About the BAP

The U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP) for the Ninth Circuit was created in 1979 by the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit as an alternative to district courts for hearing bankruptcy appeals. Today, all district courts in the Ninth Circuit automatically send bankruptcy appeals to the BAP unless a party chooses otherwise. 

Judges

The BAP is made up of bankruptcy judges from across the Ninth Circuit. They are appointed by the Judicial Council and rotate service on the panel. Judges on the BAP bring deep knowledge of bankruptcy law and review cases to decide whether a bankruptcy court ruling was correct.

Six bankruptcy judges currently serve on the BAP.

• Honorable Julia W. Brand, Chief Judge – Central District of California

• Honorable William J. Lafferty, III – Northern District of California

• Honorable Gary A. Spraker – District of Alaska

• Honorable Scott H. Gan – District of Arizona

• Honorable Frederick P. Corbit – Eastern District of Washington

• Honorable Jennifer E. Niemann – Eastern District of California

When a judge serves on the BAP, they do not hear cases that come from their own home court.

Seminar Disclosures

A seminar disclosure is a report that shows when a private group pays for a federal judge’s travel, meals, or hotel to go to an educational program. These reports are made so the public can see who is paying for the program and what it is about.

BAP judge seminar disclosures are reported to the bankruptcy court in which they sit as a bankruptcy judge.

Complaints about Judges

If you have evidence of misconduct by a federal judge, you may file a complaint about them. You may also file a complaint if a disability prevents them from carrying out their duties.

Contact

(626) 229–7220

Mailing Address

Susan M. Spraul, Clerk

Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit
125 South Grand Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105

Relevant Orders

• The Amended Order Continuing the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit (PDF)  continues the BAP service, and describes its authority, membership, procedures, and rules for hearing bankruptcy appeals within the circuit.