News and Views from the Bench
of the Honorable Mary Watts Colón

July 25, 2026, marked a new beginning. Being sworn in as the United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Florida was both an honor and a privilege. As cases transition, chambers and the Clerk’s Office are working diligently to make the process as seamless as possible for practitioners and litigants. We are fortunate to have Judge Specie on recall until July 2027 to handle a conflict calendar You will see Judges Oldshue and Callaway have been assigned several cases to assist with the conflict cases as well. We are fortunate to have their help and I greatly appreciate the assistance they are providing.

E-Orders Coming October 1

The Clerk’s Office and chambers have been collaborating over the past year to implement several initiatives. First among them is the Court’s new electronic-orders, or “E-Orders,” process. The E-Orders system will allow practitioners to track the status of submitted orders and should reduce the time Clerk’s Office staff spend routing orders to the appropriate parties. The go-live date is October 1, 2026. The Clerk’s Office will provide additional updates as implementation approaches. As we transition to this new system, please pay careful attention to the Court’s style guide and order formats. Under the E-Orders system, orders are submitted in PDF and as a result, chambers will not be able to correct errors. Orders that need corrections will be rejected and must be resubmitted.

Connecting With the Bar

In August, Judge Specie and I had the opportunity to travel to Pensacola for court and a brown-bag lunch. Chambers appreciated the opportunity to meet with members of the bankruptcy community there. The Court intends to host additional brown-bag lunches in Gainesville in September and Tallahassee in October. Please watch for notices with further details.

Appreciation to Judge Specie

Finally, I would like to thank Judge Specie for her many years of service. For the past 14 years, our Court has greatly benefited from her leadership, wisdom, and commitment to the administration of justice.

News and Views from the Bench
of the Honorable Karen K. Specie

Welcome – FLNB Chief Bankruptcy Judge Mary W. Colón!

United States Bankruptcy Judge Mary W. Colón was sworn in on July 24, 2026, and became this district’s new “Chief” on July 25, 2026. WELCOME TO THE BENCH, JUDGE COLÓN!

Thank You for a Superb Retirement Reception

My retirement reception at “The Filibuster” in Tallahassee on Friday, July 17,2026, was enjoyed by all – especially me! My immediate family attended, including our grandchildren and a son who lives in London. I was thrilled to see so many District, Bankruptcy and Magistrate judges, lawyers, colleagues and friends from all over, including former law clerks here in Tallahassee, and others who traveled from Minnesota, New York City, Chicago and Miami. I am told the food was excellent, but I was having so much fun I didn’t eat a bite!

Thank you to NDFLBBA and its sponsors, Traci Abrams and her team, Brian Rich, Samantha Kelley, and all of you who traveled far and wide, for such a wonderful “farewell” event.

Recall (“A call to return; to call back”)

The Eleventh Circuit has appointed me, and I have agreed to serve on “Recall” for one year and a day beginning July 26, 2026. Through August 21, 2026, I served full-time. During the remainder of my term on recall I will serve part time, handling (remotely) Chapter 7 and 13 cases in which Judge Colón has conflicts. I may also handle hearings in other cases from time to time on an “as needed” basis, BUT NO DISCOVERY DISPUTES!

Thank You for the Past Fourteen Years

As I wrote in our last newsletter, I thank each and every one of you for helping make my tenure as this Court’s bankruptcy judge memorable. It has been a true honor to serve.

Practice Tip: Applications to Employ

Under Bankr. N.D. Fla. Local Rule 9013-1(C), oppositions to motions and applications may be filed within 14 days after service of the motion or application. Proposed orders on applications to employ should therefore be submitted only after the objection period has expired, plus an additional three days for mailing.

Practice Tip: Motions for Adequate Protection

Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 4001(d)(1)(A) requires that a motion for adequate protection be accompanied by a proposed order. A motion filed without a proposed order may be set for hearing or denied without prejudice.

Scam Alert: Do Not Pay Court Fees to Callers Over the Phone

Please review the announcement regarding a recent trend in the Northern District of Florida and elsewhere concerning a social engineering scam designed to entice debtors to pay court fees over the phone. These types of phone calls are not from the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida. Please do not provide callers with personally identifiable information (as in bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, etc.), credit card numbers, pre-paid card numbers, or money.

News and Announcements Recap: Administrative Order 25-005 Vacated

Administrative Order 25-005 1) Waiving Requirement for Individual Debtors to File Pay Advices and Statements of No Employment Income with the Court, and 2) Amending N.D. Fla. LBR 1007-1 was vacated by Chief Bankruptcy Judge Mary Watts Colón on August 31, 2026 All provisions of N.D. Fla. LBR 1007-1 are in effect and may be reviewed on the Local Rules page of the Court’s website.

From the IT Desk: Portable Personal Computing Device Use in the Courtroom and Wireless Access Service Availability

Be sure to review Standing Order No. 10 before appearing in a courtroom in this District to understand the allowances and limitations associated with the use of portable personal computing devices. Such devices may be used in a courtroom by any party, counsel, or counsel’s staff with certain limitations. All equipment is subject to review by a Court Security Officer before use, may never be used to record video or audio of any portion of any hearing, and may never be used to take still photos inside the courtroom gallery. Hearing observers are not authorized to use portable personal computing devices of any kind.

Wireless access provided through the District Court Bench and Bar Fund is available in all divisions of the Northern District of Florida. Parties and counsel with CM/ECF accounts may use the wireless service to access CM/ECF during court hearings by obtaining a password from the courtroom deputy or a member of Information Technology staff.

Unclaimed Funds Application Process Revision Completion

By Traci E. Abrams, Clerk of Court

The Clerk’s Office, Chief Judge Mary Watts Colón, Judge Karen K. Specie, and Chambers staff are excited to report that we have completed a dramatic revision of the manner in which applicants may search for and request payment of unclaimed funds.

The revision involves an updated webpage outlining the three-step claim process, two new Application for Payment of Unclaimed Funds (“Application”) forms specifically designed for individual and non-individual claimants, and an applicant-type-based instructional webpage that presents instructions for filing an Application in a clear and concise manner. A News and Announcements post will be published as soon as the website has been updated to reflect the new information and forms. Upon the effective date, all pending Applications containing deficiencies will not be processed. Instead, applicants with deficient Applications will receive a “Clerk’s Notice that Application for Payment of Unclaimed Funds is Deficient and Will Not Be Processed” describing the deficiency and instructing the applicant to file a new Application with supporting documentation. Pending Applications may not be amended.

Federal Holidays

The Court and Clerk’s Office will be closed in observance of the remaining 2026 federal holidays*:

• October 12 Columbus Day
• November 11 Veterans Day
• November 26 Thanksgiving Day
• December 25 Christmas Day

*Observance of a holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b) and/or Executive Order 11582, Feb. 11, 1971.

Contact Us

Contact the Clerk’s Office by visiting the Contact Us page. Clerk’s Office phones are answered from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays or other days the Court is closed. Case Administrators may assist you with CM/ECF or procedural questions only. Clerk’s Office staff is not permitted to answer legal questions or provide guidance as to the content or types of documents that may be required.