7th Judicial Circuit Court, Morgan County, Illinois Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Counsel may not communicate ex parte with a court-appointed evaluator unless the court permits it.

Unless otherwise permitted by the court, neither counsel may engage in ex parte communications with a court-appointed evaluator.

CRITICAL

If an opposing party has not appeared and/or the party providing Notice does not have an opposing party's e-mail address or telephone number, the Notice shall also inform the opposing party that the party may participate in the hearing personally at the designated time and place, and alternatively, that if the party prefers to participate in the hearing remotely, the party should inform the Clerk of the Court at least three (3) full business day before the hearing of the party's desire to participate remotely and provide the Clerk the party's e-mail address or, if none, a telephone number.

If an opposing party has not appeared and/or the party providing Notice does not have an opposing party's e-mail address or telephone number, the Notice shall also inform the opposing party that the party may participate in the hearing personally at the designated time and place, and alternatively, that if the party prefers to participate in the hearing remotely, the party should inform the Clerk of the Court at least three (3) full business day before the hearing of the party's desire to participate remotely and provide the Clerk the party's e-mail address or, if none, a telephone number.

CRITICAL

Requests for extended media coverage must be made through the media coordinator.

All requests for extended media coverage shall be made through the media coordinator.

CRITICAL

For an eligible or Court-approved remote hearing, the scheduling party must obtain the hearing date and time from the Court or the Court's assistant.

If a matter is presumed to be eligible for remote hearing or the parties have agreed to a remote hearing which has been approved by the Court, the party scheduling the matter shall obtain a time and date for the hearing from the Court or Court's assistant.

CRITICAL

If all parties agree to remote hearing of a matter presumed ineligible for it, one party must contact the Court to ask whether it will hear the matter remotely.

If a matter is presumed to be ineligible for remote hearing, but all parties have agreed to a remote hearing, one of the parties shall contact the Court to determine whether the Court will hear the matter remotely.

CRITICAL

A party whose participation or witness requires an interpreter is responsible for coordinating with the 7th Circuit Court Administrator about the interpreter’s involvement.

Interpreter: If a party or a party's witness requires the use of an interpreter, that party shall be responsible for coordinating with the 7th Circuit Court Administrator how the interpreter will be obtained and involved in the hearing;

CRITICAL

A party seeking to use a platform other than Zoom must inform the Court and determine whether the Court accepts it.

If the party scheduling the matter desires a platform other than Zoom, the party shall inform the Court and determine whether the alternative platform is acceptable to the Court.

WARNING

Contact

Phone

For a requested telephonic appearance, the Court may initiate the call, and the requesting party must provide the judge's scheduling personnel with a valid, working telephone number.

For counties utilizing telephonic hearings, the Court may initiate the telephone contact of the party requesting the remote telephonic appearance. It is the responsibility of the party requesting the telephonic appearance to provide the Judge's scheduling personnel a valid, working telephone number for the Court to initiate the call;

WARNING

The judge, court media liaison, and interested media members should work through an appropriate media coordinator on extended-coverage arrangements whenever possible.

The judge, or the court's media liaison, and all interested members of the media shall work, whenever possible, with and through an appropriate media coordinator on all arrangements for extended media coverage.

INFO

Contact

Phone

Phone

217-753-6360

The Court Administration Office can provide an approved mediator list by phone at 217-753-6360.

An approved list of mediators can be obtained through the Court Administration Office at 217- 753-6360

INFO

Members of the public or media who want to observe a hearing should contact Court Administration for directions on attending.

Members of the public and/or media who desire to observe a hearing should contact Court Administration for directions on how to attend.