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Information regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Court Operations

Updated March 10, 2022

In light of the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") guidance relating to the requirement for face coverings, as adopted by the General Services Administration ("GSA"), the Court rescinds the following paragraph from Amended General Order 20-4 requiring the wearing of face coverings while in the Bankruptcy Courthouses:

  • No visitor shall be admitted to the Bankruptcy Courthouses in Phoenix or Tucson without a face covering, which shall be worn at all times while in the courthouse. Face coverings will be provided to any visitor who does not have their own. Other tenants of the courthouse or those coming to interact with such tenants shall provide their own face covering.

 

Updated November 23, 2021

The court is committed to continuing service to the public during the COVID-19 outbreak. To protect individuals involved in bankruptcy cases, as well as court employees, from transmission of the virus the court has instituted the following filing procedures:

To submit documents please do the following:

  • Complete the coversheet and attach to an envelope.
  • Place your documents and any payments in the envelope.
  • Place in the drop box for collection by the clerk.
  • Your pleadings will be processed the next day.

If you need to speak to Clerk’s Office staff immediately, you can use your cellphone to call us directly from the lobby, at one of the numbers listed below:

  • 602-682-4000 (Phoenix)
  • 520-202-7500 (Tucson)

If you wish to follow up on your submission, you can call the Clerk's Office during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) at the following numbers:

  • 602-682-4000 (Phoenix)
  • 520-202-7500 (Tucson)
  • 800-556-9230 (Toll Free)

For up-to-date information regarding court operations during the COVID-19 Outbreak, please visit our website at www.azb.uscourts.gov.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

Updated September 14, 2021

In response to the ongoing public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to further the operations of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona, and for good cause appearing;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that General Order 21-1 will remain in effect until rescinded or amended..

 

Updated May 25, 2021

This General Order is being issued in response to the ongoing public health emergency
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to further the operations of the United States Bankruptcy
Court for the District of Arizona in light of the reduction in COVID-19 related illnesses and
increased vaccination rate. Upon consideration of the foregoing, effective July 1, 2021:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:

1. All court hearings, unless otherwise ordered or unless otherwise stated herein shall
be conducted telephonically or by videoconference. In-person trials or other evidentiary hearings
may be conducted, as determined on a case-by-case basis by the presiding judge, and in
consultation with the parties, subject to observance of the safety protocols set forth herein.
Provisions will be made for a telephonic or videoconference appearance for any Participant,
defined as any attorney, litigant or witness, who chooses not to appear in person.

2. The following protocols must be observed and followed in any in-person
evidentiary hearing or trial:

a. All Participants are to observe social distancing rules. No more than one
counsel and one client representative may sit at each counsel table at a time.
b. All Participants are to wear face coverings during the court proceeding. During
the proceeding the presiding judge may authorize removal of a face covering
for purposes of witness testimony, identification, making an appropriate record
or other reasons deemed necessary by the judge, provided that social distancing
or other protective measures are followed.
c. Courtrooms may be modified in accordance with recommendations of health
authorities, including by the use of plexiglass shields, modified spaced seating
arrangements and limitations on the number of participants in the courtroom.
d. Enhanced cleaning measures may be employed as necessary.

3. All mediations shall continue to be conducted telephonically or by
videoconference.

4. All non-case related events are cancelled pending further notice.

5. General Orders 20-4, as amended, and 20-5 remain in full force and effect.

6. This General Order does not affect other aspects of Bankruptcy Court operations
within the District of Arizona. Parties are advised to closely monitor the Court’s website at the
following link to stay apprised of future developments impacting Bankruptcy Court operations
and case administration: http://www.azb.uscourts.gov.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this General Order will remain in effect through
September 30, 2021, unless otherwise rescinded, amended, or extended, as necessary.
Dated this 25th day of May, 2021.

