Circuit Court of Jackson County, Illinois (1st Judicial Circuit) Document Filing Requirements

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

Pleadings in mortgage foreclosure sales must accurately state that the Williamson County Circuit Clerk will conduct the sale.

All pleadings shall accurately reflect that the sale shall be conducted by the Williamson County Circuit Clerk.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written order or judgment

Must include

proposed order

Unless the Court directs otherwise, the attorney or prevailing party must promptly submit a draft written order or judgment with proof of service on opposing counsel.

Unless the Court directs otherwise, whenever a written order or judgment is required, the attorney or the prevailing party shall promptly prepare and present a draft to the court, with proof of service on opposing counsel.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Summons notice or court order setting court date

Summonses, notices, and court orders setting dates with a remote-appearance option must include the Zoom meeting ID and password, courthouse address, and courtroom number.

All summonses, notices, and court orders setting court dates where case participants have the option to appear remotely shall include the following: (1) the Zoom Meeting ID and Password and (2) the courthouse address and courtroom number.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pre-trial and post-trial motion

Each pre-trial and post-trial motion must be written and state its factual and legal basis, with a concise statement citing any legal authority the movant wishes the court to consider.

Every pre-trial and post-trial motion shall be in writing and (unless it be an ex parte or emergency motion) shall be served on all parties of record before filing. Each such motion shall specifically set forth its factual and legal basis. Each such motion shall contain or be accompanied by a short, concise statement containing the citation of any legal authority the movant may wish the court to consider.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Pleading

The clerk must refuse to file a pleading that is unsigned or is not accompanied by proof of service.

The clerk shall refuse to file any pleading which is not signed and/or accompanied by a proof of service.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Ex parte motion, emergency motion, or motion in accordance with a stipulation for an agreed order

Must include

proposed order

Each ex parte or emergency motion, and each motion under a stipulation for an agreed order, must be accompanied by a proposed order.

Every such motion shall be accompanied by a proposed order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Motion for continuance

For cases pending more than 24 months or with trial set to begin within 48 hours, a continuance motion must be personally signed by the requesting attorney's party unless the judge finds good cause for the missing signature.

In any case which has been pending for more than 24 months, and in any case in which trial is set to commence within 48 hours, any motion for continuance shall be personally signed by the party whose attorney is requesting the continuance, unless the judge is satisfied that good cause for the absence of the party’s signature has been shown.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Summons

In small-claim cases, the summons’s Notice to Defendants must set out the text of Rule 3.1.

In small claim cases, the "Notice to Defendants" required on the summons by Supreme Court Rule 101(b)(1) shall set out the text of Rule 3.1.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Petition for order to show cause

An indirect civil contempt proceeding may be initiated by a verified petition that identifies with particularity the allegedly violated order provision, the violation, and the acts required to purge the contempt.

A proceeding for indirect civil contempt may be initiated by the filing of a petition for order to show cause why the respondent should not be held in contempt. The petition shall be verified and set forth with particularity that portion of the order that is alleged to have been violated, the nature of the violation, and the acts required of the respondent to purge the contempt.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Civil contempt judgment

After civil contempt is adjudicated, a written judgment must be promptly prepared and filed, specifying the contumacious conduct, sanctions, and means of purging the contempt.

Upon an adjudication of civil contempt, a written judgment shall be promptly prepared and filed which specifies the contumacious conduct, the sanctions imposed, and the means by which the contemnor may purge himself.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Attorney fee petition

Before approving attorney’s fees in a personal-injury case involving a minor or disabled person, the court requires a sworn petition setting out the employment terms, services rendered, customary charges, and relevant special circumstances.

Prior to approval of attorney’s fees in a case based upon personal injuries to a minor or a disabled person the Court shall require the submission of a sworn petition setting forth: A. the terms of employment; B. the services rendered; C. the customary and usual charges for such services; and D. any special circumstances which might bear on the question of fees.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Discovery compliance filing

Must include

local rule certificate

Counsel must file a certificate of compliance with discovery orders.

Counsel shall file a certificate of compliance with discovery orders.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Confidentiality agreement

All mediation participants must sign the prescribed confidentiality agreement before mediation begins.

Prior to the commencement of mediation, all participants in the mediation shall sign the confidentiality agreement prescribed by these rules.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation progress report

Unless mediation has already terminated, the mediator must file a general progress report with the Circuit Clerk before the continued case management conference.

Unless mediation has sooner terminated, the mediator shall before the continued case management conference, file with the Circuit Clerk a report describing the progress of mediation in general terms.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Written notice

If mediation is suspended or terminated for a reason other than agreement or inability to agree, the mediator must immediately notify the trial judge in writing and specify the reason.

The mediator shall immediately advise the trial judge in writing if he or she suspends or terminates mediation for some reason other than agreement or inability to reach agreement, specifying the reason for such termination.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation conclusion report

Promptly after mediation concludes, the mediator must file the Chief Judge’s form report with the Circuit Clerk, identify issues agreed upon or state that mediation concluded unsuccessfully, and omit reasons for the parties’ inability to agree.

