Circuit Court of Cook County Document Filing Requirements

WARNINGCivil cases

final orders without first petitioning the court by separate motion for such language to be added.

final orders without first petitioning the court by separate motion for such language to be added.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Publication service affidavit

Affidavits for service by publication must be sworn and comply with Cook County Circuit Court Rule 7.3.

All affidavits for service by publication must be accompanied by a sworn affidavit and in compliance with Cook County Circuit Court Rule 7.3.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

A routine motion must include a draft order in Word format.

Movant must also include a DRAFT ORDER in word format.

WARNING

Applies to

Agreed dismissal order

Agreed Dismissal Orders must strike future court dates and indicate if minors or wrongful death claims are involved; do not include language striking trial dates in Room 2005.

In any such Orders, please strike any specific future Court dates. If the dismissal is via settlement, please indicate in the Order whether any minors or Wrongful Death claims are involved. Please be advised that the Motion Calendar cannot strike trial dates in Room 2005, so please do not include that language in the Order.

WARNING

Pro se litigants must comply with Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, Illinois Supreme Court Rules, and Cook County Circuit Court Rules.

Self-represented or pro se litigants must comply with the relevant Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, Illinois Supreme Court Rules, and Circuit Court of Cook County Rules.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Notice

Notices and orders setting statuses, hearings, motion calls, and similar matters must specify both the courtroom location and Zoom ID/passcode.

All notices and orders setting such matters shall specify both the Courtroom location and Zoom ID/ Passcode.

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Applies to

Tax deed request

Must include

proposed order

A tax deed request after prove-up must include a cover letter, transcript, proof of tax payment, requested documents, and a proposed order, submitted as hard copies to the Court.

As to a request for tax deed subsequent to prove-up, include cover letter with copy to any required parties, transcript of prove up, proof of payment of taxes, any documents requested at the prove-up and proposed order for deed. Please submit hard copies to the Court. Copies of all documents are permitted if attorney retains original.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

Every motion or brief must include a table of contents for exhibits, with each exhibit individually designated.

All motions/briefs, regardless of length, shall contain a table of contents for all exhibits made a part of such motion/brief and each exhibit shall be individually designated (e.g., Exhibit 1; Group Exhibit 2, Exhibit A).

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Must include

proposed order

Proposed draft orders must be provided to the Court following a court appearance.

Please provide proposed draft orders to the Court for entry following the appearance.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion to appoint receiver

After scheduling a date with the law clerk, the motion and notice of motion must be filed with the clerk's office.

After obtaining a date from the law clerk, the motion and notice of motion must be filed with the clerk's office.

WARNING

Applies to

Emergency motion

The movant must have an appearance on file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court before presenting an emergency motion to the judge's law clerk.

Movant must have an Appearance on file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court before presenting the Emergency Motion to the Judge's Law Clerk.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions should be identified as such in the title and body of the motion.

Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions should be identified as such in the title and body of the motion.

WARNING

Applies to

Order

Orders must include a sentence striking any previously set court date, where applicable.

Please submit all such Orders in a PDF format and include a sentence striking any previously set court date, where applicable.

WARNING

Applies to

Agreed order

Agreed Orders may be presented in court or off call only if accompanied by a stipulation signed by all parties or their attorneys.

Agreed Orders may be presented in court or off call, if accompanied by a stipulation and signed by all the parties or their attorneys.

WARNING

Applies to

Motion

Judge Perkins will sign a transfer order upon presentation of the proper motion to transfer matters to the Law Division.

In order to properly transfer matters to the Law Division, Judge Perkins will sign a transfer order upon presentation of the proper motion.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Order setting trial or evidentiary hearing

Orders setting trials, evidentiary hearings, or pretrial settlement conferences must designate whether the matter will be held in person, remotely, or in a hybrid manner.

Orders setting such matters must designate whether the matter will be held in person or remotely (or in a hybrid manner).

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Notice or order setting hearing

Notices and orders setting the listed hearings must specify both the courtroom location and the Zoom ID and password.

