Circuit Court of Cook County Document Format Requirements

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies must be in electronic form, immediately printable without passcode or security restrictions; Zip files and Drop-Box links are prohibited unless the judge allows them.

Courtesy copies must be delivered in electronic form and must be immediately printable, without passcode or security restriction. No Zip files or Drop-Box type of links are permissible, unless otherwise allowed by your judge.

CRITICAL

Margins

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Briefs must be double-spaced in 12-point font with one-inch margins; briefs exceeding these formatting or page limitations will not be considered absent leave of Court on a written motion showing good cause.

B. Briefs must contain customary 12 point font, one inch margins and be double-spaced. Briefs filed in excess of these limitations will not be accepted or considered without leave of Court upon written motion containing good cause.

CRITICAL

All trial exhibits must be individually tabbed, and an index of exhibits is required.

All trial exhibits need to be individually tabbed. An index of the exhibits is also required.

CRITICALCivil cases

Margins

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Body text must be 12-point font, footnotes at least 10-point, and all margins at least 1 inch.

The font size in the body of the text shall be 12 points and in footnotes no less than 10 points. All margins shall each be a minimum of 1 inch.

CRITICAL

Format

DOCX

Proposed orders must be in Microsoft Word format and e-mailed to all parties and the court on the day of the hearing; other formats are unacceptable.

The agreed-to draft order in Microsoft Word format must be e-mailed to all parties and the court the day of the hearing. Proposed orders in any other format are unacceptable.

CRITICAL

All written submissions must be double spaced in 11-point or larger Century Schoolbook font.

All written submissions are to be double spaced in 11-point or larger Century Schoolbook font only.

CRITICAL

Margins

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Text must have one-inch margins and page numbers at the center bottom of every page except the first.

Text is to be surrounded by one-inch margins and numbered at the center bottom of each page save the first.

CRITICALCivil cases

Authority exceeding 300 pages must be delivered on an unprotected USB flash drive, not on paper.

If said law or authority exceeds 300 pages, it must be delivered on a USB flash drive (not password protected) and not on paper.

CRITICALCivil cases

If exhibits exceed 300 pages, provide on USB flash drive (not password protected) instead of paper.

If a party's exhibits exceed 300 pages in total, the exhibits must be provided on an USB flash drive (not password protected) and not on paper.

CRITICALCivil cases

Hard-copy trial materials must be in a tabbed three-ring trial binder; permanently bound materials are prohibited.

Each party must provide the hard copy trial materials in a three-ring trial binder. All documents in the binder must be tabbed. Permanently bound materials are not permitted.

CRITICALCivil cases

A party whose exhibits exceed 300 pages in total must provide them on an unprotected USB flash drive, not on paper.

If a party's exhibits exceed 300 pages in total, the exhibits must be provided on an USB flash drive (not password protected) and not on paper.

CRITICALCivil cases

Email courtesy copies must use a subject line limited to case number, case name, and court date, include case number and description in the body, and omit the law firm's internal file numbers.

When emailing courtesy copies, parties must strictly adhere to the following guidelines: The subject line of the email must include only the case number the case name and the court date (e.g., 20 CH 0001 PNC v Martin 12/30/2020). For routine motions, please indicate “off-call” instead of the court date. The body of the email must include the case number, court date, and a brief description of the matter. Please do not include any “internal” file numbers of the law firm submitting the courtesy copies.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

PDF

Courtesy copies must be sent in a single email as one tabbed PDF, with all proposed orders in a separate single PDF, or they will not be considered.

Courtesy copies which are not submitted in a SINGLE email, in a neatly organized fashion, and as a SINGLE, tabbed PDF document with a SEPARATE SINGLE PDF document containing ALL proposed orders will NOT be considered by the Court.

CRITICAL

Margins

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All briefs must be double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins.

All briefs should be double-spaced with twelve-inch point and "Times New Roman" font, with one (1) inch margins.

CRITICAL

All exhibits must be page-numbered and tabbed.

All exhibits must be page-numbered and tabbed.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

PDF

Documents submitted to the Court must be in PDF format.

