Posted on Friday (June 5, 2009) at 10:20 am to Bankruptcy Practice
Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq.
Not just any attorney can practice in bankruptcy court. They have to be admitted to the United States District Court for the district where the bankruptcy court is located.
The Central Islip Bankruptcy Court and Brooklyn Bankruptcy Court are both in the Eastern District of New York.
Being admitted to Federal Court requires being sponsored by another attorney and making a special application which is reviewed by the United States District Court. Once the District Court approves the application, a special swearing-in ceremony is held in District Court, and a U.S. District Court Judge swears-in the attorney.
I was sworn into U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in 1985 by Judge Jacob Mishler. At that time, the District Court was in Uniondale. I remember the judge cracking jokes at the ceremony. Judge Mishler served as Chief Judge for the district and never retired. He died at the age of 92 in 2004.
At every Meeting of Creditors held in the Long Island or Brooklyn Bankruptcy Court, the attorney is required to identify himself and indicate that he is admitted to the Eastern District of New York.