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 Kevin P. Cunningham

Kevin P. Cunningham is a judge in the Sixth Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Illinois trial court serving Chicago and suburban Cook County. The Sixth Municipal District handles trial-level matters within its assigned geographic area.

Practitioners will find a standing order for Courtroom 208 in the Sixth Municipal District, effective June 5, 2026, detailing courtroom procedures.

Common questions about Judge Kevin P. Cunningham's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Kevin P. Cunningham?

Paper courtesy copies are prohibited entirely; no paper courtesy copies should be submitted.

View ruleSource: page 5, section II. MOTIONS AND STATUS CALLS

Does Judge Kevin P. Cunningham require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Kevin P. Cunningham's rules set a pre-motion procedure for covered motions. Court generally allows 28 days to respond and 14 days to reply to motions.

View ruleSource: page 4, section H. Agreed Orders

What page or word limits apply to motion before Judge Kevin P. Cunningham?

Judge Kevin P. Cunningham's rule states these limits: 15 pages; 15 pages; 8 pages. Motions and response briefs are strictly limited to 15 pages; reply briefs should be no longer than 8 pages.

View ruleSource: page 5, section II.C. Briefs & Artificial Intelligence

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Kevin P. Cunningham?

Judge Kevin P. Cunningham's formatting rule includes 12 point type, double spacing and margins top 1 inches, bottom 1 inches, left 1 inches, right 1 inches. The preferred brief format is double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman or Century Schoolbook), with standard 1-inch margins, excluding exhibits.

View ruleSource: page 5, section II.C. Briefs & Artificial Intelligence

What must be included with proposed order filings before Judge Kevin P. Cunningham?

The rule requires proposed order. Proposed orders must be emailed to the Courtroom Clerk 48 hours before the court call.

View ruleSource: page 2, section I. DAILY COURT CALL - C. Orders

What must be included with appearance filings before Judge Kevin P. Cunningham?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. All litigants must file an appearance with the Clerk's Office to appear in court and be heard.

View ruleSource: page 2, section I. DAILY COURT CALL - D. Self-Represented Litigants

How may parties contact Judge Kevin P. Cunningham's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications. Pre-trial memos should be emailed to the Court Coordinator at least three days before the settlement conference.

View ruleSource: page 7, section IV. PRE-TRIAL SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Kevin P. Cunningham?

Requests should be made at least 5 business days in advance when this rule applies before Judge Kevin P. Cunningham. Trial continuance requests must be in writing, supported by a detailed affidavit, and heard as soon as possible or at least five business days before trial, absent exigent circumstances.

View ruleSource: page 6, section III. TRIALS

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Kevin P. Cunningham?

A fee is required for covered filings, and the rule identifies waiver availability. Litigants who cannot afford the appearance fee may ask the Clerk for a Petition to Waive Court Fees.

View ruleSource: page 2, section I. DAILY COURT CALL - D. Self-Represented Litigants

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Kevin P. Cunningham?

The rule states a 3:00 PM filing cutoff. The Court will not enter orders emailed after 3:00 p.m. on the date the case was heard.

View ruleSource: page 2, section I. DAILY COURT CALL - C. Orders

What rule applies to personal service before Judge Kevin P. Cunningham?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: method: personal service, timing: 2 court days. Motions must be personally served, emailed, or faxed by 4:00 p.m. on the second proceeding court day.

View ruleSource: page 4, section G. Proof of Service of Pleadings & Motions
Complete rules summary for Judge Kevin P. Cunningham

Proposed orders must be emailed to the Courtroom Clerk 48 hours before the court call.

Orders other than proposed orders must be emailed to the Courtroom Clerk immediately after the court appearance.

Orders submitted after a court appearance must indicate all parties and/or attorneys present on the matter.

The Court will not enter orders emailed after 3:00 p.m. on the date the case was heard.

All litigants must file an appearance with the Clerk's Office to appear in court and be heard.

Litigants who cannot afford the appearance fee may ask the Clerk for a Petition to Waive Court Fees.

Parties must have an appearance on file to participate in an eviction trial.

All communications with the Court other than the submission of orders as set forth above, should be by filing of pleadings, motions, briefs, etc. The opposing party and/or attorney must be included on all communications with the Court.

Counsel may email the Courtroom Clerk directly for scheduling issues.

For default judgment motions, attorney must represent that service, notice, and affidavits have been made/filed.

Motions must be personally served, emailed, or faxed by 4:00 p.m. on the second proceeding court day.

Moving party must present proof of service on all motions.

Agreed orders may be emailed to the Courtroom Clerk before the call.

Court generally allows 28 days to respond and 14 days to reply to motions.

Settled cases do not require appearance; either party may email a signed agreed order for entry.

Agreed orders must be emailed to the Courtroom Clerk with case title/number in subject and, if trial set, note resolution and strike future dates.

Paper courtesy copies are prohibited entirely; no paper courtesy copies should be submitted.

Courtesy copies are not to be submitted for routine motions.

Parties who resolve a motion before the hearing date should immediately contact the Courtroom Clerk.

Copies of all non-routine motions must be provided to the Court via email 5 days before the presentment date.

The preferred brief format is double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman or Century Schoolbook), with standard 1-inch margins, excluding exhibits.

Motions and response briefs are strictly limited to 15 pages; reply briefs should be no longer than 8 pages.

Emergency motions must state with particularity, in an affidavit or verification, the sudden or unforeseen circumstances giving rise to the emergency and why the matter should take precedence.

Emergency motions must be emailed to the Civil Court Coordinator immediately after filing, including the opposing party (and attorney if applicable), or the Court will not consider the motion.

Motions to vacate an order of possession must be emailed immediately after filing to the Civil Court Coordinator at ccc.district6civil@cookcountyil.gov, including the opposing party, and the email must include the case name and number.

A motion to advance a motion to vacate an order of possession must be emailed to the Courtroom Clerk, including the opposing party and the case name and number.

Trial continuance requests must be in writing, supported by a detailed affidavit, and heard as soon as possible or at least five business days before trial, absent exigent circumstances.

Obtaining new counsel on the eve of trial is generally not a valid basis to continue the trial.

Parties must submit and exchange pre-trial memos setting forth case nature, issues, and settlement status.

Pre-trial memos should be emailed to the Court Coordinator at least three days before the settlement conference.

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