Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-102
§154 Division of Businesses; Chief Judge
Title 28 › PART I — ORGANIZATION OF COURTS › CHAPTER 6 — BANKRUPTCY JUDGES › § 154
Summary
Judges in a district with more than one bankruptcy judge must vote by majority to make rules for dividing cases unless the district court already has rules. The district court must name one judge as chief to enforce those rules and keep the court running; if its judges can't agree, the district court’s chief judge decides.
Full Legal Text
Title 28, §154
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Each bankruptcy court for a district having more than one bankruptcy judge shall by majority vote promulgate rules for the division of business among the bankruptcy judges to the extent that the division of business is not otherwise provided for by the rules of the district court.
(b)In each district court having more than one bankruptcy judge the district court shall designate one judge to serve as chief judge of such bankruptcy court. Whenever a majority of the judges of such district court cannot agree upon the designation as chief judge, the chief judge of such district court shall make such designation. The chief judge of the bankruptcy court shall ensure that the rules of the bankruptcy court and of the district court are observed and that the business of the bankruptcy court is handled effectively and expeditiously.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
28 U.S.C. § 154
Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102