--- title: "Michael E. Ridgway | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-e-ridgway-8850" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Michael E. Ridgway U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota · U.S. Bankruptcy Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota - State: Minnesota - 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 - Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Minnesota, 2013-present - Retired on May 31, 2025, after 12 years as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Minnesota, leaving a legacy of over 25 years in federal service - He also served on the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel from 2021 to 2025 and was Chief Judge of the Bankruptcy Court from 2019 to 2022 - Trial Attorney, Office of the U.S. Trustee, 2006–2013 - Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office - District of South Dakota, 1998–2006 - County Prosecutor - Home United States Bankruptcy Court District of Minnesota Honorable Katherine A. Constantine, Chief Judge - Tricia Pepin, Clerk of Court Search form Courtroom Guidance You are here Michael E. Ridgway appointed U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Minnesota - PRESS RELEASE MICHAEL E. RIDGWAY The Honorable William Jay Riley, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, announced the court has appointed Michael E. Ridgway of Minneapolis, Minnesota, as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Minnesota - Following his retirement, his open sixth division cases were reassigned to Judge Fisher, while some third and fourth division Chapter 7 and 12 cases were assigned to the court’s new bankruptcy judge - Adjunct Professor, Univ. of St. Thomas - School of Law ### Education - BA from Yankton College (1978) and his JD from the University of Notre Dame Law School (1981) ### Additional information - Appointed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota in 2013, serving a renewable 14‐year term. - J.D. — Univ. of Notre Dame — 1981 - Practitioner - He also spent 17 years in private legal practice in Yankton, South Dakota - He presided over numerous bankruptcy cases, including the Gander Mountain Chapter 11 reorganization, and managed the court’s sixth division caseload at the Fergus Falls courthouse ## 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/8850/michael-e-ridgway/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8850/michael-e-ridgway/) - [U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8850/michael-e-ridgway/) - [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/8850/michael-e-ridgway/) - [Michael E. Ridgway appointed U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District ...](https://www.mnb.uscourts.gov/news/michael-e-ridgway-appointed-us-bankruptcy-judge-district-minnesota) - [Retirement of Judge Michael E. Ridgway and Case Assignment ...](https://www.mnb.uscourts.gov/news/retirement-judge-michael-e-ridgway-and-case-assignment-updates) - [BR/MAG Judge Database: Michael E. Ridgway](https://legaldatalab.law.virginia.edu/brmag-judges/brmag-judges.json) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-e-ridgway-8850", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-e-ridgway-8850", "name": "Michael E. Ridgway | KnowJudges", "description": "Michael E. Ridgway, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota. 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/michael-e-ridgway-8850#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/michael-e-ridgway-8850#judge", "name": "Michael E. 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