NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia — The judge presiding over Michael Vick's bankruptcy case insisted on Friday that the suspended NFL star testify at a hearing in April, even if his attorneys have to get a court order to bring him from a federal prison.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro said he will refuse to approve Vick's Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan if the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback fails to show.

"He is the debtor and he has to testify," Santoro said. "The court must be able to assess his credibility, his demeanor, his good faith."

Vick's bankruptcy proceedings have gone on largely without him as he serves a 23-month sentence in Kansas for bankrolling a dogfighting operation. He is scheduled to be released from federal custody on July 20.

A government official told The Associated Press this week that Vick has been approved for home confinement as early as May 21 because there wasn't enough room at a halfway house. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Santoro mentioned the AP report before demanding Vick's appearance at the April 2 plan confirmation hearing.

One of Vick's bankruptcy attorneys, Michael Blumenthal, called the report "hearsay" and said he still expects Vick to be moved soon to a halfway house. He did not explain a reason for that belief, and he and co-counsel Paul Campsen declined to comment further after the hearing.

Santoro also approved Vick's revised disclosure statement, a thick and complicated document that describes Vick's vast holdings and how they will be handled in the bankruptcy plan, after twice rejecting it. Key to that plan was a hope that Vick will return to professional football.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended Vick without pay, has said he will review Vick's status after legal proceedings are completed.