Any person or business filing for bankruptcy does so in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Through the bankruptcy process, judges and court staff work with individuals or businesses that can no longer pay their creditors by discharging debt or making a plan to repay debts. Bankruptcy judges are appointed by the court of appeals in their circuit. There is at least one bankruptcy court in each state, and the District of Columbia. Four U.S. territories have bankruptcy courts that hear cases: Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. We invite you to learn more about us and join the people who work to help ensure equal justice under the law.