All notices and orders setting such hearings shall specify both the Courtroom location and Zoom ID and Password.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Must include

proposed order

Parties must provide an Agreed Order memorializing the settlement conference date and noting the memoranda transmission requirement.

Once a date has been finalized for a pre-trial settlement conference, the parties must provide the Court with an Agreed Order (1) memorializing the date and time of the pre-trial settlement conference; and (2) noting that any memoranda (confidential or otherwise) must be transmitted to the following email address at least three (3) business days beforehand: asbestos@cookcountyil.gov.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order

Agreed orders must be marked 'agreed' in title and strike future hearing dates.

Agreed Orders (1) shall be marked “agreed” within the title of the Order, unless an agreement between the parties is referenced within the email containing the proposed Order; and (2) must strike any future hearing dates, if applicable.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to amend disclosures

Amendments to Rule 213(f)(1) disclosures require good cause and court leave.

Amendments to plaintiff's Rule 213(f)(1) disclosures shall be made only upon good cause shown and leave of court.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion to set trial

Plaintiffs seeking a trial date must demonstrate service on all defendants and that discovery responses were served on all parties.

Any plaintiff moving to set a case for trial must demonstrate to the Court: (1) that all defendants have been served and the time for appearance has expired; and (2) that plaintiff's answers to master interrogatories, responses to master requests for production-have been served upon all parties of record.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

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

The parties are to submit a proposed briefing schedule at the time of presentment.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion in limine

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

Copies of each party's motions in limine;

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Scheduling order

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.

After the transfer order is entered, the parties must present a second Order to the courtroom clerk or melissa.durkin@cookcountyil.gov setting the case for the agreed date and time assigned by the judge.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Joint statement of case

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

Jointly prepared statement of the case to be read to the venire, including the expected length of the trial (i.e., number of days/weeks) and a jointly prepared list of all potential witnesses to be read to the jury;

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Pretrial settlement submission

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

Submissions should be 3-5 pages in length and must include a summary of any previous settlement negotiations.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Rule 216 admissions list

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

A list of each party's Supreme Court Rule 216 Request for Admission of Facts and responses thereto, if any;

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Transfer order

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

Parties must obtain an Order from Room 2005 transferring the case to Room 2110 for pre-trial purposes only.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Stipulations

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

Any stipulations between the parties;

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Exhibit list

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

A complete and jointly prepared list of all exhibits each party intends to use at trial and whether the opposing side has any objections. In the event of objections, the nature of the objections must be noted, i.e., foundation, relevance, etc.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Pleadings

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

The operative complaint, answer, affirmative defense and response thereto, and Rule 213 disclosures.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed jury instructions

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.

Two copies of proposed jury instructions (one marked with IPI numbering and citations and the other unmarked for the jury), which are to be sorted in the order of their numbering under the IPI system.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

For motions attacking a pleading (motions to dismiss, to strike, for bill of particulars, etc.), the courtesy copy should include the pleading at issue.

For motions attacking a pleading (motions to dismiss, to strike, for bill of particulars, etc.), the courtesy copy should include the pleading at issue.

WARNINGCivil cases

Courtesy copies should include briefs and exhibits, if any.

Courtesy copies should include briefs and exhibits, if any.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Pre trial memorandum

Once a pre-trial conference is scheduled, each party should deliver to the court at least two days before the pre-trial conference an unfiled pre-trial memorandum of five pages or less containing (1) a summary of the allegations, defenses, facts, claimed injuries, and damages, and (2) the last demand, offer, and policy limits.

Once a pre-trial conference is scheduled, each party should deliver to the court at least two days before the pre-trial conference an unfiled pre-trial memorandum of five pages or less containing (1) a summary of the allegations, defenses, facts, claimed injuries, and damages, and (2) the last demand, offer, and policy limits.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Prior case management orders

Attorneys must present all prior case management orders to the judge at every case management conference.

Attorneys shall present to the judge all prior case management orders at any case management conference.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

All parties should be prepared to address the motion at the court date of presentment at a briefing schedule is not guaranteed, especially for non-dispositive motions.

All parties should be prepared to address the motion at the court date of presentment at a briefing schedule is not guaranteed, especially for non-dispositive motions.

