Bankruptcy judge

A bankruptcy judge in the United States is a federal judicial officer who presides over a bankruptcy court. Bankruptcy judges are officers of the district court in which their bankruptcy court is located, but do not have the full power of district court judges. As of 2023, there were 298 bankruptcy judges in authorized positions along with 26 retired bankruptcy judges who had been recalled to service.

Unlike Article III judges, bankruptcy judges do not serve lifetime appointments and are not approved by Congress. Instead, they are appointed to 14-year terms by the relevant circuit court of appeals. Each circuit follows a different selection process, which is typically merit-based. The circuit court's selections are made from a list prepared by the judicial council of the circuit.

The degree of authority of a bankruptcy judge varies depending on the nature of the matter. If a dispute between the parties relates to a core matter of bankruptcy, then the bankruptcy judge can issue a final ruling. If the dispute relates to a non-core matter, then the bankruptcy judge can hear the dispute and issue findings of fact and conclusions of law, but these are subject to de novo review by a district judge. A bankruptcy judge also does not have access to the full range of case management tools held by a district court judge, and is for example unable to appoint a special master in complex cases.

Bankruptcy judges are represented by the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges.