Supreme Court Applies its Stern Ruling and Issues a Narrow Decision Holding that Bankruptcy Courts Can Hear, But not Decide, “Stern Claims”

In 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court (the “Court”) issued
its noteworthy decision in Stern v. Marshall,1 in which it held
that bankruptcy courts lack the constitutional authority to enter a final
judgment on a state law counterclaim that is not related to the bankruptcy
proceeding. Since Stern, a number of cases have been published - at both
the bankruptcy court and court of appeals levels - where Stern
jurisdictional issues have been raised and adjudicated. We recently wrote about
one on this blog.
The Court, itself, had a chance to consider the
implications of Stern in the case of Executive Benefits Ins. Agency
v. Arkinson.2 In a unanimous decision
written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the Court ruled that where Article III of
the U.S. Constitution does not permit a bankruptcy court to enter final
judgment on a bankruptcy related claim, the bankruptcy court may issue proposed
findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect to the claim, to be
reviewed de novo by a federal district court.

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Tags: U.S. Supreme Court