Active Specialty judge
United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Missouri
Missouri
Overview
Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.
Before you appear
Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.
Statewide and courtwide guidance is labeled by scope and is not evidence of a personal preference. Division, judge-specific, or case-specific orders may control.
Presentation rules
Request an order by written motion unless the rules authorize an application or the request is made during a hearing. State the grounds with particularity and specify the requested relief or order.
A motion must state its grounds with particularity and set forth the relief or order requested.
The requirement is stated in current official court rules and is attached at court scope, not as a personal preference.
Unless a motion may be heard ex parte or another period applies, serve the written motion and hearing notice at least seven days before the hearing. Serve supporting affidavits with the motion.
A written motion (other than one that may be heard ex parte) and notice of any hearing must be served at least 7 days before the hearing date, unless the court or these rules set a different period.
The requirement is stated in current official court rules and is attached at court scope, not as a personal preference.
In a contested matter not otherwise governed by the bankruptcy rules, request relief by motion and give the opposing party reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard. A response is required only if the court orders one.
Reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard must be given to the party against whom relief is sought. No response is required unless the court orders otherwise.
The requirement is stated in current official court rules and is attached at court scope, not as a personal preference.
Present witness testimony on a disputed material factual issue in the same manner as testimony in an adversary proceeding.
A witness's testimony on a disputed material factual issue must be taken in the same manner as testimony in an adversary proceeding.
The requirement is stated in current official court rules and is attached at court scope, not as a personal preference.
Use the court's procedure to determine, reasonably before a scheduled hearing, whether it will be an evidentiary hearing at which witnesses may testify.
The court must provide procedures that allow parties-at a reasonable time before a scheduled hearing-to determine whether it will be an evidentiary hearing at which witnesses may testify.
The requirement is stated in current official court rules and is attached at court scope, not as a personal preference.
Prepare evidence under the Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 43, 44, and 44.1, which apply in bankruptcy cases.
The Federal Rules of Evidence and Fed. R. Civ. P. 43, 44, and 44.1 apply in a bankruptcy case.
The requirement is stated in current official court rules and is attached at court scope, not as a personal preference.
A solemn affirmation may substitute when an oath is required. The national rule identifies the bankruptcy judge, clerk, deputy clerk, U.S. trustee, and other authorized officers as persons who may administer it.
If an oath is required, a solemn affirmation suffices.
The requirement is stated in current official court rules and is attached at court scope, not as a personal preference.
Courtroom technology
Technology availability is separate from procedural permission and evidentiary admissibility.
Published opinion footprint
This does not mean the judge has no published opinions or no caseload. KYJ will only show opinion counts after transparent, source-linked CourtListener matching is available.
Sources
Identity source · HTML · retrieved June 30, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8854/kathy-surratt-states/Courtwide · PDF · retrieved July 30, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-bankruptcy-procedure.pdfChange history
Identity imported from CourtListener / Free Law Project. 7 presentation-related claims migrated with source provenance.