Philadelphia – The Courts, Community, and Rule of Law Committee of the Judicial Council of the Third Circuit announced today that it is hosting an essay contest for 5th and 6th grade classes focused on civics, citizenship, and the concept of the “Rule of Law.” The essay prompt is: “What does the Rule of Law mean to you and to our country?”
The Third Judicial Circuit is comprised of the U.S. Court of Appeals as well as the Federal District Courts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The latter are trial courts, which include bankruptcy courts. Chief Circuit Judge Michael A. Chagares noted that “We think it is only fitting that we launch this program in connection with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King, an example of how individual citizens can advance the notion that our society should recognize the dignity of each and every citizen.” The Rule of Law plays a key role in that effort by ensuring the consistent and predictable application of law to each person.
The Committee and its members are partnering with bar associations, civic organizations, and educational institutions across the geographical reach of the Third Circuit to promote and oversee the essay contest. Class essays must be submitted on or before Friday, March 18, 2022. Classes submitting the best essays in each district (District of Delaware, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, and the District of the Virgin Islands) of the Third Circuit will be invited to one of the nine courthouses in the Third Circuit to present their essays during the first weeks of May, in celebration of Law Day. The essays and presentations will be evaluated based on focus, content development, organization, and style and prizes will be awarded.
Judge D. Brooks Smith, who chairs the Courts, Community, and Rule of Law Committee overseeing the contest, urged that “It is important, now more than ever, that the citizenry realize that our courts are an integral part of the community. An understanding of what we do as the third branch of government in promoting the rule of law will help students appreciate the importance of our independent judiciary.”
Changes in the Bankruptcy Forms and Bankruptcy Noticing
Official Form 122B
A proposed amendment to the instructions at the top of Official Form 122B has been approved by the Judicial Conference and will go into effect December 1, 2021. The amended instructions clarify that the form is not to be used by an individual debtor filing under Subchapter V of Chapter 11.
Effective December 1, 2021, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts has designated any entity that receives 100 or more paper bankruptcy notices in a single calendar month as a high-volume paper notice recipient pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9036(b)(2)(B) (as amended effective December 1, 2021) (the “Rule”). The threshold number of paper notices that will cause a notice recipient to be designated as a high-volume paper notice recipient pursuant to the Rule will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted once a year, effective on December 1st of each year.
Once the threshold paper notice amount is reached, the Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) will notify the notice recipient that it must register for Electronic Bankruptcy Noticing (EBN) or that, if the recipient does not register within 45 days of the date of the notification, the BNC will establish an electronic address where the Director designates the recipient to receive its notices pursuant to the Rule.
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
IN RE: REVISED COURT : STANDING ORDER 2021-12
AND NOW, this 4th day of August 2021, it is hereby ORDERED that the findings and directives of Standing Order 2020-10 are hereby RESCINDED. The Court continues to review its operations to identify measures that will help protect court employees and the public from the COVID-19 virus, while at the same time preserving its core mission of serving the public through the fair and impartial administration of justice.
The Court’s ongoing review of its operations includes the monitoring of guidance emanating from various authoritative sources relative to the administration of the federal courts. Integral to that analysis is the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, which strongly encourages all court units to follow the revised Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, issued on July 27, 2021. This most recent guidance has advised all people, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission to further reduce the spread of the virus. The CDC continues to recommend that those who are not fully vaccinated take
precautions to protect themselves and others from COVID-19, including wearing a mask in indoor public places and maintaining six feet of physical distance from others. The CDC also recommends that fully vaccinated people who are immunocompromised continue to take precautions until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
Since the CDC issued its revised guidance, the Court has determined through the CDC COVID DATA TRACKER that the level of community transmission in Dauphin and Luzerne Counties (counties in which two of the four Middle District Courthouses are located) is in the substantial category.
IT IS HERBY ORDERED, effective immediately and until further Order of the Court, that:
1. This Order supersedes Standing Order 2021-10 entered on June 11, 2021.
2. All persons, regardless of vaccination status, entering the Ronald Reagan Federal Building & United States Courthouse in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, and the Max Rosenn United States Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, must at all times wear a mask or face covering that covers the wearer’s nose and mouth when entering the building and when in common or public spaces, including but not limited to courtrooms, hallways, bathrooms,
Clerks Office public counter/intake area, Probation Office reception, elevators and stairwells.
3. Persons who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are required to maintain six feet of physical distance from each other at all times when entering these federal buildings and courthouses in common or public spaces, including but not limited to courtrooms, hallways, bathrooms, Clerks Office public counter/intake area, Probation Office reception, elevators, and stairwells.
4. This Standing Order shall be enforceable by the United States Marshals Service and the Court Security Officers.
BY THE COURT:
s/ Matthew W. Brann
Matthew W. Brann
Chief United States District Judge
Pursuant to the Order of the District Court as made applicable to the Bankruptcy Court through General Order 2021-06, all persons entering the Courthouse must wear masks at all times regardless of vaccination status and all unvaccinated persons must also maintain six feet of physical distancing at all times.
The Court is pleased to announce the appointment of the Hon. Mark J. Conway effective July 22, 2021. Judge Conway will immediately begin receiving new cases filed in Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport. Other pending cases may also be transferred to him as necessitated by judicial economy.
Effective after Judge Opel’s retirement on March 26, 2021 and until a successor judge takes the bench, all cases currently assigned and new cases that would be assigned to Judge Opel will be reassigned to Chief Judge Van Eck. Any cases presenting a conflict of interest with Chief Judge Van Eck will be temporarily assigned to visiting Judge Patricia Mayer. Judge Mayer sits in the Reading office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Court.
Effective after Judge Opel’s retirement on March 26, 2021 and until a successor judge takes the bench, all cases currently assigned and new cases that would be assigned to Judge Opel will be reassigned to Chief Judge Van Eck. Any cases presenting a conflict of interest with Chief Judge Van Eck will be temporarily assigned to visiting Judge Patricia Mayer. Judge Mayer sits in the Reading office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Court.
