Every bankruptcy case filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia is administered by a trustee. The trustee is not the judge — the trustee is a private attorney appointed by the U.S. Trustee Program to represent the interests of creditors and oversee the case. Knowing who your trustee is, what they do, and what they look for is essential to a smooth case. This is the reference page on the trustees who serve the DC bankruptcy court. Source: official trustee panel information at dcb.uscourts.gov/trustees.
The trustee assigned to your case is determined by random rotation. You do not choose your trustee, and the trustee is not your adversary in any meaningful sense — but their interests differ from yours, and their job is to find any non-exempt asset that can be liquidated for creditors.
Chapter 7 Panel Trustees
Marc Albert, Esq.
Role: Chapter 7 Panel Trustee
Marc Albert is one of two Chapter 7 panel trustees serving the DC bankruptcy court. He is a longtime member of the DC bankruptcy bar with extensive experience in both consumer and commercial Chapter 7 cases.
Wendell Webster, Esq.
Role: Chapter 7 Panel Trustee
Wendell Webster is the second of two Chapter 7 panel trustees serving the DC bankruptcy court. Like Mr. Albert, Mr. Webster is a longtime DC bankruptcy practitioner with deep familiarity with the court’s procedures.
What Chapter 7 Trustees Do
The Chapter 7 trustee’s role under § 704 is to:
- Conduct the 341 Meeting of Creditors (typically 10–15 minutes by phone or video)
- Examine the schedules and Statement of Financial Affairs for accuracy
- Identify any non-exempt property that can be administered (sold) for the benefit of creditors
- Investigate any potentially recoverable preferences (§ 547) or fraudulent transfers (§ 548)
- Evaluate the validity of claimed exemptions on Schedule C and object if necessary
- Distribute non-exempt assets (if any) to creditors after expenses and exemptions are paid
In a "no-asset" Chapter 7 case — where there are no non-exempt assets to administer — the trustee’s involvement is largely limited to conducting the 341 Meeting and filing a "no asset" report with the court. The vast majority of consumer Chapter 7 cases are no-asset cases.
Chapter 13 Standing Trustee
Rebecca A. Herr, Esq.
Role: Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the District of Columbia
Rebecca A. Herr is the standing Chapter 13 trustee for the District of Columbia. Unlike Chapter 7, Chapter 13 cases are administered by a single standing trustee rather than rotated among a panel. This means every Chapter 13 case in DC is administered through Trustee Herr’s office.
What the Chapter 13 Trustee Does
The Chapter 13 standing trustee’s role under § 1302 is more involved than the Chapter 7 trustee’s role:
- Conduct the 341 Meeting of Creditors
- Review the proposed Chapter 13 plan for compliance with § 1325 (confirmation requirements)
- Evaluate the means test, disposable income calculation, and plan payment
- Receive monthly plan payments from the debtor
- Distribute plan funds to creditors according to the confirmed plan terms
- Monitor compliance throughout the 36–60 month plan period
- Administer the case through discharge under § 1328
- Object to plan modifications, claims, or other matters as warranted
Practical Notes for Working with the Chapter 13 Trustee
- Plan funding source. Trustee Herr scrutinizes the source of funds for Chapter 13 plan payments. The debtor’s schedules must demonstrate that the budget on Schedule J leaves sufficient room for the plan payment. Plans that are facially infeasible draw immediate trustee objection.
- Treatment of priority claims. Priority tax debts under § 507(a)(8) and domestic support obligations under § 507(a)(1)(A) must be paid in full through the plan. The trustee’s analysis of priority claims is rigorous.
- Best-interests test. Under § 1325(a)(4), unsecured creditors must receive at least as much as they would in a hypothetical Chapter 7 liquidation. The trustee independently calculates the liquidation value and objects if the plan does not meet the test.
- Disposable income calculation. Above-median debtors must commit all "projected disposable income" under § 1325(b) to the plan for the 60-month commitment period. The trustee’s calculation often differs from the debtor’s — driving most contested confirmations.
- Plan modifications. Modifications under § 1329 must be filed with proper notice and supported by changed circumstances. Trustee Herr’s office reviews every modification and objects when standards are not met.
Office of the United States Trustee
Michael T. Freeman, Esq.
Role: Assistant United States Trustee for the District of Columbia
The Assistant U.S. Trustee oversees the Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 trustees, monitors case administration across the district, and represents the federal government’s interest in bankruptcy proceedings. The U.S. Trustee Program is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice and operates independently of the bankruptcy court itself.
What the U.S. Trustee Does (and What It Means for You)
- Reviews petitions for compliance with § 707(b) means test requirements
- Files motions to dismiss for abuse under § 707(b)(3) when warranted
- Monitors the panel and standing trustees’ work
- Investigates suspected fraud or material misstatements in petitions
- Oversees the credit counseling and debtor education provider approval process
For most consumer debtors, the U.S. Trustee’s role is largely invisible — limited to a § 707(b) review at filing. Cases involving allegations of fraud, recent significant cash transactions, asset transfers within the look-back periods, or means-test irregularities draw direct U.S. Trustee attention.
How Trustees Are Assigned
Chapter 7 cases in the DC bankruptcy court are assigned to either Marc Albert or Wendell Webster on a random-rotation basis through the case-management system. The assignment is generally apparent on the docket within a few business days of filing. Chapter 13 cases are all administered by Trustee Herr — no random assignment.
Tips for the 341 Meeting
The 341 Meeting of Creditors is the only mandatory meeting with the trustee in most consumer cases. It typically lasts 10 to 15 minutes and is conducted by phone or video in DC. Practical tips:
- Bring or have ready a government-issued photo ID and your Social Security card or a tax document showing your full SSN
- Review your schedules in detail before the meeting — be prepared to explain anything unusual
- Answer the trustee’s questions truthfully, directly, and without elaboration. Most questions can be answered in one sentence.
- If you do not understand a question, say so and ask the trustee to rephrase
- Do not volunteer information that was not asked. Answer the question, then stop.
- If your attorney is present (in counseled cases, they will be), follow their lead on how to handle any procedural matters
For deeper preparation guidance, see Preparing for the 341 Meeting of Creditors in DC.
Disclaimer
This page is informational and based on publicly available trustee panel information at dcb.uscourts.gov/trustees. The trustees listed do not endorse this page, are not affiliated with Steven C. Fraser, P.A., and have no role in the content. Nothing here constitutes legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.