Promptly upon conclusion of mediation, the mediator shall file with the Circuit Clerk a report, on a form provided by the Chief Judge, specifying any issues on which agreement was reached or whether the matter has concluded unsuccessfully. The report shall not specify the reasons for the inability of the parties to reach agreement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation final report

If the mediator has concerns about a minor child’s welfare or safety, or believes appointment is in the child’s best interest, the final report must recommend appointing a child representative or guardian ad litem.

If the mediator has concerns for the welfare or safety of the minor child(ren) or feels that it is in the best interest of the minor, the mediator shall recommend in the final report that a child representative or guardian ad litem be appointed.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation agreement

When the parties reach a full or partial agreement during mediation, the mediator must provide a written account to the parties and attorneys, but not to the court.

When the parties reach agreement or partial agreement during mediation, the mediator shall provide a written account of the agreement to the parties and attorneys, but not to the court.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Continuing education attendance verification

Attorneys must submit verification of continuing-education attendance to the Office of the Chief Circuit Judge at attendance or upon request.

Verification of attendance shall be submitted to the Office of the Chief Circuit Judge at the time of attendance or upon request.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Child representative information sheet

Each attorney must return the circuit’s Child Representative Information Sheet with a statement or other verification of continuing-education attendance.

Each attorney must complete the Child Representative Information Sheet provided by this circuit and return it with a statement or other verification of attendance at continuing education.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Parenting education proof of attendance

When specified parenting issues are disputed, parties must complete parenting education and provide proof of attendance to the court.

All parties are required to attend and complete a program of parenting education, when child custody, allocation of parental responsibilities, visitation, or parenting time issues are in dispute. The Chief Judge’s Office shall keep a listing of all programs approved by the circuit judges for this education. Proof of attendance shall be provided to the court by the parties per Supreme Court Rule 924.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediator report

The mediator’s written report must state whether agreement was reached, designate the applicable agreement status, and be signed by the mediator.

The mediator shall report to the court in writing whether or not an agreement was reached by the parties. The report shall designate, "full agreement", "partial agreement" or "no agreement". The report shall be signed by the mediator and filed in the court file of the case under mediation within fourteen (14) days after the last day of mediation.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediation agreement

Any mediation agreement must be written and signed by the parties or their agents before mediation ends, and each party must receive a copy.

If an agreement is reached, it shall be reduced to writing and signed by the parties or their agents before termination of mediation. Each party shall receive a copy of such agreement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediator report

If the parties reach a full agreement, the mediator’s report must state that and identify who will complete and submit the documents needed to conclude the agreement.

If a full agreement is reached, the report of the mediator shall so state and shall identify those individuals designated to complete and submit all documents necessary to the conclusion of the agreement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Mediator report

If the parties reach a partial agreement, the mediator’s report must identify resolved and unresolved claims and who will complete and submit the documents needed to conclude the resolved claims.

If a partial agreement is reached, the report of the mediator shall state which claims have been resolved and which claims have not been resolved. The report shall also identify those individuals designated to complete and submit all documents necessary to the conclusion of those claims resolved by agreement.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Certification for exemption from e filing

The exemption certification must include a certification under section 1-109 and use the standardized form titled “Certification for Exemption From E-filing.”

A Certification for Exemption From E-filing shall be filed with the court-in person or by mail-and include a certification under section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The court shall provide, and parties shall be required to use, a standardized form expressly titled "Certification for Exemption From E-filing" adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Court order

If the court finds no good cause for an e-filing exemption, it must issue an order stating specific reasons and requiring the litigant to e-file thereafter.

Judges retain discretion to determine whether good cause is shown. If the court determines that good cause is not shown, the court shall enter an order to that effect stating the specific reasons for the determination and ordering the litigant to e-file thereafter.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Filed document

Each filed document must bear the clerk's electronic file mark identifying the court, clerk, filing date, and filing time.

The filed document shall be endorsed with the clerk's electronic file mark setting forth, at a minimum, the identification of the court, the clerk, the date, and the time of filing.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

Attorney-submitted proposed orders must list the submitting attorney’s or law firm’s name, address, phone number, and attorney registration number at the bottom left of the last page.

All proposed orders submitted by an attorney shall include on the bottom left side of the last page of the order the name of the attorney/law firm, address, phone number and attorney registration number of the attorney who submitted the order.

CRITICAL

Applies to

Proposed order

A proposed order under Local Rule 1.12 may be presented only after the Court rules and directs a party to submit it, or after an agreement is read on the record and approved by the Court.

Proposed orders submitted pursuant to Local Rule 1.12 shall only be presented following a ruling by the Court and direction for one party to submit a proposed order or after an agreement is read on the record and approved by the Court.

INFO

Applies to

Motion or answering memorandum

A party wishing to present testimony or other evidence where legally authorized should indicate that in its motion or answering memorandum; summary judgment motions are excluded from this rule.

Except for motions for summary judgment, which are governed by statute and not subject to this rule, any party that desires to present testimony or other evidence to support or oppose a motion (where authorized by law) should so indicate in the motion or answering memorandum. The matter may then be set for hearing.