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 T. Lee

Judge Kevin T. Lee is a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, the trial court serving Chicago and suburban Cook County.

The published procedures include scheduling order forms for eviction prove-ups and trials, civil jury trials, case management conferences, settlement conferences, and contested motion briefing, along with a standing order for Room 111.

Common questions about Judge Kevin T. Lee's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Kevin T. Lee?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for settlement conference memorandums. Details: 1 copy, delivery no later than 7 days before conference, by email. Each party must email a courtesy copy of their Settlement Conference Memorandum to the Court (d4crt111orders@coookcountycourt.com, copy to ccc.d4rm111@cookcountyil.gov) no later than 7 days before the settlement conference, in PDF format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Paragraph 10

Does Judge Kevin T. Lee require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Kevin T. Lee's rules set a pre-motion procedure for case dispositive motion. Dispositive motions and motions with respect to the pleadings will not be entertained on the trial date.

View ruleSource: page 1, section EVICTION TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER ROOM 082

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Kevin T. Lee?

Judge Kevin T. Lee's rule states these limits: attorney: 15 pages; attorney: 7 pages. Response briefs are limited to 15 pages; reply briefs are limited to 7 pages.

View ruleSource: page 1, section ORDER-BRIEFING SCHEDULE

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Kevin T. Lee?

Judge Kevin T. Lee's formatting rule includes file format PDF. Settlement Conference Memoranda must be submitted in PDF file format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Paragraph 10

What must be included with settlement conference memorandum filings before Judge Kevin T. Lee?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Settlement Conference Memorandum must include a statement of the case, outline of causes of action/defenses/counterclaims, statement of issues, copies of exhibits, relief sought with legal basis, current settlement demand/offer, and status of prior settlement negotiations.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Paragraph 12

What must be included with notice of appearance filings before Judge Kevin T. Lee?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Each served defendant must file an Appearance or be in default and barred from addressing the court.

View ruleSource: page 2, section C. Appearance and Communications

How may parties contact Judge Kevin T. Lee's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications. The rule lists email d4crt111orders@cookcountycourt.com. Orders on remotely heard cases must be emailed to d4crt111orders@cookcountycourt.com on the date of the call.

View ruleSource: page 2, section D. Orders

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Kevin T. Lee?

Requests should be made at least 48 hours in advance when this rule applies before Judge Kevin T. Lee. A party deciding not to participate in the settlement conference must notify the Court and opposing side at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled conference time or may be assessed costs and fees.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Paragraph 14

Is electronic filing required before Judge Kevin T. Lee?

No. Electronic filing is prohibited for the covered filings. Settlement Conference Memoranda shall not be filed of record with the court.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Paragraph 11

Are filing fees or waivers addressed before Judge Kevin T. Lee?

The rule identifies fee waiver availability. Instructions for filing an appearance and the Application for Waiver of Fees are available at ilcourts.info/forms.

View ruleSource: page 1, section EVICTION TRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER ROOM 082

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Kevin T. Lee?

The rule states that filing is treated as not specified. Motions to vacate a voluntary dismissal must be filed within 30 days of dismissal, or a new action must be filed, unless an agreed order grants leave to reinstate and retains jurisdiction.

View ruleSource: page 7, section S. Voluntary dismissals – with or without Prejudice

What rule applies to service for settlement conference memorandum before Judge Kevin T. Lee?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party, timing: 21 calendar days before hearing. Plaintiff must provide defendants with a settlement conference memorandum 21 days before the settlement conference.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Paragraph 8
Complete rules summary for Judge Kevin T. Lee

Each party must email a courtesy copy of their Settlement Conference Memorandum to the Court (d4crt111orders@coookcountycourt.com, copy to ccc.d4rm111@cookcountyil.gov) no later than 7 days before the settlement conference, in PDF format.

Settlement Conference Memoranda must be submitted in PDF file format.

Plaintiff must provide defendants with a settlement conference memorandum 21 days before the settlement conference.

Defendant(s) must provide plaintiff with a responsive Settlement Conference Memorandum 7 days before the settlement conference.

Settlement Conference Memoranda shall not be filed of record with the court.

Settlement Conference Memorandum must include a statement of the case, outline of causes of action/defenses/counterclaims, statement of issues, copies of exhibits, relief sought with legal basis, current settlement demand/offer, and status of prior settlement negotiations.

Failure to timely submit the Settlement Conference Memorandum may result in the striking of the settlement conference date.

A party deciding not to participate in the settlement conference must notify the Court and opposing side at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled conference time or may be assessed costs and fees.

Each served defendant must file an Appearance or be in default and barred from addressing the court.

Communications with the court should be made through filed pleadings, motions, briefs, or proposed orders.

Communications with the judge's staff or clerk are limited to administrative, procedural, or scheduling matters.

Orders on remotely heard cases must be emailed to d4crt111orders@cookcountycourt.com on the date of the call.

Failing to submit an order on the date of the call may result in involuntary dismissal for want of prosecution.

Name change petitions must address the question of consent of the non-custodial parent.

Attorneys must properly enter their information in Odyssey, including their ARDC number.

Orders must accurately reflect court proceedings; the court will correct inaccurate orders based on its half sheet.

Agreed settlement orders and voluntary dismissal orders may be emailed to the clerk the day prior to the call.

When initial service is unsuccessful, a new status date may be obtained by submitting an order in advance.

Proof of publication for name change petitions must be filed with a courtesy copy to the court the day before the hearing.

All questions on the name change form petition must be answered.

Name change petitions must be signed and certified.

A separate child information sheet must be completed for each child in minor name change cases.

A proposed order must include signature blocks for both the trial judge and the presiding judge.

Motions to vacate a voluntary dismissal must be filed within 30 days of dismissal, or a new action must be filed, unless an agreed order grants leave to reinstate and retains jurisdiction.

A standardized residential eviction order form, as determined by the Supreme Court, must be used statewide.

All trial exhibits must be exchanged between the parties at least five days before trial.

Each Defendant must file an appearance by the Appearance Deadline Date.

Forms may be e-filed via Odyssey eFileIL; defendants exempt from e-filing may file at the Clerk's office.

Plaintiff must send a copy of this order to Defendant(s) and file proof of service; failure to provide notice of the prove up will result in continuance of the prove up hearing.

Plaintiff must file an affidavit of any damages sought unless witness testimony will be offered in support of the damages.

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