/21/2025
Effective February 20, 2025, Judge Heston will hold two Vancouver Calendars per month.
https://www.wawb.uscourts.gov/content/judge-mary-jo-heston-0
Thu, 01/02/2025
The President of the United States has entered an executive order closing all executive departments and agencies of the federal government on January 9, 2025, as a mark of respect for James Earl Carter, Jr., the 39th President of the United States....
Mon, 12/30/2024
In observance of the New Year's Day holiday, the Court will be closed on Wednesday January 1, 2025.
Thu, 12/19/2024
In observance of the Christmas holiday, the Court will be closed on Tuesday December 24th and Wednesday December 25th, 2024.
Thu, 12/12/2024
CM/ECF will be unavailable from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm on Saturday, December 14, 2024 for system updates.
Thu, 12/05/2024
The Court's Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program announces new appointments to its Executive Committee. Committee member and Chair Mike DeLeo's term of service on the Committee ended on December 1, 2024. The Court thanks Mr. DeLeo for his service,...
Thu, 12/05/2024
The following national amended and new rules and forms became effective December 1, 2024:
Appellate Rules 32, 35, and 40, and the Appendix of Length Limits;
Bankruptcy Restyled Rules Parts I through IX, Rules 1007, 4004, 5009, 7001, and 9006, and...
Mon, 11/25/2024
In observance of Thanksgiving Day, the Court will be closed on Thursday November 28 and Friday November 29.
Wed, 11/06/2024
Attention all ECF Filers: The Court has been advised by our Administrative Office of reports of fake Notices of Electronic Filing (NEFs) being sent to attorneys and law firms across the country. These fake NEFs are phishing attempts to convince...
Tue, 11/05/2024
In observance of Veteran's Day, the Court will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2024.
Mon, 11/04/2024
United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit
Bankruptcy Judgeship Opportunity
District of Oregon – Eugene Division
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications from highly qualified candidates for a Bankruptcy Judgeship for the...
Fri, 10/25/2024
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington will change to a new toll-free Telephone Number and Meeting Number for telephonic hearings effective Monday, November 4, 2024.
Telephonic hearings scheduled on and after November 4,...
Wed, 10/09/2024
In observance of Columbus Day, the Court will be closed on Monday, October 14, 2024.
Fri, 09/27/2024
Zoom § 341 Meetings - U.S. Trustee’s Info Session
The U.S. Trustee Program is implementing Zoom § 341 meetings of creditors in chapter 7, 12, and 13 cases in the Western District of Washington for § 341 meetings being held on or after November 1,...
Wed, 09/25/2024
Zoom 341 Meetings to Begin November 1, 2024
The U.S. Trustee Program is implementing virtual § 341 meetings of creditors in chapter 7, 12, and 13 cases in the Western District of Washington for § 341 meetings being held on or after November 1, 2024...
Fri, 09/13/2024
The Court’s Thomas T. Glover Mediation Program is pleased to host a special event featuring Dr. Sukhsimranjit Singh, Managing Director of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law. Dr. Singh is a...
Thu, 09/05/2024
The Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s Offices in Seattle and Tacoma will be closed to the public on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, to enable staff to attend a district-wide training program. CM/ECF will be fully operational and will be accepting electronic...
Wed, 08/28/2024
In observance of Labor Day, the Court will be closed on Monday September 2, 2024.
Thu, 08/15/2024
The Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure has approved publication for comment of the following proposed amendments to existing rules and forms, as well as one new rule:
Appellate Rules 29 and 32, Appendix on Length...
Tue, 07/30/2024
National Form Voluntary Petition Modified to Reflect Reduced Debt Limits Effective June 22, 2024
Increased debt limits applicable to Chapter 13 and Subchapter V filings expired at midnight on June 21, 2024. The increase in the qualifying debt limits...
Tue, 07/02/2024
As of June 30, 2024, the Court completed the process of reassigning cases previously assigned to retiring Judges Marc L. Barreca and Brian D. Lynch. General Orders 2024-1 and 2024-2, set forth the details for reassignment of caseloads and the...
Thu, 06/27/2024
In observance of Independence Day, the Court will be closed on Thursday July 4, 2024.
Mon, 06/24/2024
The Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment and Technical Corrections Act (BTATC Act) temporarily increased the debt limits to qualify as a debtor under subchapter V of chapter 11 and chapter 13. The increased debt limit provisions expired at midnight on...
Wed, 06/12/2024
In observance of Juneteenth, the Court will be closed on Wednesday June 19, 2024
Thu, 05/30/2024
The WAWB Best Practices series is going back to basics with a Motions Practice Primer! Particularly geared toward those new to bankruptcy practice, and a refresher for those who have been working in the bankruptcy area for awhile, this article...
Tue, 05/21/2024
In observance of Memorial Day, the Court will be closed on Monday May 27, 2024
Fri, 05/03/2024
Bankruptcy Judgeship for the District of Idaho
Tue, 04/09/2024
In anticipation of the retirement of Judge Marc L. Barreca, the Court will begin the process of reassigning Judge Barreca’s pending case load and cease to assign him new cases. Details are set out in the Court’s General Order 2024-2.
In the General...
Fri, 04/05/2024
The ECF Procedures Manual (“Manual”) is now available. The Manual is a guide designed to outline common procedures in the Court's Electronic Case Filing system (ECF) and is located under the Electronic Case Filing >Training tab. The Manual is...
Tue, 03/19/2024
CM/ECF will be unavailable for maintenance Saturday March 23, 2024 (9am - Noon)
Mon, 03/18/2024
In mid-April, in anticipation of Judge Brian D. Lynch’s retirement, the Court will begin reassigning Judge Lynch’s cases. Details of the case reassignments, and information about the assignment of newly filed cases, are set out in the Court’s ...
Wed, 03/06/2024
Updated Homestead numbers are now available.
https://wcrer.be.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/60/2024/02/HMR-4Q2023-annual-medians.pdf
Mon, 02/12/2024
In observance of President's Day, the court will be closed on Monday February 19, 2024.
Mon, 01/29/2024
High school students are invited to enter the 2024 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest. The theme of this year’s essay and video contest is “70 Years Later—The Legacy of Brown v. Board of Education.” In addressing the theme, students are asked to “discuss...
Fri, 01/26/2024
The Court hosted bench bar meetings in Seattle and Tacoma on January 23 and 24, respectively. The handout materials from those meetings are now posted on the Court's website (scroll to the end of the page), and attached below. Many thanks to all...
Fri, 01/12/2024
The Court is launching an informative monthly Chapter 11 lunch series focused on practical tips for representing debtors and other parties in Chapter 11 cases including: pre-bankruptcy strategies in representing debtors, client interview tips, and...
Thu, 01/04/2024
Judge Alston’s Feb. 14 Port Orchard Calendar to be Conducted by Telephone Only
Tue, 10/31/2023
Court Adopts Amendments to Local Bankruptcy Rules and Forms Effective Dec. 1, 2023
Fri, 09/29/2023
The Honorable Christopher M. Alston is appointed as Chief Judge of the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington, effective October 1, 2023. Judge Alston was appointed to the bench on June 15, 2015, and maintains chambers in Seattle,...
Tue, 10/01/2019
The Court announces the appointment of the Honorable Marc L. Barreca as Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Washington Bankruptcy Court. Judge Barreca's term as Chief will commence on October 1, 2019. The Court also acknowledges Judge...