WARNING

Applies to

Dismissal order

Dismissal orders should strike future Calendar R dates and include the specific date.

Dismissal orders should strike future court dates on Calendar R (include specific date).

WARNING

Applies to

Pretrial memorandum

Judge Otto generally prefers short pretrial memoranda at least two days in advance, containing the listed information, but may be flexible in urgent situations; the parties may choose whether to share them.

(c) As a general matter, Judge Otto prefers the parties to provide short memoranda at least two days in advance (contents see below). He can be flexible when there is urgency (i.e. incipient trial). Memos can be submitted confidentially or provided to the other side as each side sees fit. Contents should include: (i) summary of the allegations, defenses, facts, claimed injuries, damages, and (ii) the last demand, offer, and policy limits.

WARNING

Applies to

Case management conference

Attorneys should be prepared to present all prior case management orders at any case management conference.

Attorneys should be prepared to present to the judge all prior case management orders at any case management conference.

WARNING

Applies to

Dismissal order

Dismissal orders should not purport to strike trial dates or dates set in Courtroom 2005, which are stricken administratively upon dismissal.

This Court is not authorized to strike trial dates or any dates set in Courtroom 2005, and such language should not be included. (Upon dismissal, 2005 dates will be stricken administratively.)

WARNING

Applies to

Case management conference

At the initial case management conference, counsel should be prepared to address whether the case is a refiling, whether all parties have been served, and known injuries and special damages.

At the initial case management conference, counsel should be prepared to address: 1. whether the case is a re-filing; 2. whether all parties have been served, and; 3. the known injuries and special damages at that point.

WARNING

Applies to

Agreed order

Parties should not submit agreed orders amending the Case Management Order without prior Court authorization.

Parties should not submit agreed orders to amend the Case Management Order unless previously authorized by the Court.

WARNING

Applies to

Brief

Illinois case citations must use public-domain citation or official reports, not North Eastern Reporter; online citations must be to LEXIS.

All Illinois case citations must use the public-domain citation or, for cases filed before July 1, 2011, the Illinois’s official reports (Illinois Reports (Ill. or Ill. 2d) or Illinois Appellate Court Reports (Ill. App., Ill. App. 2d, or Ill. App. 3d)), and not to the North Eastern Reporter (N.E.2d). See Ill. S. Ct. R. 6 (eff. July 1, 2011). All online citations must be to LEXIS.

WARNING

Applies to

Agreed order

Proposed agreed orders must be emailed in Word format to the court with all parties copied, signed by all parties (e-signatures permitted).

If the parties wish to submit a proposed Agreed Order, the parties must email the proposed Agreed Order in Word format to the Court with all parties copied on the email. The Agreed Order must be signed by all parties to the order. E-signatures, or /s/, are permitted.

WARNING

Applies to

Brief

Briefs must include a table of contents for exhibits and exhibits must be tabbed, including digital exhibits.

A Table of Contents for all Exhibits must be provided, and the Exhibits must be tabbed (including digital Exhibits).

WARNING

Applies to

Pretrial memorandum

Pre-trial memoranda must contain statement of case, agreed/uncontested facts, contested facts, applicable law, and witness list.

Pre-Trial Memoranda will be submitted on the date set by the Court. Pre-Trial Memorandum shall contain: a. Brief statement of the case b. Statement of Agreed Facts and/or Uncontested Material Facts c. Statement of Contested Facts d. Statement of the Applicable Law e. List of all Witnesses who may be called and the area of the witness’s testimony.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Notice of motion

A notice of motion must reflect that the routine motion is being submitted by email to law.calfcc@cookcountyil.gov.

Routine motions can be submitted by email at law.calfcc@cookcountyil.gov. The notice of motion must reflect the motion is being submitted by email at law.calfcc@cookcountyil.gov.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Pre trial memorandum

Pre-trial memoranda should be provided no later than 3 days before the pre-trial conference.

A pre-trial memorandum from each party should be provided no later than 3 days before the pre-trial conference.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Motions must confirm whether opposing counsel agrees, objects, or has not responded.

Confirm whether opposing counsel agrees, objects or has not responded.