Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Emergency Motion Judge Copy
Judge Copy
Adjournments
- A trial adjournment request must be made by written motion; the Court may also consider stipulated orders.
- For an adjournment, submit a stipulated order signed by both sides stating the reason and scheduled date, and whether required mediation has been or is scheduled; leave the return-date field blank for the Court.
- If the other parties do not consent to an adjournment, file a motion or appear at the scheduled hearing.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Phone
Document Format Requirements3 rules
Any videos or audio that needs to be submitted must be in MP3/MP4.
Exhibits shall be labeled and sent as individual PDF’s or photos so each exhibit may be considered on its own. DO NOT send multiple exhibits as one document.
Exhibits: All exhibits are to be in electronic form, labeled, and separated per the final pretrial order and emailed to JudgeCholack-Court@3rdcc.org.
Document Filing Requirements1 rule
Filing: Please follow the docket directive to determine whether a Motion will be before the FOC or the Judge. Once that is determined, please file a e-Praecipe properly with the FOC or Courtroom. Then follow the Court filing procedures.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
The Court accepts only electronic copies of orders, Judge’s copies, exhibits, and similar materials unless it states otherwise.
We are a paperless Courtroom. Thus, we only accept electronic copies of orders, Judge’s copies, exhibits, etc, unless stated otherwise.
Page 1 | Paperless Courtroom
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Parties and counsel must comply with all dates set in the Final Pretrial Order.
All dates are given in advance in a Final Pretrial Order. Parties and counsel are to comply with all dates set in the order.
Page 1 | Trial/Evidentiary Hearings
Submit all responses and exhibits at least two weeks before the hearing.
Responses and Exhibits: Please submit ALL Responses and Exhibits at least two weeks prior to the hearing.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
File motions, proofs of service, appearances, notices of hearings, and similar documents with the clerk before sending a Judge’s copy.
Note: File all motions, proofs of service, appearances, notice of hearings, etc. with the clerk’s office prior to sending a Judge’s copy to JudgeCholack-Court@3rdcc.org.
Page 1 | Proposed Orders, Objections, Exhibits, and Judge’s Copies
File a motion to change schools before April 1 to have the change take effect before the next school year.
Motions Regarding Change of School: Please note these motions must be filed before the first of April if you wish to have the school changed prior to the next school year.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Courtesy Copy Requirements
All Judge’s copies should be emailed to JudgeCholack-Court@3rdcc.org (note if you file through the electronic system we will receive a Judge’s copy through the system).
All Judge’s copies should be emailed to JudgeCholack-Court@3rdcc.org (note if you file through the electronic system we will receive a Judge’s copy through the system).
Page 1 | Proposed Orders, Objections, Exhibits, and Judge’s Copies
File emergency motions with the Clerk’s Office and email a Judge’s copy to the Court.
Emergency Motions: Please file emergency motions with the Clerk’s Office and email a Judge’s copy to JudgeCholack-Court@3rdcc.org. See Court filing procedures.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A trial adjournment request must be made by written motion; the Court may also consider stipulated orders.
Adjournments: Request to Adjourn a trial must be made by written motion. Stipulated orders may be considered as well.
Page 1 | Trial/Evidentiary Hearings
For an adjournment, submit a stipulated order signed by both sides stating the reason and scheduled date, and whether required mediation has been or is scheduled; leave the return-date field blank for the Court.
Please submit a stipulated order signed by both sides stating the reason for the adjournment, the date you were scheduled, and if mediation has been scheduled/is scheduled (if mediation was required in the prior order). Further, please leave the date blank for us to fill in a return date.
Page 1 | Adjournments
If the other parties do not consent to an adjournment, file a motion or appear at the scheduled hearing.
Note if you cannot get the other parties consent you must either file a motion or appear for your scheduled hearing.
Page 1 | Adjournments
Chambers Communication Rules
To avoid possible dismissal for failing to appear, contact the Court by phone or email with an explanation before 4 p.m. on the hearing day.
Failure to appear may result in the dismissal of the case or motion, unless you contact the Court by phone or email prior to 4PM the day of the hearing with an explanation.
Page 1 | Hearing Procedures
Do not communicate ex parte with the Court about substantive case issues or to seek legal advice; the Court cannot accept such communications.
Ex Parte Communication with the Court:please note the Court cannot accept emails, letters, phone calls, etc. that are about the substantive issues in your case or give legal advice. Please refrain from ex parte communication as it is against the ethical and court rules.
Page 1 | Other Notes
Send proposed orders and objections to the Court by email; do not file them with the clerk because they will be rejected.
All proposed orders and objections must be sent to JudgeCholack-Court@3rdcc.org (please do not file these as they will be rejected by the clerk’s office).
Page 1 | Proposed Orders, Objections, Exhibits, and Judge’s Copies
Copy the other party on every communication with the Court that is not purely administrative.
Please make sure the other party is CC’d on any communication with the court that is not simply administrative.
Page 1 | Other Notes
If an exhibit is too large to email, the Court recommends sending it through a free cloud drive that does not require an account or sign-in.
If your exhibit cannot be emailed due to the size, then sending through a free cloud drive (that does not require an account/sign-in) is the easiest way for the Court to obtain a copy.
Page 1 | Trial/Evidentiary Hearings
A party needing an interpreter should email the Court at least two weeks before the hearing, or the hearing may need to be adjourned.
Interpreters:If either party needs an interpreter for a hearing, please email JudgeCholack-Court@3rdcc.org at least two weeks prior to the hearing or the hearing may need to be adjourned.
Page 1 | Hearing Procedures
For state-initiated cases whose year is followed by 15 or 16, address all pre-judgment matters to Presiding Judge Farhat by email.
Cases with the year then 15 or16 are state initiated cases (Example- 23-151234-DS), thus all pre-judgment matters should be addressed with the Presiding Judge of the Family Division, Judge Farhat at JudgeFarhat-Court@3rdcc.org.
Page 1 | General Courtroom Policies
To request a hearing date, email or call the Courtroom after filing the motion.
Dates: If you would like a date, please email or call the Courtroom AFTER you have filed your motion.
Page 1 | Motion Practice
If you cannot access electronic copies, contact the Court by phone or email.
If you cannot access electronic copies please contact us at 313-224-2430 or email JudgeCholack-Court@3rdcc.org
Page 1 | Paperless Courtroom
Email the Court with further questions or issues about trial or evidentiary-hearing exhibits.
Please email us at JudgeCholack-Court@3rdcc.org if you have any further questions or issues.
Page 1 | Trial/Evidentiary Hearings
Court operating hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays except holidays, and staff may not be available during lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Operating Hours: 8:30AM to 4:30PM Monday through Friday, except during holidays. Please note:Lunch is between 12:30PM to 2PM, so court staff may not be available.
Page 1 | General Courtroom Policies
Contact Court Reporting Services by phone to request transcripts.
Requesting Transcripts: Please contact Court Reporting Services at 313-224-5255
Page 1 | Court Reporter