Any documents, including proposed Orders, shall be submitted to the Court in .pdf format, unless otherwise directed by the Court.

CRITICAL

Margins

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Briefs must be double-spaced, have numbered pages, use 12-point font, and have 1-inch margins.

(ii) All briefs shall be: o double-spaced with numbered pages; o typed in 12-point font; o with 1-inch margins.

CRITICALCivil cases

Margins

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All briefs shall be: (1) double-spaced with numbered pages; (2) typed in 12-point font; (3) with 1-inch margins.

All briefs shall be: (1) double-spaced with numbered pages; (2) typed in 12-point font; (3) with 1-inch margins.

CRITICALCivil cases

Margins

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All briefs must be double-spaced, in 12pt Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins.

All briefs are required to be: 1) double-spaced; 2) typed in 12 point Times New Roman font; and 3) set with 1-inch margins

CRITICALCivil cases

Proposed jury instructions must be submitted in two copies, one marked and numbered and one unmarked, sorted by IPI numbering.

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

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Brief

All briefs must be double spaced, use 12-point Times New Roman font, and be supported by parallel citations where available.

All briefs shall be: Double spaced, 12-point, Times New Roman font, Supported by parallel citations, where available, No longer than 15 pages

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Default judgment motions and supporting materials must be labeled in a text-searchable PDF with bookmarks and sent via email and hard copy to the bin outside Courtroom 2510; failure may result in dismissal for want of prosecution.

Motions for default judgment and the supporting materials must be clearly labeled in a text-searchable PDF with bookmarks and sent via email and hard copy, placed in the bin outside Courtroom 2510. Failure to comply may result in dismissal for want of prosecution. Electronic copies may be provided via email, USB drive, or online link.

CRITICAL

Courtesy copy submissions must be under 30 MB including attachments.

All courtesy copy submissions shall be fewer than 30 megabytes inclusive of all attachments to ensure delivery to the Court’s email address.

CRITICAL

Motions and briefs must use Century, Times New Roman, Equity, or similar serif font, 12-point type; block quotes over 50 words indented 1/2 inch; footnotes 10-point.

All motions and briefs shall be typeset in a Century family (e.g., Century Expanded, New Century Schoolbook, or Century Schoolbook), Times New Roman, Equity, or other similar font with serifs in 12-point type. Quotations in excess of 50 words shall be indented an additional 1/2 inch on the left and right margins. The typeface of footnotes shall be 10-point type.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Courtesy copy

Format

PDF

Courtesy copy attachments must be PDF with clear titles; only proposed orders may be in Word format.

Attachments to the email should be in PDF form ONLY and should each have clear and conspicuous titles explaining what is contained within that PDF. DO NOT send courtesy copies as “Word” documents or in any other format other than PDF. Only proposed orders shall be submitted in “Word” format.

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies of briefs for hearing must be in PDF format, clearly labeled; exhibits must be clearly labeled with corresponding brief.

Courtesy copies of briefs submitted for hearing shall be provided in PDF format with each separate PDF clearly labeled. Any exhibits submitted separate from the briefs shall be clearly labeled, identifying the brief to which the exhibits correspond.

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies for presentment must be in a single email with two attachments: a tabbed PDF and a Word document with proposed orders.

Courtesy copies for motions set for presentment shall be submitted to the Court in a SINGLE email for the case, in a neatly and intuitively organized fashion, containing ONLY TWO attachments: (1) A SINGLE, tabbed PDF document containing the notice of motion, Zoom instructions, all motion(s) being presented, exhibit(s) thereto, prior relevant orders, etc.; and (2) A SEPARATE SINGLE MICROSOFT WORD document containing ALL proposed orders.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Courtesy copy

Notice of Motion or briefing schedule must be the first page of the courtesy copy PDF.

The Notice of Motion or briefing schedule/continuance order should ALWAYS be the first page of this PDF packet and should never be separately attached.

CRITICAL

Courtesy copies must be legible; illegible copies may be struck or result in denial.

