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.

More categories

View all Circuit Court of Cook County rules
About Judge Gerald Cleary

Judge Gerald Cleary is a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Illinois trial court serving Chicago and suburban Cook County. The judge's published procedures indicate assignment to the Law Division, which handles civil cases.

The published procedures include standing orders regarding pretrial settlement conferences and trial motions.

Common questions about Judge Gerald Cleary's rules

Does Judge Gerald Cleary require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

The rule does not state that a pre-motion letter is required, but it sets the applicable pre-motion procedure. To schedule a settlement conference, confer with opposing counsel, email 2-3 suggested dates to the court email, include case name and number, and copy all counsel.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCES

What page or word limits apply to pretrial memorandum before Judge Gerald Cleary?

Judge Gerald Cleary's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Pre-trial memoranda (3-5 pages) must be submitted to the court email three days before the hearing, containing date/time, settlement history, facts, demand and offer.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCES

What must be included with witness list filings before Judge Gerald Cleary?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A jointly prepared witness list must be provided for reading to the jury.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. TRIALS

What must be included with statement of case filings before Judge Gerald Cleary?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A short statement of the case, including trial length, must be provided for voir dire.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. TRIALS

How may parties contact Judge Gerald Cleary's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Gerald Cleary's chambers. The rule lists email ccc.lawcr2303@cookcountyil.gov. Emergency motions must be emailed with grounds; court may grant, set expedited briefing, or rule by email.

View ruleSource: page 4, section EMERGENCY MOTIONS

Is electronic filing required before Judge Gerald Cleary?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Motions must be submitted electronically via email to ccc.lawcr2303@cookcountyil.gov.

View ruleSource: page 2, section 2. MOTIONS

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Gerald Cleary?

The rule states that filing is treated as on submission. Pre-trial memoranda must be submitted three days before the hearing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCES

What rule applies to e-service for the opposing party before Judge Gerald Cleary?

Proof of service is not required by this specific service rule. Details: method: e-service, recipient: the opposing party. Notice of emergency motions must be given to opposing parties per circuit court rules.

View ruleSource: page 4, section EMERGENCY MOTIONS
Complete rules summary for Judge Gerald Cleary

All scheduling communications must be sent to ccc.lawcr2303@cookcountyil.gov, copying all parties, with the hearing date in the subject line.

To schedule a settlement conference, confer with opposing counsel, email 2-3 suggested dates to the court email, include case name and number, and copy all counsel.

After a confirmed date, a Pre-Trial Transfer Order must be entered in Courtroom 2005, then a second order submitted to Courtroom 2303 setting the pretrial.

Pre-trial memoranda (3-5 pages) must be submitted to the court email three days before the hearing, containing date/time, settlement history, facts, demand and offer.

Pre-trial memoranda must be submitted three days before the hearing.

Pre-trial memoranda must include date/time, settlement history, facts, demand and offer.

A jointly prepared witness list must be provided for reading to the jury.

A short statement of the case, including trial length, must be provided for voir dire.

All communications regarding notice of hearings must be via email to ccc.lawcr2303@cookcountyil.gov, copying all parties, with hearing date in subject line.

All notices of motion must use the specified template including date, time, motion description, and email address.

Motions must be submitted electronically via email to ccc.lawcr2303@cookcountyil.gov.

Motions must be submitted at 9:00 AM on the hearing date.

A jointly prepared list of all exhibits with objections noted must be provided.

Copies of all Rule 213 disclosures must be provided.

Any stipulations between the parties must be provided.

A list of Rule 216 Requests for Admission and responses must be provided.

Copies of each party's motions in limine must be provided.

Two copies of proposed jury instructions must be provided: one marked and sorted by IPI, one unmarked.

Any trial briefs, memoranda, or other information may be submitted.

Emergency motions must be emailed with grounds; court may grant, set expedited briefing, or rule by email.

Notice of emergency motions must be given to opposing parties per circuit court rules.

Petitions to settle cases involving minors, disabled persons, survival, and wrongful death claims must be emailed to chambers.

Petitions to approve settlement must include an itemized list of costs, fee agreement or contingency percentage, description of all lien claims, and appropriate probate language if needed.

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