FILED
FILED
CLERK’S OFFICE
CLERK’S OFFICE
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT United
UnitedStates
StatesDistrict
DistrictCourt
Court
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE Eastern District of Tennessee
Date: May 29, 2026, 9:04 am
IN RE: )
) SO-26-02
REFERRAL OF CASES AND PROCEEDINGS )
TO THE U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE )
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE )
STANDING ORDER
WHEREAS, on July 13, 1984, the Court entered a Standing Order regarding the referral of all cases
arising under or arising in or related to a case under Title 11 of the United States Code to the U.S. Bankruptcy
Judges of this District (the “1984 Standing Order”); and
WHEREAS, on February 27, 1995, the Court entered a Standing Order designating the U.S.
Bankruptcy Judges of this District to conduct jury trials pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(e) (the “1995 Standing
Order”); and
WHEREAS, this Court deems it necessary and appropriate as a component of the referral of cases
and proceedings to the Bankruptcy Judges of this District under the 1984 Standing Order and the 1995
Standing Order to authorize such Bankruptcy Judges, as part of the performance of their judicial duties under
those Standing Orders, to act as settlement judges through judge-hosted settlement conferences; accordingly
IT IS ORDERED, effective immediately, that as related to the referral of cases and proceedings to
the U.S. Bankruptcy Judges of this District under the 1984 Standing Order and the 1995 Standing Order,
any such Judge is authorized to act as a settlement conference judge as part of his or her official duties; and
it is further
ORDERED that, to the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to this aspect of the referral,
all U.S. Bankruptcy Judges of this District are designated as judicial neutrals under 28 U.S.C. §§ 651-57,
and thus entitled to all the legal immunities and protections afforded to such individuals; and it is further
ORDERED that this Standing Order supplements the 1984 Standing Order and the 1995 Standing
Order; and it is further
ORDERED that all provisions of the 1984 Standing Order and the 1995 Standing Order that are not
within the scope of this Standing Order remain
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_____________________________________
____________________________________
TRRAVIS R. MCDONOUGH
TRAVIS MCDO ONOUGH
CHIEF UNITED STATES
STATES DISTRICT
DISTRIC JUDGE