Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Motion
- With Motion
Pleading
Document Format Requirements13 rules
A proposed order shall accompany every motion and be emailed to the Judge in Word format.
If counsel amends the witness or exhibit list after the final pretrial conference, counsel must provide an amended list (in Word format) to the Court no later than the one day before the trial.
Exhibit lists prepared in Word format, in the layout demonstrated below, noting whether the exhibit will be admitted without objection or whether there is an objection to the exhibit;
Each item in a group exhibit must be marked.
Always pre-mark your exhibits and exchange them with opposing counsel.
Multi-page instructions must be paper-clipped together with page numbers.
Paper clip each annotated copy on top of the corresponding clean copy.
The Clerk may reject any documents which do not conform to this Standing Order and the Illinois Supreme Court Rules. (See Rule 131(a)).
The pleadings are to be printed on both sides of the paper or double-sided, three-hole punched and organized, preferably in a binder if the documents are in excess of an inch.
Formatting
- •Courtesy-copy pleadings must be three-hole punched and organized
Counsel should attempt to limit their courtroom objections by motions in limine which should be in writing
Jury instructions should be double-spaced and in Times New Roman typeface, size 14 font.
- Font
- Times New Roman
- Font size
- 14 points
- Line spacing
- Double
- Jury instructions
Condensed sized depositions (4 pages to a page and double sided) are preferred.
Each exhibit should be clearly labeled and tabbed accordingly
Document Filing Requirements13 rules
Every attorney shall file a written appearance or other pleading before addressing the Court unless the attorney is presenting a motion for leave to appear by intervention or otherwise.
Attorneys must file an entry of appearance with the Clerk that complies with Rule 131(d), contains specified contact information, and designates one primary and no more than two secondary email addresses.
Court's wording
Every attorney must file an entry of appearance with the Sangamon County Circuit Clerk. The document shall comply with Supreme Court Rule 131(d) and shall bear the attorney’s name, business address, e-mail address, and telephone number. a. The attorney must designate a primary e-mail address and may designate no more than two secondary email addresses. b. The attorney email addresses are mandatory in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 11 so that documents and notices will be served in conformance with the Rules.
The party who scheduled the hearing is responsible for sending and filing a Notice of Hearing along with the Court’s Remote Hearing Instructions as an attachment.
A proposed order shall accompany every motion and be emailed to the Judge in Word format.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Proposed order
Contact information for the attorneys (as set forth above) must be provided.
There must be a pleading label on the front of the binder as well as the spine clearly stating the case name.
The parties must submit the listed pretrial materials and motions, subject to the Court ordering otherwise.
Court's wording
Unless the Court orders otherwise, the parties shall submit the following documents and motions not less than fourteen (14) days before the final pretrial conference. 1. An agreed statement of the case; 2. Witness lists; 3. Exhibit lists prepared in Word format, in the layout demonstrated below, noting whether the exhibit will be admitted without objection or whether there is an objection to the exhibit; Exhibit No. Description Identified Admitted Published Denied Withdrawn * The Exhibit List shall be emailed to the Court in Word format. 4. A list of all demonstrative aids intended for use at trial; 5. Stipulations; 6. One copy of proposed jury instructions containing the instructions on which the parties agree; 7. Any additional jury instructions on which the parties have not agreed; and 8. Any objections remaining in depositions that will be used at trial in lieu of live testimony shall be addressed at the final pretrial conference. Prior to the final pretrial counsel shall confer and attempt to resolve objections and formatting issues in the depositions. Any remaining objections shall be addressed at the final pretrial. 9. If there are numerous objections in depositions and counsel anticipates additional time will be needed to address objections, counsel shall contact the Court in advance of the final pretrial conference to obtain a hearing date prior to trial to address the objections. 10. All Motions in Limine and pretrial motions.
If counsel amends the witness or exhibit list after the final pretrial conference, counsel must provide an amended list (in Word format) to the Court no later than the one day before the trial.
Exhibits shall be brought to the final pretrial conference.
Pattern jury instructions must be used in criminal cases and civil cases. Non-pattern instructions are discouraged unless necessity compels their use.
At the final pretrial conference, counsel must furnish the Court with one clean (no citations or page numbers) and one annotated copy of each instruction.
The party noticing up the hearing must also provide a copy of these instructions with the Notice of Hearing
Each pleading should contain an index of the documents contained therein
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
The Exhibit List must be emailed to the Court in Word format.
The Exhibit List shall be emailed to the Court in Word format.
Page 1 | FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
A copy of the jury instructions may be emailed, but a hard copy must also be provided because the Court or clerk will not print them.
A copy may be emailed to the Court, but a hard copy must be provided as well as the Court and/or clerk of the court will not print out the instructions.
Page 4 | JURY INSTRUCTIONS (735 ILCS 5/2-1107)
When e-filing, filers should make the Filing Description as detailed as possible and must add Judge Schmidt to the e-filing notification.
When e-filing a document, be as detailed as possible in the “Filing Description” so as to assist the clerk in determining what is being filed. (The more detailed the description, the easier it will be to find it on the docket in the future). In addition, add Judge Schmidt to the notification for e-filing.
Page 1 | Standing Order on Cases Before Judge Schmidt
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A pleading must be filed with the circuit clerk before a hearing can be set on it.
Before a hearing can be set on a pleading, it must be filed with the circuit clerk.
Page 2 | Standing Order on Cases Before Judge Schmidt
An amended witness or exhibit list must be provided to the Court no later than one day before trial.
