Court Rules

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 118 rules apply across Circuit Court of Cook County. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Communication

All 59
  • Contact
    Email

    Questions, comments, or concerns about the eFileIL e-filing system should be directed to Tyler Technologies at efiling.support@tylertech.com.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Courtesy copies for Judge Daniel R. Degnan must be submitted via email to daniel.degnan@cookcountyil.gov.

  • Contact
    Phone to chambers
    Phone
    (312) 603-5943

    Judge Daniel R. Degnan's chambers phone number is (312) 603-5943.

Filing Timing

All 12
  • Deadline
    60 calendar days

    Attorney fee petitions for court-appointed attorneys must be filed within 60 days after final order or 6 months after service/cost, whichever is earlier.

  • Deadline
    2 business days

    Guardianship agreed order requests must be filed and submitted 2-5 business days prior to the scheduled court date.

  • Deadline
    2 business days

    Guardians must email annual reports and guardian training certificates in PDF format, one email per case, 2-5 business days prior to assigned court date.

Filing Requirements

All 11
  • Applies to
    Complaint
    Must include
    caption

    Chancery Division complaints must include specific caption designations based on the relief sought.

  • Applies to
    Motion
    Must include
    caption

    Motions to correct errors in criminal cases must be in writing, accompanied by affidavit, and notice must be served on the prosecution.

  • Applies to
    Complaint
    Must include
    caption

    All initiating papers must include the court name and department/division/district in the caption; small claims complaints must be endorsed 'Small Claims'.

E-Filing

All 9
  • Applies to
    Civil case filing

    E-filing is mandatory for all Cook County civil cases through the eFileIL system as of July 1, 2018, except Quasi-Criminal, Housing, and Wills cases.

  • Applies to
    Verified status report

    Attorneys must e-file a verified status report via Odyssey system before submitting decedent's estate agreed order requests.

  • Attorneys must maintain accurate email address in Odyssey e-filing system and be filed as attorney of record to receive entered orders via email.

About Judge Dawn Gonzalez

Judge Dawn Gonzalez serves in the Circuit Court of Cook County, the trial court for Chicago and suburban Cook County, in the district.

The published procedure is a standing order updated in March 2024.

Common questions about Judge Dawn Gonzalez's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Dawn Gonzalez?

Details: delivery at least 7 days in advance. Courtesy copies of documents for presentment at hearing must be hand-delivered or mailed to the Court at least 7 days in advance unless the Court orders otherwise.

View ruleSource: page 3, section 6. Courtesy Copies

What must be included with appearance filings before Judge Dawn Gonzalez?

The rule requires caption. Parties and attorneys must file an appearance before appearing before the Judge unless the Judge allows otherwise.

View ruleSource: page 3, section 5. Appearances

What must be included with agreed order filings before Judge Dawn Gonzalez?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. All agreed orders must bear the heading 'AGREED ORDER SUBMITTED BY ELECTRONIC MEANS'.

View ruleSource: page 4, section 11. Agreed Orders

How may parties contact Judge Dawn Gonzalez's chambers?

Communications with the Judge must be via filed pleadings, motions, or agreed orders; staff contact is limited to administrative, procedural, or scheduling matters.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. Communications

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Dawn Gonzalez?

Advance notice is not fully stated in the structured details. The request must include reason for request. Hearing dates are firm; parties seeking a continuance must motion well in advance and state reasons.

View ruleSource: page 5, section 12. Hearings

Is electronic filing required before Judge Dawn Gonzalez?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All Courtroom 201 proceedings before Judge Ebersole on Calendar 71 will be heard remotely via Zoom until further order of court and/or unless scheduled and ordered otherwise by the Judge.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 2. General Procedures for Remote appearances

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Dawn Gonzalez?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Parties must appear on time for scheduled court dates; failure to do so results in dismissal of the case.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 2. General Procedures for Remote appearances

What service or proof of service rules apply before Judge Dawn Gonzalez?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. All pleadings and motions must be served in compliance with the Illinois Supreme Court Rules.

View ruleSource: page 3, section 8. Notice and Proof of Service of Pleadings & Motions

Does Judge Dawn Gonzalez encourage junior lawyer participation?

Yes. Judge Dawn Gonzalez's rules include a junior lawyer participation incentive. Attorneys, advocates, and interpreter cases take priority; all participants must be on time and ready when their case is called.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 2. General Procedures for Remote appearances
Complete rules summary for Judge Dawn Gonzalez

Settled or resolved cases require a court appearance on a scheduled court date to ensure orders are in proper form and submitted for signature.

Communications with the Judge must be via filed pleadings, motions, or agreed orders; staff contact is limited to administrative, procedural, or scheduling matters.

The Presiding Judge's staff may be contacted by email or phone if necessary.

All Courtroom 201 proceedings before Judge Ebersole on Calendar 71 will be heard remotely via Zoom until further order of court and/or unless scheduled and ordered otherwise by the Judge.

Plenary Orders of Protection hearings are held in person at 555 W. Harrison St. at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise ordered.

Parties must appear on time for scheduled court dates; failure to do so results in dismissal of the case.

Zoom attendees must rename themselves with first and last name; attorneys, advocates, and interpreters must identify their roles.

Zoom attendees must maintain courtroom decorum, be dressed, and be in a quiet location with a good internet connection.

Attorneys, advocates, and interpreter cases take priority; all participants must be on time and ready when their case is called.

Video appearance is preferred; telephone conference is only for Zoom status proceedings, and contested hearings require in-person appearance unless ordered otherwise.

Parties and attorneys must file an appearance before appearing before the Judge unless the Judge allows otherwise.

Questions about the appearance procedure may be directed to the Clerk's Office of the Domestic Violence Courthouse at (312) 325-9501.

Courtesy copies of documents for presentment at hearing must be hand-delivered or mailed to the Court at least 7 days in advance unless the Court orders otherwise.

When e-filing, a party must provide a paper copy of the pleading to the Court at least 3 days before presentment if they want the Court to have seen it.

All pleadings and motions must be served in compliance with the Illinois Supreme Court Rules.

All motions must be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court before presentment.

The Court generally does not entertain oral motions, and the courtroom clerk will not file motions.

Notice of motions must be delivered via regular USPS mail or email if feasible and appropriate.

The moving party must present proof of service on the opposing party for all motions, with acceptable forms listed.

Petitioners must make a diligent effort to provide an address for service on the respondent to complete Aliases for Summons.

Before service by publication, attorneys/self-represented petitioners must provide an affidavit of due diligence or testify regarding reasonable efforts to provide an address for service.

Proposed agreed orders may be hand-delivered, mailed, or emailed to the Court Coordinator.

All agreed orders must bear the heading 'AGREED ORDER SUBMITTED BY ELECTRONIC MEANS'.

All agreed orders must contain, when feasible, the electronic signature of all counsel of record and self-represented litigants.

All agreed orders must contain the email address and contact telephone number of each counsel of record and self-represented litigant.

Approved agreed orders must be sent electronically to counsel and self-represented litigants within 48 hours by the Clerk.

The party submitting a proposed agreed order must include all counsel and self-represented litigants as email recipients.

If the Court declines an agreed order, the court coordinator will contact parties to appear via Zoom to communicate reasons.

After approval, the Clerk sends the agreed order to all counsel and self-represented litigants, but entry requires all to be email recipients.

The term 'Agreed Order' includes any order, including temporary and plenary orders.

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