17th Judicial Circuit Court, Winnebago County, Illinois Chambers Communication Rules
55 rules from official source documents
Rules 1 to 50, page 1 of 2
Rules for contacting chambers: permitted methods, hours, and purposes.
CRITICAL
- Contact
The moving party must email the appointed evaluator a copy of the appointment order on the same or next business day.
The moving party shall send a courtesy email to the appointed evaluator on the same or next business day attaching the order appointing the evaluator to conduct the evaluation as to fitness to stand trial or to determine if a bona fide doubt exists as to the defendant’s fitness to stand trial.
CRITICAL
The parties of record must immediately communicate information about a jury case's pending status to the chief judge's office.
Information concerning the pending status of a jury case shall be immediately communicated to the chief judge's office by the parties of record.
CRITICAL
The requesting party must notify the Court Administrator’s Office in writing of interpreter-scheduling changes and cancel services as soon as possible, no later than six business days before the next court date.
A requesting party has the continuing duty to advise the Court Administrator’s Office in writing of any changes affecting the scheduling of the interpreter, including rescheduling of court dates, new court dates, change of hearing type, or the anticipated non-appearance of the LEP party. Cancellation of interpretation services shall be made as soon as possible, and no later than six business days prior to the next court date, by notification to the Court Administrator’s Office to avoid undue expense and inconvenience.
CRITICAL
After electronically filing, the petitioner must contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office to report the filing and obtain instructions.
Once filed, the petitioner shall contact the Circuit Clerk’s Office to inform them of the electronic filing and receive instructions on how to proceed.
CRITICAL
A party planning to request unshackling on the day of a proceeding without an advance court order must give Winnebago County Corrections at least 24 hours’ advance notice.
If a court order regarding unshackling was not obtained in advance of a proceeding, and a party intends to make a request on the day of the subject proceeding, then the party must give at least 24 hours advanced notice of their request to Winnebago County Corrections.
CRITICAL
- Contact
In the specified court-raised or court-appointed evaluation circumstances, the defendant’s attorney must send the appointment order to the evaluator by courtesy email on the same or next business day.
If the bona fide doubt as to the defendant’s fitness to stand trial is raised by the Court or the Court appoints a licensed clinical psychologist for the purpose of ascertaining if there is a bona fide doubt as to a defendant’s fitness to stand trial the documents described above shall be transmitted to the appointed evaluator by the defendant’s attorney and the defendant’s attorney shall also send a courtesy email to the appointed evaluator on the same or next business day attaching the order appointing the evaluator to conduct the evaluation as to fitness to stand trial or to determine if a bona fide doubt exists as to the defendant’s fitness to stand trial.
CRITICAL
Transcript copies must be ordered directly from the OCR or DCR staff member of record.
Copies of transcripts shall be ordered directly from the OCR or DCR staff of record.
CRITICAL
If the assigned trial judge is unavailable, the circuit clerk must be notified of the jury case's status.
If the judge is unavailable, the circuit clerk shall be notified of the status.
CRITICAL
- Contact
- Phone to clerk
- Phone
- 987-2510
In Winnebago County, an uncontested motion may be scheduled by calling the circuit clerk's general division before 3:00 P.M. on the day before the hearing.
Uncontested motions may be scheduled by a telephone call (987-2510) to the circuit clerk's office, general division before 3:00 P.M. the day preceding the hearing.
CRITICAL
- Contact
The plaintiff must email the Program Administrator notice of the designation change within seven calendar days after filing the amended complaint.
The plaintiff shall also provide notice of this change to the Program Administrator via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. within 7 calendar days of filing the amended complaint.
CRITICAL
Before each proceeding, the party who hired a private court reporter must inform the clerk of the reporter's name, address, firm, and Illinois license number.
On a daily basis, before commencing with the subject proceeding, the party who engaged the private court reporter shall inform the clerk of the reporter's name, address, court reporting firm and State of Illinois license number;
CRITICAL
- Contact
- Email to chambers
When an assigned probation officer identifies a violation requiring court attention, notice must be emailed to the assigned States Attorney, defense attorney, and judicial administrative assistants, with the assigned judge copied.
3. Should the assigned probation officer identify a violation the officer feels is in need of a court sanction, petition, or other attention, notice shall be given as follows: (a) via email to assigned States Attorney, defense attorney, and all judicial administrative assistants; (b) cc of the email to the assigned judge.
CRITICAL
Information about the status of a jury case must be communicated to the assigned trial judge.
Any information concerning status of a jury case shall be communicated to the assigned trial judge.
CRITICALCriminal cases
An attorney answering ready for trial must tell the judge about another matter that could conflict with trying the case.
