--- title: "Rosemary Gambardella | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rosemary-gambardella-8879" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Rosemary Gambardella U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey · U.S. Bankruptcy Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey - State: New Jersey - 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. New Jersey, 1985-present - Pioneering U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey, serving from 1985 until her retirement in April 2025, and was the first woman to sit on that court’s bench - Nearly 40 years, becoming Chief Judge of the District of New Jersey Bankruptcy Court from August 12, 1998, to August 11, 2005 - Sworn in as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge on May 3, 1985, appointed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit - Senior Staff Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trustee, Hugh M. Leonard, 1982–1985 - Law Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court - District of New Jersey, 1979–1980 (to Vincent Commisa) - Law clerk to Chief Bankruptcy Judge Vincent J. Commisa (1979–1980) ### Education - J.D. — Rutgers University, in 1976 and 1979, respectively - B.A. in History from Rutgers University in 1976 and her J.D. from Rutgers University–Newark in 1979, becoming part of the first class of incoming women at Rutgers Law School ### Additional information - Retired on April 2, 2025 - She also held the role of the Bankruptcy Judge representative to the Judicial Conference of the United States (2009–2011) - Practitioner, 1980–1982, Glen Ridge, NJ - Date of birth: 1955 - Member, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit - Task Force on Equal Treatment in Courts - Gender Commission - Gambardella was a member of the Lawyers Advisory Committee of the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, former President of the New Jersey Bankruptcy Inn of Court, and active in the American Bankruptcy Institute, National Association of Women Judges, and other professional organizations. - Birth place: Orange, NJ ## 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/8879/rosemary-gambardella/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8879/rosemary-gambardella/) - [U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8879/rosemary-gambardella/) - [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/8879/rosemary-gambardella/) - [Rosemary Gambardella - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Rosemary_Gambardella) - [BR/MAG Judge Database: Rosemary Gambardella](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/rosemary-gambardella-8879", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/rosemary-gambardella-8879", "name": "Rosemary Gambardella | KnowJudges", "description": "Rosemary Gambardella, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. 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Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.