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 Karen L. O'Malley

Karen L. O'Malley is a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Illinois trial court serving Chicago and suburban Cook County.

Practitioners will find standing orders and a briefing schedule order in the published procedures.

Common questions about Judge Karen L. O'Malley's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Karen L. O'Malley?

Details: delivery two days before presentment. Courtesy copies of all motions must be delivered at least two days before presentment.

View ruleSource: page 2, section III. MOTIONS

Does Judge Karen L. O'Malley require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Karen L. O'Malley's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. The briefing order sets deadlines for the response and the reply in contested motion briefing.

View ruleSource: page 1, section CONTESTED MOTION BRIEFING ORDER

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Karen L. O'Malley?

Judge Karen L. O'Malley's rule states these limits: 15 pages; 8 pages. Motions and response briefs are limited to 15 pages; reply briefs to 8 pages.

View ruleSource: page 2, section III. MOTIONS

What page or word limits apply to pretrial settlement submission before Judge Karen L. O'Malley?

Judge Karen L. O'Malley's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Pretrial settlement submissions should be 3 to 5 pages.

View ruleSource: page 2, section II. PRETRIAL SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES

What must be included with complaint and rule 213 disclosures filings before Judge Karen L. O'Malley?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The operative complaint and Rule 213 disclosures must be provided upon trial assignment.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. JURY TRIALS

What must be included with statement of case and witness list filings before Judge Karen L. O'Malley?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A jointly prepared statement of the case and a list of potential witnesses must be provided for reading to the jury.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. JURY TRIALS

How may parties contact Judge Karen L. O'Malley's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Karen L. O'Malley's chambers. The rule lists email karen.omalley@cookcountyil.gov. Counsel must email the court for a motion presentment date and time.

View ruleSource: page 2, section III. MOTIONS

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Karen L. O'Malley?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Pretrial settlement submissions should be submitted at least 3 days before the conference, with parties agreeing on confidentiality.

View ruleSource: page 2

What rule applies to service by email for the court before Judge Karen L. O'Malley?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: service by email, recipient: the court. All email communications to the Court must copy all counsel of record.

View ruleSource: page 2
Complete rules summary for Judge Karen L. O'Malley

Courtesy copies of all motions must be delivered at least two days before presentment.

The operative complaint and Rule 213 disclosures must be provided upon trial assignment.

A jointly prepared statement of the case and a list of potential witnesses must be provided for reading to the jury.

A complete jointly prepared exhibit list must identify whether the opposing side has objections and note their nature.

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

Any stipulations between the parties must be provided.

A list of each party's Rule 216 Requests for Admission and responses must be provided.

Two copies of proposed jury instructions must be submitted, one marked with IPI numbering, the other unmarked, sorted by IPI numbering.

Pretrial settlement submissions must be made at least 3 days before the conference.

Pretrial settlement submissions should be 3 to 5 pages.

Pretrial settlement submissions must include a summary of any prior settlement negotiations.

Counsel must email the court for a motion presentment date and time.

The parties must submit a proposed briefing schedule for motions.

Motions and response briefs are limited to 15 pages; reply briefs to 8 pages.

Attorneys should email 3-5 proposed pretrial dates, including case name/number and copying all counsel.

Petitions to approve settlement in specified cases must be filed with courtesy copies emailed to chambers.

All email transmittals must copy all counsel of record.

Judge O'Malley's chambers email address is karen.omalley@cookcountyil.gov.

Judge O'Malley's chambers phone number is (312) 603-3384.

Court Clerk Rita Patel's email address is Rapatel@cookcountycourt.com.

Two copies of proposed jury instructions (marked and unmarked) sorted by IPI number are required for jury trials.

Attorneys must submit 3-5 possible pretrial dates to the judge's email, including case name/number and copying all counsel.

Parties must obtain a transfer order from Room 2005 to move the case to Room 2605 for pretrial purposes.

After the transfer order is entered, parties must submit a second order to the clerk or judge's email setting the pretrial date.

Pretrial settlement submissions should be submitted at least 3 days before the conference, with parties agreeing on confidentiality.

Settlement petitions for specified vulnerable parties must be filed with courtesy copies emailed to the judge, copying all counsel.

All email communications to the Court must copy all counsel of record.

The briefing order sets deadlines for the response and the reply in contested motion briefing.

The movant must deliver courtesy copies, briefs, pleadings, full deposition transcripts, exhibits, and an exhibit list to Room 2204 by hard copy and flash drive by 4:30 p.m. one day after the reply is due.

Materials submitted after the courtesy copy deadline will not be accepted or considered in the ruling.

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