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 Fredrick H. Bates

Judge Fredrick H. Bates serves in the Circuit Court of Cook County, in Municipal District 6, Courtroom 209. The Circuit Court of Cook County is the trial court for Chicago and suburban Cook County.

Practitioners will find a standing order for Courtroom 209, effective September 9, 2025, detailing courtroom procedures.

Common questions about Judge Fredrick H. Bates's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

Courtesy copies must not be submitted for routine motions.

View ruleSource: page 5, section A. Regular Motions

What page or word limits apply to combined motion and brief before Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

Judge Fredrick H. Bates' rule states these limits: 15 pages. A combined motion and brief exceeding 15 pages may be stricken unless written leave of court is granted.

View ruleSource: page 5, section C. Briefs & Artificial Intelligence ('AI')

What page or word limits apply to reply brief before Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

Judge Fredrick H. Bates' rule states these limits: 8 pages. Reply briefs should be no longer than 8 pages unless leave of court to exceed is granted.

View ruleSource: page 5, section C. Briefs & Artificial Intelligence ('AI')

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

Judge Fredrick H. Bates' formatting rule includes times new roman font, 12 point type, double spacing and margins top 1 inches, bottom 1 inches, left 1 inches, right 1 inches. Preferred format for briefs is double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman with standard 1-inch margins, excluding exhibits.

View ruleSource: page 5, section C. Briefs & Artificial Intelligence ('AI')

What must be included with proposed order filings before Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

The rule requires proposed order. Proposed orders for consumer debt and post-judgment calls must be submitted to Room 209 48 hours before the calls via email, or the case may be dismissed or stricken.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. GENERAL MATTERS

What must be included with default judgment filings before Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

The rule requires certificate of service. Default judgment motions require the attorney to represent that service was made, notice was given, and the appropriate affidavits were filed.

View ruleSource: page 4, section I.E. Proof of Service of Pleadings & Motions

How may parties contact Judge Fredrick H. Bates' chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Fredrick H. Bates' chambers. The rule lists email CCC.MarkhamCR209@cookcountyil.gov. For a true emergency, contact Judge Bates' Court Coordinator by email; do not give yourself a court date.

View ruleSource: page 6, section D. Emergency Motions

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

Requests should be made at least 5 business days in advance when this rule applies before Judge Fredrick H. Bates. Trial continuance requests must be in writing, supported by a detailed affidavit, and heard at least five business days before trial unless exigent circumstances exist.

View ruleSource: page 7, section Trials

Is electronic filing required before Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. All motions must be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

View ruleSource: page 4, section I.E. Proof of Service of Pleadings & Motions

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

A fee is required for covered filings, and the rule identifies waiver availability. If the Early Resolution Program does not resolve the case, the defendant must file an appearance, which requires a fee; a fee waiver is available for those unable to pay.

View ruleSource: page 26, section Notice of the Early Resolution Program

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Proposed orders for consumer debt and post-judgment calls must be submitted to Room 209 48 hours before the calls via email.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. GENERAL MATTERS

What service or proof of service rules apply before Judge Fredrick H. Bates?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: timing: before hearing. Motions served personally, by email, or fax must be served by 4:00 PM on the second preceding court day.

View ruleSource: page 4, section I.E. Proof of Service of Pleadings & Motions
Complete rules summary for Judge Fredrick H. Bates

Fee waivers should be submitted to the courtroom email address.

Proposed orders for consumer debt and post-judgment calls must be submitted to Room 209 48 hours before the calls via email, or the case may be dismissed or stricken.

Proposed orders for consumer debt and post-judgment calls must be submitted to Room 209 48 hours before the calls via email.

Default judgment motions require the attorney to represent that service was made, notice was given, and the appropriate affidavits were filed.

Routine orders such as Alias Summons to Issue may be submitted without scheduling a Court date for presentment.

Counsel submitting orders in advance with future dates must email the Court Coordinator to confirm the date is available.

Stamped copies of orders will be available on Odyssey; the Clerk's office does not email individual orders to litigants.

Communications with the Court should be by filing of pleadings, motions, briefs, or suggested orders, except that Orders may be emailed to Room 209.

Contact with the Court Coordinator (or Presiding Judge's staff) is limited to administrative, procedural, or scheduling matters.

The opposing party (or their attorney) should be copied on communications with the Court Coordinator, except for scheduling date confirmations.

Motions served personally, by email, or fax must be served by 4:00 PM on the second preceding court day.

Motions served by mail must be served no later than the fifth preceding court day.

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

The Court generally allows 28 days to respond to a motion.

An agreed order must be signed by the parties to be entered and filed.

Agreed orders and stipulations may be emailed to the Courtroom.

An agreed order taking a case off call must include language striking any future dates previously set.

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

Courtesy copies must not be submitted for routine motions.

Motions attacking a complaint or other pleading must have a copy of the attacked pleading attached to the courtesy copy of the motion.

The movant must provide a courtesy copy of the motion with all exhibits at least 7 days in advance; exhibits must be attached and filed; copies may be emailed to chambers.

The movant must provide a courtesy copy of the motion, response, and reply with all exhibits at least 7 days in advance; all exhibits shall be attached and filed; copies may be emailed to chambers.

Parties must immediately contact the Court Coordinator if they reach an agreement on a motion before the hearing date.

Copies of all motions and pleadings relevant to a matter at issue for presentment must be provided to the Court via the Office of the presiding Judge or via email to the courtroom 5 days prior to presentment, or the matter is unlikely to be heard.

Preferred format for briefs is double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman with standard 1-inch margins, excluding exhibits.

A combined motion and brief exceeding 15 pages may be stricken unless written leave of court is granted.

Reply briefs should be no longer than 8 pages unless leave of court to exceed is granted.

AI use is authorized if it complies with legal and ethical standards, AI disclosure is not required in pleadings, AI-generated content must be thoroughly reviewed before submission, hallucinated citations are prohibited, and violations are subject to Rule 137 sanctions.

For a true emergency, contact Judge Bates' Court Coordinator by email; do not give yourself a court date.

Emergency motions must be supported by an affidavit or verification stating with particularity the sudden circumstances giving rise to the emergency and why the matter should take precedence.

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