An attorney answering ready for trial on a case must disclose to the judge whether he or she has answered ready, or intends to answer ready, for another matter which would conflict with the ability to try the subject case.
CRITICAL
After receiving the email, the assigned judge’s administrative assistant must promptly notify the clerk’s office of the selected date, and the clerk’s office must notify the parties of the hearing date and time.
4. Upon receipt of the email referenced in the preceding paragraph, the administrative assistant for the assigned judge will obtain and promptly notify the clerk’s office of the selected date and the clerk’s office shall notify the parties of the date and time on which the matter will be heard in court.
CRITICAL
Applicants who receive a fee waiver must promptly notify the Court of financial changes that might affect their eligibility.
Applicants who receive a Waiver of Fees from the Court are required to promptly notify the Court of any change in their financial circumstances which might affect their eligibility for a waiver of fees.
CRITICAL
If a subpoena duces tecum will return on a date other than the next scheduled court date, the requesting party must specify the return date in open court and inform the Circuit Clerk when the subpoena is issued.
If the return date for the subpoena duces tecum is for other than the next regularly scheduled court date for that case, the party seeking the issuance of the subpoena duces tecum shall specify a court date for the return of the subpoena duces tecum in open court and shall inform the Circuit Clerk of that next necessary court date at the time of the issuance of the subpoena.
CRITICAL
- Contact
- Phone
The Circuit Clerk must notify the applicant by phone within one business day of the decision, and a voicemail counts as proper notice.
The Circuit Clerk shall contact the applicant by phone within 1 business day of the judge’s decision on an Application for Waiver of Fees and will notify the applicant of the ruling on the application and provide case specific instructions. A voice message will constitute proper notification.
CRITICAL
If the challenger and certifying CRS employee cannot agree on the challenged portions, those portions must be identified in writing and provided to the CRS Supervisor.
If the certifying CRS employee and the person challenging the transcript's accuracy cannot agree upon the challenged portions, those portions shall be identified in writing and provided to the CRS Supervisor.
CRITICAL
Counsel must immediately notify the arbitration administrator of a settlement or change of appearance.
Counsel shall give immediate notification to the arbitration administrator of any settlement of cases or changes of appearance. Failure to do so may result in the imposition of sanctions.
CRITICAL
For a transcript accuracy challenge, the challenged portions must be identified in writing and provided to the CRS Supervisor, with a copy given to the certifying CRS employee.
Every challenged portion of the transcript shall be identified in writing and provided to the CRS Supervisor. A copy of the challenged portion of the transcript shall be given to the certifying CRS employee to make the necessary corrections.
CRITICALCriminal cases
At or before the Felony Status Call begins, defense counsel must tell the Courtroom D bailiff they are ready to call a case and identify the defendant by last name and docket line number.
At and prior to the start of the regularly scheduled “Felony Status Call,” defense counsel shall inform the Courtroom D bailiff (Kara Freet) when counsel is ready to have a client’s case called, and shall identify the defendant by both last name and docket line number.
CRITICALCriminal cases
A party filing or intending to file a substantive motion requiring an evidentiary hearing or potentially more than 15 minutes must advise the Court and opposing counsel so sufficient hearing time can be scheduled.
If a party has filed or intends to file a substantive motion of any kind that will require an evidentiary hearing or may otherwise require more than fifteen (15) minutes of Court time, the filing party shall advise the Court and opposing counsel so that sufficient time can be scheduled to hear the motion.
CRITICALCriminal cases
At or before the Final Jury Pre-Trial Conference, the State and/or defense counsel must advise the Court as early as possible of the anticipated total trial time from start to finish.
At or before the Final Jury Pre-Trial Conference (generally scheduled on the Wednesday morning prior to the week of the a Jury Trial), in order to assist the Court, Trial Court Administration, the Circuit Clerk and the Jury Commission with overall scheduling of cases and courtrooms, the State and/or defense counsel shall advise the Court at the earliest possible time of the anticipated total amount of trial time that a trial will or is likely to require from start to finish.
CRITICALCriminal cases
Special-setting and schedule-change requests must be made directly to the Judge, not the Circuit Clerk’s office or an Administrative Assistant; schedule-change requests should be made as early as reasonably practical, in person with opposing counsel present or by email copying opposing counsel and the Judge’s administrative assistant.
Requests for a special setting before the Court and requests to change a previously set court date must be made directly to the Judge in Courtroom D. Neither the Circuit Clerk’s office nor an Administrative Assistant shall be contacted directly with such requests. Schedule change requests should be made as far in advance as is reasonably practical under the circumstances and should be made either: - (1) in person (whether in open court or in chambers) with opposing counsel present; or - (2) by e-mail if opposing counsel and the Judge’s administrative assistant are both copied in the e-mail. The Judge’s e-mail for such requests is bmaher@17thCircuit.illinoiscourts.gov. The Judge’s Administrative Assistant is Kelsey Schorsch, whose e-mail is: Kschorsch@17thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov.