If counsel amends the witness or exhibit list after the final pretrial conference, counsel must provide an amended list (in Word format) to the Court no later than the one day before the trial.
Page 1 | FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
Responses to motions are due seven days before the final pretrial conference.
Responses to motions are due seven (7) days prior to the final pretrial conference,
Page 1 | FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
The listed pretrial documents and motions are due at least 14 days before the final pretrial conference, unless the Court orders otherwise.
Unless the Court orders otherwise, the parties shall submit the following documents and motions not less than fourteen (14) days before the final pretrial conference.
Page 1 | FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
Counsel should attempt to limit their courtroom objections by motions in limine which should be in writing and filed at least 14 days before the final pretrial conference.
Counsel should attempt to limit their courtroom objections by motions in limine which should be in writing and filed at least 14 days before the final pretrial conference.
Page 3 | OBJECTIONS
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Counsel must exchange exhibits with opposing counsel.
Always pre-mark your exhibits and exchange them with opposing counsel.
Page 3 | EXHIBITS
For a granted remote-hearing request, comply with Administrative Order 23-2 on notice to other parties and file proof of service with the Clerk.
If your request is granted, you must further comply with Administrative Order 23-2 regarding notice to other parties. The party noticing up the hearing must also provide a copy of these instructions with the Notice of Hearing and file Proof of Service with the Clerk reflecting such service.
Page 1 | Requests for Remote Appearances
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Courtesy copies of all pleadings must be mailed or hand delivered to Judge Schmidt; email delivery is allowed only with permission from Judge Schmidt or her Administrative Assistant.
Courtesy copies of all pleadings must be mailed or hand delivered to Judge Schmidt. Emailed courtesy copies are only allowed with permission from Judge Schmidt or her Administrative Assistant.
Page 1 | Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies must be in the following format: a. The pleadings are to be printed on both sides of the paper or double-sided, three-hole punched and organized, preferably in a binder if the documents are in excess of an inch. b. The pleadings and exhibits are to be separated by tabs. c. Each exhibit should be clearly labeled and tabbed accordingly
Courtesy copies must be in the following format: a. The pleadings are to be printed on both sides of the paper or double-sided, three-hole punched and organized, preferably in a binder if the documents are in excess of an inch. b. The pleadings and exhibits are to be separated by tabs. c. Each exhibit should be clearly labeled and tabbed accordingly
Page 1 | Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies must be provided in accordance with the Court’s separate standing order on courtesy copies.
Courtesy copies must be provided to the Court in accordance with the Court’s standing order on courtesy copies
Page 1 | FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
If a remote-hearing request is made by motion, send a courtesy copy of the motion to the Court.
If you are requesting a hearing be conducted remotely, you must first contact the Court or the Court’s assistant directly, or file a motion, sending a courtesy copy to the Court.
Page 1 | Requests for Remote Appearances
Chambers Communication Rules
Attorneys and litigants requesting a Zoom appearance must contact Judge Schmidt or her Administrative Assistant to schedule it.
Attorneys and litigants requesting zoom must contact Judge Schmidt or her Administrative Assistant to schedule.
Page 1 | Zoom Hearings
Unless the Court directs otherwise, counsel and their staff must include opposing counsel as a recipient on written correspondence to the Court or Court staff, including emails and letters.
Unless otherwise directed by the Court, all written correspondence with the Court or Court staff by counsel or counsel’s staff shall include the opposing counsel as a recipient of the correspondence. This includes emails and letters.
Page 1 | Standing Order on Communications with Court and Court Staff
The proposed order accompanying each motion must be emailed to the Judge.
A proposed order shall accompany every motion and be emailed to the Judge in Word format.
Page 1 | Standing Order on Cases Before Judge Schmidt
For Zoom hearings, attorneys must note the date and time and log in; the Court will not send a Zoom invitation.
If a hearing is conducted by Zoom, the attorneys are responsible for noting the date and time and logging into the meeting. No Zoom invite will be sent by the Court.
Page 1 | Zoom Hearings
Zoom appearances require the Court’s permission.
Appearances via “Zoom” are allowed only with permission of the court.
Page 1 | Zoom Hearings
If numerous deposition objections are expected to require additional time, counsel must contact the Court before the final pretrial conference to obtain a hearing date before trial.
If there are numerous objections in depositions and counsel anticipates additional time will be needed to address objections, counsel shall contact the Court in advance of the final pretrial conference to obtain a hearing date prior to trial to address the objections.
Page 1 | FINAL PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
Counsel should give the Clerk a telephone or cellular number where they can be reached if the jury reaches a verdict or has a question requiring a Court response.
Counsel should furnish the Clerk of the Court with a telephone or cellular phone number where they can be reached when the jury indicates that it has reached a verdict or when the jurors have a question that needs a response from the Court.
Page 4 | CONDUCT DURING JURY DELIBERATION
Counsel should be able to arrive in the courtroom within 15 minutes after the Court calls.
Counsel should be able to arrive in the courtroom upon receiving a call within no more than fifteen minutes after being contacted by the Court.
Page 4 | CONDUCT DURING JURY DELIBERATION
To request a remote hearing, first contact the Court or its assistant directly, or file a motion and send a courtesy copy to the Court.
If you are requesting a hearing be conducted remotely, you must first contact the Court or the Court’s assistant directly, or file a motion, sending a courtesy copy to the Court.
Page 1 | Requests for Remote Appearances