Do I ever have to see the federal judge when I file for chapter 7 bankruptcy?
No — in a large majority of Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases the you will never appear before the Bankruptcy Judge, only the Bankruptcy Trustee at the 341 Meeting. If your Chapter 7 case is set for a hearing before the Bankruptcy Judge, it usually means that someone has filed an objection, a motion to dismiss your case, or an adversarial proceeding.