CRITICALCriminal cases
When counsel must appear first before another judge, counsel must ask that courtroom’s bailiff to notify the Courtroom D bailiff of the delay and counsel’s expected arrival time.
If counsel is appearing first before another Judge in another courtroom, counsel shall request the bailiff in the other courtroom to contact the Courtroom D bailiff and notify her or him of the delay and of counsel’s expected time of arrival.
CRITICAL
Defense counsel must arrange interpreter coverage or anticipated Language Line use through Trial Court Administration before court appearances.
Defense counsel shall thereafter insure that arrangements are made ahead of court appearances through Trial Court Administration (Monica Minnis, Language Access Facilitator) for the presence of an interpreter or for the anticipated use of the Language Line interpretation service.
CRITICAL
- Contact
Copy opposing counsel on scheduling emails and other authorized correspondence between counsel and the court.
- E. Always make sure to carbon copy (cc) opposing counsel in any scheduling emails or any other authorized correspondence between counsel and the court.
CRITICALCivil cases
In cases pending less than 12 months, hearing dates for oral arguments and evidentiary hearings must be secured from the presiding judge in open court.
## 2. Agreed Orders (applicable only for cases pending less than 12 months) Hearing dates for oral arguments and evidentiary hearings must be secured from the presiding judge in open court.
WARNING
The state's attorney and public defender must advise the court administrator, jury commission clerk, and chief judge's administrative assistant on the Thursday before scheduled trials about the likelihood their cases will proceed.
The state's attorney and public defender shall cooperate with the court administrator, clerk of the jury commission and the chief judge's administrative assistant and advise them the Thursday before the trials are scheduled, as to the likelihood of their cases actually proceeding to trial.
WARNING
Requests for courthouse security or closed-circuit camera recordings must be submitted to the Office of the Chief Judge in care of the Trial Court Administrator.
Requests for courthouse security and closed circuit camera recordings shall be submitted to the Office of the Chief Judge in care of the Trial Court Administrator.
WARNING
- Contact
- Phone to clerk
- Phone
- 815-319-4500
Individuals unable to attend a hearing because of the stated restrictions are encouraged to call the Winnebago County Circuit Clerk at 815-319-4500 to report their situation and receive instructions.
If unable to attend a court hearing due to any of the above restrictions, individuals are strongly encouraged to call the appropriate office of the Circuit Clerk to report your situation and for instructions on how to proceed: Winnebago County Circuit Clerk 815-319-4500 Boone County Circuit Clerk 815-544-0371
WARNING
Counsel or a self-represented litigant must file a motion and obtain a court date with the Clerk under the referenced virtual-court procedure.
1.Counsel or Self-Represented Litigant (SRL) files a Motion and obtains a Court date with the Clerk of the Court, following the procedure set forth at https://tinyurl.com/virtualcourt17
WARNING
A party or attorney who is unavoidably delayed and will foreseeably delay proceedings must notify the clerk or hearing judge.
If a party or attorney is unavoidably delayed so as to foreseeably delay proceedings, such party or attorney shall notify the clerk or hearing judge of such delay.
WARNING
Prove-ups must be scheduled with the Clerk before the assigned judge at the designated times.
Prove-ups shall be set with the Clerk before the assigned judge at the designated times identified above.
WARNINGCriminal cases
When counsel anticipate and agree that a scheduled motion, hearing, or trial will not proceed, they are asked to contact the Judge, bailiff, or administrative assistant as soon as reasonably possible to address the matter and assist scheduling.
If one or both counsel anticipate and agree that a previously scheduled motion, hearing or trial will not proceed for any reason, please contact the Judge, the Judge’s bailiff (Kara Freet) or administrative assistant (Kelsey Schorsch) as soon as reasonably possible so that the matter can be addressed and in order to assist the Court in the efficient scheduling of other matters pending before the Court.
WARNINGCriminal cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Courtesy-copy emails may be sent to the Court at bmaher@17thCircuit.illinoiscourts.gov, with opposing counsel copied on all such correspondence.
Copies may be provided by mail, by delivery to chambers, or by e-mail in PDF format to bmaher@17thCircuit.illinoiscourts.gov with opposing counsel copied on all such e-mail correspondence.
WARNING
If a previously scheduled motion, hearing, or trial may not proceed, notify the court in advance or request an early status of the matter to address scheduling or a motion to continue.
