Local Rule Rule 2090-1: Attorneys – Admission to Practice

Rule 2090-1. Attorneys – Admission to Practice A. Attorney Admission; Discipline. Except to the extent modified by this Rule, standard and requirements stated in the Local Rules of the District Court are adopted for attorney admission, discipline, and unauthorized practice in the Bankruptcy Court.

B. Local Counsel for Member of Bar. If a party's counsel is a member of this Bar whose office is a great distance from court, counsel may be required to retain a local attorney who is a member of this Bar to be available for unscheduled meetings and hearings.

C. Visiting Counsel. An attorney who is not a member of the Bar of any court of record, may be permitted to appear in a case proceeding as follows:

1. Visiting counsel shall file a Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice designating a member of the Bar of this Court with a law office in the District and division, upon whom service of all papers may be made. The Bar member shall consent to the designation in writing and be listed thereafter on all pleadings. The requirement to identify a member of the Bar of this Court for service may be waived by the Court for cause. The Court may dismiss a proceeding for failure to comply with this Rule.

2. Admission to appear as visiting counsel in a particular case does not authorize visiting counsel to appear in any other case(s) without first complying with this Rule as to such other case(s).

D. Government Counsel. A U.S. government attorney may appear without motion for admission. If not a resident in this District, he shall designate the United States Attorney in this District to receive service of all documents.

E. Former Law Clerk. An attorney who has been a law clerk to a judge shall not work on a case which was pending before the judge during the clerkship. Breach of this Rule may disqualify the attorney and firm. The employer shall implement procedures so the attorney does not work on cases pending during the clerkship. For one year after a clerk leaves the judge's employ, that clerk shall not work on any newly-filed case assigned to the judge, as follows:

1. If the clerk: a) prepared or assisted on a petition for relief which is assigned at time of filing to the judge, or b) participated in a case or proceeding for any party after filing and before assignment to the judge, the firm shall advise the judge and the judge shall recuse.

2. If the clerk begins work on a matter after assignment to the judge, the firm shall advise the judge, and the clerk and firm will be disqualified from further participation.

F. Appearance Without Counsel.

1. Individual. An individual may appear and represent himself in any proceeding or hearing in Bankruptcy Court.

2. Other Entities. An entity that is not an individual, including a corporation, partnership or trust, may not file a petition for relief or participate as a debtor, creditor, or party in interest in any proceeding involving the presentation of evidence or argument to the Court except by an attorney. This Rule does not prohibit an authorized representative of a corporation, partnership or trust from appearing at a § 341 meeting, filing a claim, voting on a Chapter 11 plan, or voting to elect a trustee without an attorney.