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.

More categories

View all Circuit Court of Cook County rules
About Judge Melissa Durkin

Judge Melissa Durkin is a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, which serves as the trial court for Chicago and suburban Cook County.

The published procedures for this judge consist of a standing order for Courtroom 2110, effective August 26, 2024.

Common questions about Judge Melissa Durkin's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Melissa Durkin?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions. Details: delivery at least 3 business days before presentment. Courtesy copies must be delivered at least 3 business days before the motion is presented.

View ruleSource: page 2, section III. MOTIONS

What page or word limits apply to brief before Judge Melissa Durkin?

Judge Melissa Durkin's rule states these limits: 15 pages; 8 pages. Motions and response briefs are strictly limited to 15 pages; reply briefs are limited to 8 pages.

View ruleSource: page 2, section III. MOTIONS

What page or word limits apply to pretrial settlement submission before Judge Melissa Durkin?

Judge Melissa Durkin's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Pretrial settlement submissions should be 3-5 pages in length.

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

What must be included with pleadings filings before Judge Melissa Durkin?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The operative complaint, answer, affirmative defense and response, and Rule 213 disclosures must be submitted upon jury trial assignment.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. JURY TRIALS

What must be included with joint statement of case filings before Judge Melissa Durkin?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. A jointly prepared statement of the case for the venire, including expected trial length and a joint witness list, must be submitted.

View ruleSource: page 1, section I. JURY TRIALS

How may parties contact Judge Melissa Durkin's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Melissa Durkin's chambers. All email transmittals to the Court must copy all counsel of record.

View ruleSource: page 2, section IV. PETITIONS TO APPROVE SETTLEMENT

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Melissa Durkin?

The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Pretrial settlement submissions must be provided to the Court at least 3 business days before the pretrial conference.

View ruleSource: page 2, section II. PRETRIAL SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES
Complete rules summary for Judge Melissa Durkin

The operative complaint, answer, affirmative defense and response, and Rule 213 disclosures must be submitted upon jury trial assignment.

A jointly prepared statement of the case for the venire, including expected trial length and a joint witness list, must be submitted.

A jointly prepared exhibit list stating each party's intended exhibits and any objections with their nature (e.g., foundation, relevance) must be submitted.

Copies of each party's motions in limine must be submitted upon assignment.

Pretrial settlement submissions must be provided to the Court at least 3 business days before the pretrial conference.

Any stipulations between the parties must be submitted upon jury trial assignment.

A list of each party's Supreme Court Rule 216 Requests for Admission of Facts and responses must be submitted.

Two copies of proposed jury instructions must be provided—one marked with IPI numbering and citations, one unmarked for the jury—sorted in IPI numbering order.

Attorneys submit 3-5 possible agreed pretrial dates to the chambers email, including the case name and number and copying all counsel of record; the judge selects the first available date.

Parties must obtain a transfer Order from Room 2005 moving the case to Room 2110 for pre-trial purposes only.

After the transfer order, parties must present a second Order to the courtroom clerk or chambers email setting the case for the agreed date and time assigned by the judge.

Pretrial settlement submissions should be 3-5 pages in length.

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

Email chambers to obtain a motion presentment date and time.

Courtesy copies must be delivered at least 3 business days before the motion is presented.

Parties must submit a proposed briefing schedule at the time of motion presentment.

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

Petitions to Approve Settlement must be filed, with courtesy copies delivered to the chambers email.

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

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