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 John H. Ehrlich

John H. Ehrlich is a judge in the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the trial court serving Chicago and suburban Cook County. The Law Division handles civil cases.

Practitioners will find a standing order effective August 26, 2024, which outlines the judge's courtroom procedures.

Common questions about Judge John H. Ehrlich's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge John H. Ehrlich?

For every motion, courtesy copies must be delivered at least two days before presentment together with an agreed briefing schedule.

View ruleSource: page 1, section III. MOTIONS

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge John H. Ehrlich?

Judge John H. Ehrlich's rule states these limits: 15 pages. Briefs are strictly limited to 15 pages.

View ruleSource: page 1, section III. MOTIONS

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge John H. Ehrlich?

Judge John H. Ehrlich's formatting rule includes file format docx and microsoft word format required. Proposed orders must be in Microsoft Word format and e-mailed to all parties and the court on the day of the hearing; other formats are unacceptable.

View ruleSource: page 2, section CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES AND STATUS CALLS

What must be included with proposed order filings before Judge John H. Ehrlich?

The rule requires proposed order. After a case management or status call, parties must confer and agree to a proposed order reflecting the court's ruling.

View ruleSource: page 2, section CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES AND STATUS CALLS

What must be included with pre trial transfer order filings before Judge John H. Ehrlich?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A pre-trial transfer order must be entered in courtroom 2005 after the conference date is confirmed.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCES

How may parties contact Judge John H. Ehrlich's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge John H. Ehrlich's chambers. Emergency motions and all exhibits must be e-mailed to the court; a non-file-stamped version is sufficient.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Emergency Motions and Motions for Temporary Restraining Orders

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge John H. Ehrlich?

Requests should be made at least 5 business days in advance when this rule applies before Judge John H. Ehrlich. Trials are not rescheduled absent compelling circumstances; a motion to continue trial under Rule 231 must include a detailed affidavit and be filed by written motion at least five business days before trial, unless an emergency exists.

View ruleSource: page 5

Is electronic filing required before Judge John H. Ehrlich?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. Motions must be filed and noticed for presentment through the Clerk's office, or in room 802 for parties with an e-filing exemption; emergency ex parte motions are excepted.

View ruleSource: page 2, section MOTIONS

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge John H. Ehrlich?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Motions, except routine and agreed motions, must be presented within 90 days of filing.

View ruleSource: page 2, section MOTIONS

What rule applies to serving the court before Judge John H. Ehrlich?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the court, timing: 5 business days. Parties must deliver a joint final pretrial memorandum by email and paper copy at least five business days before the pretrial conference.

View ruleSource: page 5
Complete rules summary for Judge John H. Ehrlich

To schedule a pre-trial conference, parties should speak with the judge directly or email chambers.

A pre-trial transfer order must be entered in courtroom 2005 after the conference date is confirmed.

Pre-trial submissions must be delivered one week before the pre-trial conference.

At assignment in courtroom 2005, parties must exchange witness lists, motions in limine, proposed jury instructions, and evidence depositions; meet and confer on and categorize in limine motions; and agree to a statement of the case including estimated trial length.

Parties must present to the trial judge the agreed statement of the case, witness lists, motions in limine, the complaint and depositions with contested designations, and two sets of proposed jury instructions (one with IPI numbering and citations and one without).

Contact the judge or email the court to obtain a motion presentment date and time.

For every motion, courtesy copies must be delivered at least two days before presentment together with an agreed briefing schedule.

Briefs are strictly limited to 15 pages.

After a case management or status call, parties must confer and agree to a proposed order reflecting the court's ruling.

Proposed orders must be in Microsoft Word format and e-mailed to all parties and the court on the day of the hearing; other formats are unacceptable.

Motions must be filed and noticed for presentment through the Clerk's office, or in room 802 for parties with an e-filing exemption; emergency ex parte motions are excepted.

Motions, except routine and agreed motions, must be presented within 90 days of filing.

At least five business days before presentment, courtesy copies of the motion, notice, and exhibits must be e-mailed and a paper copy placed in the basket outside courtroom 2008.

On the clerk status date, parties must provide submissions via e-mail and paper copy in the basket, at their own expense, with exceptions for voluminous exhibits.

Motions brought at regularly scheduled court proceedings must have the notice of motion and motion supplied at least five business days before the proceeding.

All written submissions must be double spaced in 11-point or larger Century Schoolbook font.

Text must have one-inch margins and page numbers at the center bottom of every page except the first.

Memoranda supporting motions and responses are limited to 15 pages, and reply memoranda are limited to 7 pages.

Routine and agreed motions must include a proposed court order.

A default motion must include a proposed draft order plus specified attachments, including proof of service, copies of pleadings, a certification of an appearance search within the last five business days, and, for individual defaulting parties, a Service Members Civil Relief Act affidavit.

Motions for default must be provided to the court by e-mail and a paper copy at least five business days before presentment.

Emergency motions and all exhibits must be e-mailed to the court; a non-file-stamped version is sufficient.

Page extensions and additional pleadings require prior court approval and are granted only for good cause.

Exhibits should be filed as a single entry in the electronic docket.

Dismissal orders must unambiguously state the case is disposed of, the order is final, and all future dates are stricken, and any retained jurisdiction must be explained.

Pretrial conference dates and times should be requested via e-mail.

Exhibits must be tabbed or separated by colored paper bearing an identifier.

All legal citations must comply with the latest Bluebook edition, and citations to unreported decisions (except the Illinois Appellate Court) must use LEXIS system-generated format exclusively.

Parties must deliver a joint final pretrial memorandum by email and paper copy at least five business days before the pretrial conference.

Pretrial memorandum must include specified content: trial length estimate, case statement, witness list, stipulated facts, Rule 216 responses, exhibit list, Rule 237 compliance, Rule 213 disclosures, statement of law, and jury demand certifications.

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