On May 31, 2025, Judge Michael E. Ridgway retired after 12 years of service as a Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Minnesota. Judge Ridgway presided over many bankruptcy cases during his tenure with the Bankruptcy Court. Of note, Judge Ridgway handled the Gander Mountain chapter 11 reorganization and our sixth division caseload in our Fergus Falls courthouse. Judge Ridgway served on the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel from 2021 to 2025 and served as Chief Judge of the Bankruptcy Court from 2019 to 2022. Judge Ridgway leaves with a long legacy of public service, including over 25 years of federal service that included time with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota, the Executive Office of the U.S. Trustee Program in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Trustee’s Office in Minnesota. The entire bankruptcy community wishes Judge Ridgway well on his well-deserved retirement!

Judge Ridgway’s open sixth division cases will be reassigned to Judge Fisher. Some of Judge Ridgway’s open third and fourth division chapter 7 cases and all his open third and fourth division chapter 12 cases will be reassigned to our incoming new bankruptcy judge. To obtain a hearing date in a case assigned to the new bankruptcy judge before July 7, 2025, please send an email to clerkofcourt@mnb.uscourts.gov.