The U.S. Sixth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel

The U.S. Sixth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate panel is a federal appellate court which hears appeals from federal bankruptcy cases in the following districts: the Western District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Eastern District of Tennessee, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Kentucky, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of Ohio, Western District of Michigan and Eastern District of Michigan.

The court is located in Cincinnati, OH at 540 Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse, 100 E. Fifth Street, 45202-3988. The main phone number for the clerk's office is 513-564-7000. The circuit executive, who provides daily administrative support to the court, can be reached at 513-564-7200 or 503 Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse, 100 East Fifth Street in Cincinnati.

There are currently six active judges sitting on the U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Sixth Circuit. These judges represent the districts within the circuit, and there is one chief judge. The office of chief judge is rotated among all active judges, and in order to be eligible for this a judge must be at least 70 years old or have served for seven years. These requirements are waived in the event that no current active judges meet them.

When a bankruptcy case from one of the districts within the sixth circuit files for appeal, a panel of three active judges hear and decide the case.

The homepage for the court's website is located at www.ca6.uscourts.gov/internet/bap/bap.htm. This page offers an option to search for opinions, obtain rules for the U.S. Sixth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, and even a listing of current judges. Parties to cases will find a practice manual and federal rules of procedure for the court as well.

A link to the panel's hearing calendar is available online, as well as downloadable appearance forms and briefs.