 

Updated Febuary 2, 2021

In view of the continuing concerns regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and in order to protect the public health with the goal of mitigating the risk of transmission of COVID-19, and for good cause shown; IT IS HEREBY ORDERED extending the provisions set forth in General Order 20-3 for all matters scheduled through June 30, 2021, subject to further extension, as necessary.
 
 

Updated November 10, 2020

In view of the continuing concerns regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and in order to protect the public health with the goal of mitigating the risk of transmission of COVID-19, and for good cause shown; IT IS HEREBY ORDERED extending the provisions set forth in General Order 20-3 for all matters scheduled through March 31, 2021, subject to further extension, as necessary.

 

Updated September 01, 2020

In view of the continuing concerns regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and in order to protect the public health with the goal of mitigating the risk of transmission of COVID-19, and for good cause shown; IT IS HEREBY ORDERED extending the provisions set forth in General Order 20-3 for all matters scheduled through December 31, 2020, subject to further extension, as necessary.

 

Updated June 23, 2020

In view of the continuing concerns regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and in order to protect the public health with the goal of mitigating the risk of transmission of COVID-19, and for good cause shown; IT IS HEREBY ORDERED extending the provisions set forth in General Order 20-3 for all matters scheduled through September 18, 2020, subject to further extension, as necessary.
 
 

Updated April 6, 2020

As a result of developing issues with the COVID-19 virus, all in-person 341 meetings scheduled through May 10, 2020  will be conducted as telephonic meetings. Notices including the call-in information are being sent in each case. The date of the meeting may change, which will be indicated on the notice. If you have not received a 341 notice with a telephonic hearing call-in number – please contact your Trustee.

 

Updated March 19, 2020

The court is committed to continuing service to the public during the COVID-19 outbreak. To protect individuals involved in bankruptcy cases, as well as court employees, from transmission of the virus the court has instituted the following filing procedures:

To submit documents please do the following:

  • Complete the coversheet and attach to an envelope.
  • Place your documents and any payments in the envelope.
  • Place in the drop box for collection by the clerk.
  • Your pleadings will be processed the next day.

If you need to speak to Clerk’s Office staff immediately, you can use your cellphone to call us directly from the lobby, at one of the numbers listed below:

  • 602-682-4907 (Phoenix)
  • 520-202-7907 (Tucson)

If you wish to follow up on your submission, you can call the Clerk's Office during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.) at the following numbers:

  • 602-682-4000 (Phoenix)
  • 520-202-7500 (Tucson)
  • 800-556-9230 (Toll Free)

For up-to-date information regarding court operations during the COVID-19 Outbreak, please visit our website at www.azb.uscourts.gov.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

March 12, 2020

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona would like to assure the public that we are following all recommended guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Arizona Department of Health Services to ensure the safety and health of the public and our staff.

Please note the following:

If you have a scheduled court proceeding or are otherwise required to appear at one of the courthouses in the District of Arizona and are experiencing any flu like symptoms, have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, you should proceed as follows before appearing:

• If you are represented by an attorney, please contact the attorney.
• If you are an attorney and are scheduled to appear in court before a judge, please contact the
 judge’s chambers.
• For District Court matters, please contact the Clerk of Court at 602-322-7200 in Phoenix or in Tucson call 520-205-4200.

If you fall within a higher risk category, or are otherwise uncomfortable appearing in person for a non-evidentiary hearing before the bankruptcy court, please contact the chambers of the assigned judge to request permission to appear telephonically. Each judge has procedures for telephonic attendance listed under their chamber's procedures page of the Court website: http://www.azb.uscourts.gov/procedures

If you have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19 and you have symptoms of the disease (fever, cough, shortness of breath) reach out to your healthcare provider for details on how to proceed with proper medical care. DO NOT visit a courthouse.

Stay informed by:
• Visiting the AZ Department of Health Services website at: https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/index.php#novel-coronavirus-public-resources
• Visiting the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov
• Visiting the WHO website: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

Thank you for your cooperation.