In Re: William A. Knauss, Debtor,lester H. Durham; Edna E. Durham; William A. Knauss; Yokoknauss; Martha E. Knauss, Appellants, v. Ronald Ancell, Trustee, Appellee, 145 F.3d 1338 (9th Cir. 1998)

MEMORANDUM¹ 

HAGAN, RYAN, and RUSSELL, Bankruptcy JJ., Presiding

Submitted May 14, 1998² 

Debtor William Knauss and others (collectively "Knauss") appeals pro se the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel's denial of his motions to impose sanctions on the counsel for Trustee Ronald Ancell pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1927, and to disqualify the counsel. Because bankruptcy courts are not "court [s] of the United States" as defined in 28 U.S.C. § 451, see Perroton v. Gray, (In re Perroton), 958 F.2d 889, 895 (9 th Cir. 1992), the BAP did not err in concluding that it lacked authority to award sanctions under 28 U.S.C. § 1927.

Moreover, we lack jurisdiction to consider the issue of the disqualification of the Trustee's counsel, due to the lack of a final appealable order. See Security Pacific Bank Washington v. Steinberg (In re Westwood Shake & Shingle, Inc.), 971 F.2d 387, 389 (9th Cir. 1992) (" [w]here the underlying bankruptcy ... order involves the appointment or disqualification of counsel, courts have uniformly found that such orders are interlocutory even in the more flexible bankruptcy context").

Accordingly, we affirm the BAP's denial of Knauss's motion for sanctions, and dismiss his appeal of the motion seeking to disqualify counsel. Knauss's motion for sanctions on appeal is denied.

AFFIRMED IN PART, DISMISSED IN PART.