---
kind: "section"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 154"
title: "28"
title_heading: "Judiciary and Judicial Procedure"
number: "154"
heading: "Division of businesses; chief judge"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28/154"
units:
  - "Part I — Organization of Courts"
  - "Chapter 6 — Bankruptcy Judges"
---

# §154. Division of businesses; chief judge

- (a) Each bankruptcy court for a district having more than one bankruptcy [judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) shall by majority vote promulgate rules for the division of business among the bankruptcy [judges](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) to the extent that the division of business is not otherwise provided for by the rules of the district court.
- (b) In each district court having more than one bankruptcy [judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) the district court shall designate one [judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) to serve as [chief judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=c) of such bankruptcy court. Whenever a majority of the [judges](/usc/28/351.md?p=d-1) of such district court cannot agree upon the designation as [chief judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=c), the [chief judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=c) of such district court shall make such designation. The [chief judge](/usc/28/351.md?p=c) of the bankruptcy court shall ensure that the rules of the bankruptcy court and of the district court are observed and that the business of the bankruptcy court is handled effectively and expeditiously.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–353, title I, § 104(a), July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 339.)