U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of New Jersey: Prof. Hernandez

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey is divided into three districts:  Newark, Trenton, and Camden. Note, while filing in person is allowed, it is recommended that you file with the court’s online systems, PACER.gov and CM/ECF. In this video and blog, I explain how to use the court’s PACER and CM/ECF systems.

By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).

Updated on March 10, 2026.

General Court Contact Information & Locations for the District of New Jersey

Office Role	Contact Information
Newark Clerk’s Office	(973) 776-3449
Trenton Clerk’s Office	(609) 858-9333
Camden Clerk’s Office	(856) 361-2300
CM/ECF Help Desk	(609) 858-9333 (ext. 2652)
Public Support Hours	Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Clerk of Court	Jeanne Naughton

Federal Bankruptcy Judges for the District of New Jersey

The District of New Jersey bench is spread across the three districts. Below are the locations for Camden, Newark, and Trenton.

Judge	Primary Location
Hon. Christine M. Gravelle (Chief Judge)	Trenton
Hon. Rosemary Gambardella Hon. Stacey L. Meisel Hon. Vincent Papalia Hon. John Sherwood	Newark
Hon. Andrew B. Altenburg, Jr. Hon. Jerrold N. Poslusny, Jr.	Camden
Hon. Michael B. Kaplan	Trenton
Hon. Mark Hall	Newark, Trenton

The Professor’s Tip: In the District of New Jersey, each judge may have specific “Chamber Rules” regarding the submission of proposed orders and the scheduling of motions. Always make sure to review the judge’s page on the court website for the latest information.

New Jersey Bankruptcy Court Locations

Newark (North Jersey)

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building, 50 Walnut Street, Newark, NJ 07102.

Trenton (Central Jersey)

• Clarkson S. Fisher U.S. Courthouse, 402 East State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608.

Camden (South Jersey)

• Mitchell H. Cohen U.S. Courthouse, 401 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08101.

Counties Served in New Jersey

In New Jersey, the venue for your bankruptcy filing is determined by the county of the debtor’s residence. Filing in the wrong district can lead to dismissal.

Division	Counties Served
Newark	Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Union
Trenton	Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, and Warren
Camden	Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem

Local Bankruptcy Rules & Resources

As I discuss in Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge) as well as Bankruptcy.blog, understanding the “local rules and “local culture” is imperative, as practices vary greatly from one district to the next, including the local forms.

For the most current information, visit the official website: United States Bankruptcy Court – District of New Jersey. Information for the New Jersey bankruptcy trustees in Camden, Newark, and Trenton can be found here.

Educational Resources

• For Institutions: Colleges and universities can purchase or request examination copies of my textbook directly from Routledge Publishing.
• For Students & Practitioners: Single print and digital copies are available via Amazon Books.
• Video Lectures: Stream comprehensive legal breakdowns and video explanations on the Prof. Hernandez YouTube Channel.

Bankruptcy Court & Consumer Resources

Explore a deep dive for consumer guides and court directories to navigate your legal options:

• A step-by-step master guide on Filing for Bankruptcy and Navigating the Petition.
• Access full directories for the Federal Bankruptcy Court System and Trustee Contact Information.
• Protect your assets by reviewing your specific State Bankruptcy Exemptions or compare them against the Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions.
• Prepare for your court date with the updated brief on the 341 Meeting of Creditors Rules and Procedures.

Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.