- D. If you believe that a motion, hearing, or trial previously set will not proceed for some reason, please notify the court in advance for scheduling purposes and/or request to status the matter before the court early to address any scheduling issue or motion to continue. This will assist the court in managing its schedule in a more efficient manner.
WARNING
Do not give directions to the clerk, bailiff, court reporter, or witness; ask the Court or bailiff for needed assistance or accommodations.
- L. Do not give directions to the clerk, bailiff court reporter or witness. If you need assistance simply ask the Court or bailiff for any accommodation needed from any of the court personnel.
WARNING
If unavoidably detained, notify the Courtroom A Bailiff or Administrative Assistant and provide where you can be reached and when you will be available.
- A. Be on time for court. If you are unavoidably detained, please notify the Courtroom A Bailiff or Administrative Assistant and let them know where you can be reached and when you will be available to handle your case.
WARNING
While court is in session, do not discuss matters with the bailiff or clerk that are not before the court, except to coordinate arrival in another courtroom, check in, or obtain information about your case from the clerk.
- M. Do not engage the bailiff or clerk about matters that are not before the court while court is in session unless you are discussing coordination of arrival time in other courtrooms, checking your case in, or obtaining information about your case from the clerk.
WARNING
- Contact
- Email to chambers
When an argument date is needed for an agreed brief scheduling order, counsel should contact the presiding judge's assistant before e-filing; Judge Fabiano and Judge Honzel's assistant can be reached at iferris@17thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov.
If the parties have an agreement on a brief scheduling order, but need an argument date, they should contact the presiding judge's assistant to obtain a date before e-filing the order. Judge Fabiano's and Judge Honzel's assistant Inean Ferris' email address is: iferris@17thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov. Judge Doherty's assistant Kathy Fink's email address is kfink@17thcircuit.illinoiscourts.gov.
WARNINGCivil cases
In cases pending less than 12 months, do not email proposed agreed orders to the presiding judge, Trial Court Administrator, or Circuit Clerk.
## 2. Agreed Orders (applicable only for cases pending less than 12 months) Do not email proposed agreed orders to the presiding judge, the Trial Court Administrator or the Circuit Clerk.
WARNINGCivil cases
- Contact
- Email to chambers
Do not email exhibits to the presiding judge unless prior authorization is obtained.
Absent prior authorization, do not email exhibits to the presiding judge.
WARNINGCriminal cases
d. If at any time after answering ready for trial but before the jury trial begins a party is no longer "ready for trial" any motions related to the change in readiness should be brought to the Court and opposing counsels' attention immediately.
d. If at any time after answering ready for trial but before the jury trial begins a party is no longer "ready for trial" any motions related to the change in readiness should be brought to the Court and opposing counsels' attention immediately.
INFO
The Winnebago County Circuit Clerk’s office hours are 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Winnebago County - 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
INFO
- Contact
- Phone to clerk
- Phone
- 815-544-0371
In Boone County, contested and uncontested motions may be scheduled by calling the circuit clerk's office.
Contested and uncontested motions may be scheduled by a telephone call (815-544-0371) to the circuit clerk's office.
INFOCivil cases
- Contact
- Phone to clerk
- Phone
- 815-544-0371
Contested and uncontested motions may be scheduled by calling the circuit clerk’s office at 815-544-0371.
Contested and uncontested motions may be scheduled by a telephone call (815-544-0371) to the circuit clerk's office.
INFO
The Boone County Circuit Clerk’s office hours are 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Boone County - 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
INFO
- Contact
Plaintiff or counsel may raise lender concerns with the Program Administrator within ten calendar days after the Notice of Entry and are encouraged to do so by email.
The plaintiff or its counsel may, within 10 calendar days of the Notice of Entry, communicate directly to the Program Administrator any issues or concerns which the lender feels must be addressed in order to make mediation fruitful. Plaintiffs and their counsel are encouraged to communicate directly with the Program Administrator via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
How may parties contact 17th Judicial Circuit Court, Winnebago County, Illinois?
17th Judicial Circuit Court, Winnebago County, Illinois: The moving party must email the appointed evaluator a copy of the appointment order on the same or next business day.
Judge Brendan A. Maher: At or before the Felony Status Call begins, defense counsel must tell the Courtroom D bailiff they are ready to call a case and identify the defendant by last name and docket line number.
Judge John T. Gibbons: Copy opposing counsel on scheduling emails and other authorized correspondence between counsel and the court.
52 more rules answer this question.
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Courtesy Copy Requirements
When and how to deliver courtesy copies to chambers, including triggers, timing, and formatting.
Electronic Filing Rules
Electronic filing requirements, permitted filing channels, EFSP portals, and exceptions.
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Filing cutoffs, deemed-filed rules, rejection handling, cure periods, and outage procedures.