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 James T. Derico Jr.

James T. Derico Jr. is a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Illinois trial court serving Chicago and suburban Cook County.

This judge's published procedures consist of a standing order for Calendar 56, dated September 22, 2023.

Common questions about Judge James T. Derico Jr.'s rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge James T. Derico Jr.?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for courtesy copys. Details: 1 copy, delivery no earlier than 2 weeks and no later than 5 business days before court date, by email. Courtesy copies and exhibits must be emailed to the designated chambers email address between two weeks and seven days or five business days before the court date.

View ruleSource: page 3, section COURTESY COPIES

Does Judge James T. Derico Jr. require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge James T. Derico Jr.'s rules set a pre-motion procedure for default judgment. Default judgment may not be entered before case management is stricken, and motions for default judgment may not be noticed before continued case management.

View ruleSource: page 4, section CASE MANAGEMENT STATUS

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge James T. Derico Jr.?

Judge James T. Derico Jr.'s formatting rule includes file format PDF, if attachments are too large, parties are encouraged to send courtesy copies in a zipped file, a dropbox link, or a google drive link, and if none are feasible, multiple emails are acceptable if labeled as 'part 1,' 'part 2,' etc.. Courtesy copies must be PDFs; oversized attachments may be sent via ZIP, Dropbox, Google Drive, or multiple labeled emails.

View ruleSource: page 3, section COURTESY COPIES

What must be included with notice of motion filings before Judge James T. Derico Jr.?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Each notice of motion must include a copy of the pleadings the movant intends to present.

View ruleSource: page 2, section SCHEDULING AND NOTICES

What must be included with courtesy copy package filings before Judge James T. Derico Jr.?

The rule requires proposed order. A proposed order indicating the relief sought must accompany the movant's courtesy-copy submission.

View ruleSource: page 3, section COURTESY COPIES

How may parties contact Judge James T. Derico Jr.'s chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge James T. Derico Jr.'s chambers. Parties may not engage in ex parte communication with the court by email.

View ruleSource: page 2, section “Pro Se”/ Self-Represented Litigants

Does Judge James T. Derico Jr. require motion papers to be bundled?

No. The rule prohibits holding covered papers for bundling. Contested motions may not be presented at or piggybacked onto a case-management conference.

View ruleSource: page 4, section CASE MANAGEMENT STATUS

Is electronic filing required before Judge James T. Derico Jr.?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Except for emergency motions, all parties must file submissions electronically with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

View ruleSource: page 2, section SCHEDULING AND NOTICES

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge James T. Derico Jr.?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Emergency motions filed with less than 24 hours' notice to opposing counsel will be denied unless highly compelling reasons exist.

View ruleSource: page 4, section EMERGENCY MOTIONS

What rule applies to serving all parties before Judge James T. Derico Jr.?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: all parties. The movant must serve notice of all matters scheduled for hearing on all parties of record.

View ruleSource: page 2, section SCHEDULING AND NOTICES
Complete rules summary for Judge James T. Derico Jr.

Every pleading must include the complete case caption, calendar number, and property address.

Parties may not engage in ex parte communication with the court by email.

Litigants or attorneys unable to connect to the Zoom hearing must immediately contact the court by phone for assistance.

Moving parties must include the Zoom meeting information in their notices of motion.

Except for emergency motions, all parties must file submissions electronically with the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

All pleadings filed with the court must bear the Clerk's stamp showing previous electronic filing.

Pleadings must be forwarded to every other party in the same manner and form as their filing.

The movant must serve notice of all matters scheduled for hearing on all parties of record.

Each notice of motion must include a copy of the pleadings the movant intends to present.

Service notices must include the address, telephone number, and email address of each attorney or pro se litigant.

Parties must designate one email address for service and include it on all court documents and correspondence.

Paper courtesy copies are not accepted unless the Court expressly requests them.

A proposed order indicating the relief sought must accompany the movant's courtesy-copy submission.

Courtesy copies must be PDFs; oversized attachments may be sent via ZIP, Dropbox, Google Drive, or multiple labeled emails.

Proposed orders must be in a separate PDF labeled 'proposed Order(s)' and multiple orders should be in one PDF attachment.

Courtesy-copy email subject lines must include court date, case number, and case name, but not the firm's internal file number.

Proposed orders must include the court's email address, phone number, and Zoom information on the final page.

All parties who have appeared must be copied on courtesy-copy emails, or the motion may be stricken.

Courtesy copies and exhibits must be emailed to the designated chambers email address between two weeks and seven days or five business days before the court date.

All courtesy-copy documents must be emailed in one tabbed PDF, with each tab clearly labeled.

A courtesy-copy email received after 5:00 p.m. is treated as received the next business day.

Emergency motions must involve imminent irreparable damage if the party cannot await the regular motion call, and must conform to Circuit Court Rule 2.2.

Emergency motions filed with less than 24 hours' notice to opposing counsel will be denied unless highly compelling reasons exist.

Emergency motions must be scheduled by telephone through the clerk; the court provides the date and time.

Emergency-motion pleadings and notices must be emailed to chambers no later than one day before the hearing and received by 4:00 p.m.

Emergency motions to stay judicial sale must include sale date/time and prior-stay history, plus pre-approval/proof-of-funds or loss-mitigation proof depending on the basis.

Emergency motions to stay possession must state the judgment date, possession expiration date, and prior-stay status.

Emergency motions to appoint a receiver or mortgagee in possession are allowed only when the verified petition states an immediate health or safety threat.

The plaintiff must provide the Court with a Case Management Status sheet and notice to the respondent.

Default judgment may not be entered before case management is stricken, and motions for default judgment may not be noticed before continued case management.

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