ACCOMPLISHMENTS/INNOVATIONS

In 2012, the Central District welcomed Judge Mark D. Houle to the bench.
Judge Sheri Bluebond was inducted into the American College of Bankruptcy; Judge Meredith A. Jury was reappointed to a second term; Judge Barry Russell became the most senior bankruptcy judge actively serving in the United States; Judge Erithe A. Smith was appointed to the Judicial Conference Committee on Administration of the Bankruptcy System; and Judge Deborah J. Saltzman was appointed to the national CM/ECF NextGen working group.
The Court achieved the lowest Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) costs per case in the nation for the second consecutive year. The Central District’s low BNC costs yielded approximately $1.65 million in savings to the Federal Judiciary in 2012.
The Court launched its newly redesigned website on October 25. The new website is better organized and easier to navigate than its predecessor, and provides quick access to a variety of resources and information.
In a continuing effort to improve public service, the Court established a new district-wide Call Center. The Call Center handles calls from the public for all five divisions and is available in both English and Spanish. Callers can receive automated information as well as speak with live operators.
The Clerk’s Office established three Centers of Excellence, groups of volunteer staff members that provide a district-wide forum for collaboration on the Court’s multiple projects and initiatives. Members serve as advisors in the areas of Process Improvement, Employee Engagement, and Communication, sharing ideas and implementing initiatives to achieve the Court’s goals.