Opinion ID: 712300
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sua sponte appointment.

Text: 14 Appellant argues that a bankruptcy court lacks authority to appoint a trustee in a Chapter 11 proceeding sua sponte. We disagree. 15 The statute plainly gives the bankruptcy judge authority to appoint a trustee sua sponte. A trustee may be appointed on request of a party in interest or the United States trustee. 11 U.S.C. § 1104(a). The provision entitling a United States trustee or party to make such a request does not preclude the court from doing so sua sponte: 16 The court may issue any order, process, or judgment that is necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this title. No provision of this title providing for the raising of an issue by a party in interest shall be construed to preclude the court from, sua sponte, taking any action or making any determination necessary or appropriate to enforce or implement court orders or rules, or to prevent an abuse of process. 17 11 U.S.C. 105(a). Though we have not found circuit court authority on point, appointments sua sponte have been understood by bankruptcy courts as authorized. See In re Embrace Systems Corp., 178 B.R. 112 (Bankr.W.D.Mich.1995); Matter of Mother Hubbard, Inc., 152 B.R. 189, 197 (Bankr.W.D.Mich.1993). 18