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 Lewis M. Nixon

Lewis M. Nixon is a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Illinois trial court serving Chicago and suburban Cook County, assigned to the court's Chancery Calendar 53. The Chancery Division handles chancery matters.

Practitioners will find this judge's procedures in the Chancery Calendar 53 Standing Order, effective January 27, 2025, and updated June 16, 2025.

Common questions about Judge Lewis M. Nixon's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Lewis M. Nixon?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for pre trial binders. Details: 2 copies, delivery before trial. Each party must exchange pre-trial binders with opposing parties and coordinate delivery of two binder copies to the Law Clerk.

View ruleSource: page 7, section Trial Procedures

What page or word limits apply to proposed findings conclusions before Judge Lewis M. Nixon?

Judge Lewis M. Nixon's rule states these limits: 15 pages. Each party's proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law are limited to fifteen pages.

View ruleSource: page 7, section Trial Procedures

What must be included with status order filings before Judge Lewis M. Nixon?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Status orders must include a date certain for the next status report within the 45-60 day timeframe.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Status Reports and Status Orders

What must be included with off call matter filings before Judge Lewis M. Nixon?

The rule requires proposed order. Off-call matters must include a proposed order when applicable.

View ruleSource: page 4, section Off-Call Matters

How may parties contact Judge Lewis M. Nixon's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Lewis M. Nixon's chambers. Any party emailing the Court must copy all other appearing parties to avoid ex parte communications, to the extent feasible.

View ruleSource: page 8

Is electronic filing required before Judge Lewis M. Nixon?

Yes. Electronic filing is required for the covered filings. The parties must supply a court reporter for trial and, after trial, must send the court transcript to the Calendar 53 e-mail address.

View ruleSource: page 7, section Trial Procedures

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Lewis M. Nixon?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Motions in limine must be filed at least 14 days before trial; exhibit objections not raised beforehand are deemed waived.

View ruleSource: page 7, section Trial Procedures
Complete rules summary for Judge Lewis M. Nixon

Any party emailing the Court must copy all other appearing parties to avoid ex parte communications, to the extent feasible.

All court-business emails, including courtesy copies and proposed orders, must be sent to the Calendar 53 email address rather than the Judge's other addresses.

Emails regarding court business (CMCs, status reports, motions, hearings, trials, and miscellaneous matters) must be sent to the Calendar 53 email address.

Status reports and status orders must be sent to the Calendar 53 email address 45-60 days after the initial case-management conference or the previous report.

Status orders must include a date certain for the next status report within the 45-60 day timeframe.

Parties must email file-stamped courtesy copies of off-call matters to the Calendar 53 address.

Off-call matters must include a proposed order when applicable.

Movants must email a file-stamped copy of an agreed-to motion and a proposed order to the Calendar 53 address.

Agreed-to motions must include a proposed order granting the motion.

The Calendar 53 email address is the designated channel for submitting off-call matters to chambers.

When the Court decides to hear an agreed-to motion sua sponte, the Law Clerk will email the movant and all parties to schedule the hearing.

Each party must exchange pre-trial binders with opposing parties and coordinate delivery of two binder copies to the Law Clerk.

Motions in limine must be filed at least 14 days before trial; exhibit objections not raised beforehand are deemed waived.

The parties must supply a court reporter for trial and, after trial, must send the court transcript to the Calendar 53 e-mail address.

Each party's proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law are limited to fifteen pages.

Each party must prepare and submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law within fourteen days after trial, exchanging them with counsel and sending them to the Calendar 53 e-mail address.

SPS orders (order valid for three months used by mortgage-foreclosure firms) must be sent to the designated SPS Orders mailbox.

Questions about SPS Orders should be directed to the Secretary by phone or e-mail.

Questions or concerns about orders and opinions must go to the Clerk's Office at 312-603-6920, not to the Judge's Chambers.

Orders to be entered that week must be submitted to the Calendar 53 e-mail by noon each Thursday.

More Judges in Circuit Court of Cook County

Abbey Fishman Romanek
Judge
Adrienne E. Davis
Judge
Aicha M. MacCarthy
Judge
Aileen Bhandari
Judge
Aleksandra Gillespie
Judge
Alexander D. Marks
Judge
Alfredo Maldonado
Judge
Alison C. Conlon
Judge