All courtesy copy submissions presented to the court that were filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court “shall be legibly written, typewritten, printed, or otherwise prepared.” Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 10(b); Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 131(a). Failure to submit legible courtesy copies may result in the Court striking the courtesy copies, not taking action on the scheduled matter, denial of the motion(s), or continuation of the matter to a new date subject to the Court’s availability. This includes handwritten motions presented by pro se litigants.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Courtesy copy

Courtesy copy email subject line must include case number, case name, and court date (or 'off call' for routine motions).

The subject line of the email shall include only the case number, the case name, and the court date (e.g., 26-CH-00000 Smith v. Martin 4/06/2026). For routine motions, please indicate “off call” instead of the court date.

WARNING

Format

PDF

The clerk's status submission must be in PDF format and file-stamped.

file to the Court, with a copy to all opposing parties, file-stamped PDF copies of all of the briefs and any exhibits

WARNING

The Court requests that proposed orders be submitted in the fillable PDF Calendar 4 Case Management Order format or in Word format.

Use the fillable PDF Calendar 4 Case Management Order (available at https://www.cookcountycourt.org/Judges-Pages/Conlon-Alison) or use Word format, so the Court can make changes if needed.

WARNING

Format

DOCX

Orders submitted to the Court must be in Word format.

Please send orders in Word format.

WARNING

Margins

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Briefs should be double-spaced, use 12-point Times New Roman, and have one-inch margins.

All briefs should be double-spaces with Twelve (12) point Times New Roman font and provide One (1) inch margins.

WARNING

Every exhibit must be page-numbered and tabbed.

All exhibits must be page-numbered and tabbed.

WARNING

Format

PDF

Courtesy copies should be submitted as clearly labeled PDFs.

Courtesy Copies should be submitted in the Portable Document Format (PDF) and be CLEARLY LABELED.

WARNING

Format

DOCX

Parties should submit orders in Word format (.doc or .docx).

Parties should send Orders in Word Format (.doc or .docx).

WARNINGCivil cases

Format

PDF

Orders may be submitted in person to the Calendar 9 mail slot or emailed to Judge Loftus in pdf format.

Orders may be submitted in person to the Calendar 9 mail slot outside of Room 1701 or by email to Judge Loftus in pdf format.

WARNINGCivil cases

The clean jury instruction set must be in sequential order and contain no markings or page numbers other than the instruction itself.

(2) The clean set must be in sequential order with no markings (e.g., no page numbers)—other than the instruction itself.

WARNINGCivil cases

Electronic file names submitted to the court must include a date in YYYY-MM-DD form and an identification of the document.

Any electronic files submitted to the court shall state in the filename (1) the date the document was filed in the form YYYY-MM-DD; and (2) identification of what it is.

WARNINGCivil cases

Format

PDF

All electronic courtesy copies must be in text-searchable PDF format with bookmarks.

All electronic courtesy copies shall be in text-searchable PDF format with bookmarks.

WARNING

Format

PAPER

Pretrial materials must be provided to the court in hard copy, not electronically.

All these items must be provided to the court seven (7) days prior to the pretrial conference in hard copy format (not electronic).

WARNING

Margins

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All briefs should be double-spaced with 12-point font and 1-inch margins.

All briefs should be double-spaced with 12-point font and 1-inch margins.

WARNINGCivil cases

Margins

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All briefs must be double-spaced, set in 12-point font, and have 1-inch margins.

All briefs shall be double-spaced, using 12-point font and 1-inch margins.

WARNINGCivil cases

Format

DOCX

Proposed orders should be submitted in Word format so the Court can edit them.

The Court requests that the parties: i. Use Word format, so the Court can make changes if needed.

WARNING

Motions and response/reply briefs must be typed in 12-point font, double-spaced, with numbered pages and Bluebook citations.

Motions and response briefs are limited to 15 pages, reply briefs are limited to 10 pages, using typed 12-point font and be double-spaced, exclusive of exhibits. Pages must be numbered. Citations must be to official reporters only and must comply with the most recent edition of "The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation."

WARNING

Format

PDF

Orders submitted by email must be provided in both Word and PDF format, with all parties copied, and originals must not be submitted.

Parties submitting an order by email shall submit the order in word and pdf format. All parties must be copied on any email submissions. Do not submit originals to the court.