Group: Bankruptcy judge shortage could ‘cripple’ Delaware

A federal organization responsible for court policy says the Delaware Bankruptcy Court could be crippled if Congress doesn’t make a group of temporary judges permanent.

News outlets report the U.S. Judicial Conference sent a letter to congressional leaders on April 4 urging them to pass legislation that’ll add four fixed bankruptcy judges and make 14 existing judgeships permanent. The Delaware Bankruptcy Court has six judges; five of those positions are temporary and could expire May 25.

James C. Duff, director of the Administration Office for the U.S. Courts says bankruptcy courts would face a debilitating workload if these judgeships expired.

U.S. senators introduced legislation on March 15 that would make several temporary judgeships in Delaware and other jurisdictions permanent. It’s currently being reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.