--- title: "Kimberly A. Bacher | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kimberly-a-bacher-nhb-bankruptcy-judge" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-08" --- # Kimberly A. Bacher U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire · U.S. Bankruptcy Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire - State: New Hampshire - Role: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-09-10 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - The Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire, appointed in 2024 and serving as the state’s first woman in that role - She became Chief Judge on November 12, 2024, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold that position in the District of New Hampshire - Law clerk to Jack Schmetterer - Official court page: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of New Hampshire — Judge Kimberly Bacher United States Bankruptcy Court - For the past 12 years, she held the role of a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Trustee’s Office, first in Chicago, Illinois, then in Concord, NH ### Education - American University Washington College of Law — J.D. (2005) - University of Vermont — B.A. (2001) ### Additional information - Kimberly Bacher was appointed on August 12, 2024 to fill the vacancy created by Chief Judge Bruce A. Harwood’s retirement. - Before joining the bench in 2024, she spent twelve years as a U.S. Trustee trial attorney in Chicago and Concord. - She also coordinated the Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) chapter in New Hampshire in 2018, teaching financial literacy to young adults - She has served on the New Hampshire Bar Association board, the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (2011–2013), and the Bankruptcy Court Liaison Committee for the Northern District of Illinois (2013–2017). - U.S. Trustee trial attorney beginning in 2012. - Before joining the U.S. Trustee’s Office, she practiced bankruptcy law in Chicago at Goldberg Kohn (2007–2009) and Shaw Fishman Glantz & Towbin LLC (2009–2012) - She earned her Vermont undergraduate degree in 2001 and American University law degree in 2005, clerked for bankruptcy judge Jack Schmetterer, and practiced at Goldberg Kohn and Shaw Fishman. - Bacher has nearly 20 years in bankruptcy law. - Chief judge service: end date:; start date:; title: Chief Bankruptcy Judge - She completed a two-year clerkship with Hon. - She also serves as the U.S. Trustee’s Appellate Coordinator for the Northern District of Illinois and the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, and belongs to the U.S. Trustee Criminal Enforcement Working Group. ## 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.nhb.uscourts.gov/) - [Official roster](https://www.nhb.uscourts.gov/) - [nhb.uscourts.gov judicial profile or roster](https://www.nhb.uscourts.gov/) - [Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf) - [New Hampshire supplied research: bacher-selection](https://www.nhb.uscourts.gov/news/kimberly-bacher-selected-next-united-states-bankruptcy-judge-district-new-hampshire) - [New Hampshire supplied research: bankruptcy-roster](https://www.nhb.uscourts.gov/judges-info) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kimberly-a-bacher-nhb-bankruptcy-judge", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kimberly-a-bacher-nhb-bankruptcy-judge", "name": "Kimberly A. 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