--- title: "John E. Hoffman Jr. | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-e-hoffman-jr-8921" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # John E. Hoffman Jr. U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio · U.S. Bankruptcy Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio - State: Ohio - Role: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - John E. Hoffman, Jr. is the Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio, appointed in 2000 and currently serving until 2028 - Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio, 2000-present - Judge Hoffman was appointed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio in 2000 - Joined the firm in 1989 after completing a judicial clerkship with Hon. R. Guy Cole, Jr., a former bankruptcy judge and now Chief Judge of the Sixth Circuit - Chief Judge and has been active in shaping bankruptcy law and practice in the district - Judge Hoffman is also an adjunct professor of law at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law ### Education - Ohio State University Moritz College of Law with honors in — J.D. (1983) ### Additional information - As of March 1, 2025, he also assumed recall judge status. - He has received multiple awards, including the William K. Thomas Distinguished Jurist Award (2015) and the Excellence in Public Service Award (2016) from Moritz College of Law - Hoffman has served on the Board of Trustees for The Legal Aid Society of Columbus (1995–2000) and has been recognized for pro bono service by the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association - Joined Arter & Hadden in 1989 after completing a judicial clerkship with the Honorable R. Guy Cole, Jr.. - Hoffman was a partner in the Columbus office of Arter & Hadden LLP, where he practiced mainly in the areas of bankruptcy and commercial litigation. - Before joining the judiciary, Hoffman was a partner in the Columbus office of Arter & Hadden LLP, where he practiced bankruptcy and commercial litigation - focusing on Chapter 11 debtors and creditors’ committees. - He is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and has held leadership roles in the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ), including chairing its Education Committee and serving on its Board of Governors. - He has also been appointed to the Federal Judicial Center’s Committee on Bankruptcy Judge Education - Hoffman has been an adjunct professor of law at Moritz College of Law, serving on its National Council. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### motion form Scope: courtwide Request an order by written motion unless the rules authorize an application or the request is made during a hearing. State the grounds with particularity and specify the requested relief or order. Evidence excerpt: A motion must state its grounds with particularity and set forth the relief or order requested. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### motion notice timing Scope: courtwide Unless a motion may be heard ex parte or another period applies, serve the written motion and hearing notice at least seven days before the hearing. Serve supporting affidavits with the motion. Evidence excerpt: A written motion (other than one that may be heard ex parte) and notice of any hearing must be served at least 7 days before the hearing date, unless the court or these rules set a different period. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### contested matter notice Scope: courtwide In a contested matter not otherwise governed by the bankruptcy rules, request relief by motion and give the opposing party reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard. A response is required only if the court orders one. Evidence excerpt: Reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard must be given to the party against whom relief is sought. No response is required unless the court orders otherwise. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### disputed fact testimony Scope: courtwide Present witness testimony on a disputed material factual issue in the same manner as testimony in an adversary proceeding. Evidence excerpt: A witness's testimony on a disputed material factual issue must be taken in the same manner as testimony in an adversary proceeding. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### evidentiary hearing notice Scope: courtwide Use the court's procedure to determine, reasonably before a scheduled hearing, whether it will be an evidentiary hearing at which witnesses may testify. Evidence excerpt: The court must provide procedures that allow parties-at a reasonable time before a scheduled hearing-to determine whether it will be an evidentiary hearing at which witnesses may testify. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### evidence rules Scope: courtwide Prepare evidence under the Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 43, 44, and 44.1, which apply in bankruptcy cases. Evidence excerpt: The Federal Rules of Evidence and Fed. R. Civ. P. 43, 44, and 44.1 apply in a bankruptcy case. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oath or affirmation Scope: courtwide A solemn affirmation may substitute when an oath is required. The national rule identifies the bankruptcy judge, clerk, deputy clerk, U.S. trustee, and other authorized officers as persons who may administer it. Evidence excerpt: If an oath is required, a solemn affirmation suffices. [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8921/john-e-hoffman-jr/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8921/john-e-hoffman-jr/) - [U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8921/john-e-hoffman-jr/) - [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8921/john-e-hoffman-jr/) - [Judge John E. Hoffman, Jr. | Southern District of Ohio | United States Bankruptcy Court](https://www.ohsb.uscourts.gov/content/judge-john-e-hoffman-jr) - [John E. Hoffman, Jr. - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_E._Hoffman,_Jr.) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-e-hoffman-jr-8921", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-e-hoffman-jr-8921", "name": "John E. Hoffman Jr. | KnowJudges", "description": "John E. Hoffman Jr., U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-e-hoffman-jr-8921#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-e-hoffman-jr-8921#judge", "name": "John E. 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