Court Rules
About United States District Judge Edmond E. Chang

**District Judge Edmond E. Chang** was appointed to the Northern District of Illinois by President Barack Obama in 2010. Judge Chang was born in New York City to Taiwanese American immigrants. He is the first Asian-Pacific American Article III federal judge in Illinois. He earned a degree in aerospace engineering before attending law school. From 1994 to 1995, he clerked for Judge James L. Ryan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, then for Judge Marvin Aspen in the Northern District of Illinois from 1995 to 1997. He was an associate at Sidley Austin in Chicago from 1997 to 1999, then became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago in 1999, serving as Deputy Chief of General Crimes (2004–2005) and Chief of Appeals for the Criminal Division (2005–2010). **Education** - Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1994 - University of Michigan, B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, 1991 **Career** - Chief of Appeals, Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois (2005–2010) - Deputy Chief, General Crimes Section, U.S. Attorney's Office (2004–2005) - Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois (1999–2010) - Associate, Sidley Austin, Chicago (1997–1999) - Law Clerk, Hon. Marvin Aspen, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (1995–1997) - Law Clerk, Hon. James L. Ryan, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit (1994–1995)

**Courthouse:** Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604 **Chambers:** Room 2346 **Phone:** (312) 435-5795 **Fax:** (312) 554-8059 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Michael Wing, (312) 408-5121, Room 2338A - Court Reporter: Judith Walsh, (312) 702-8865, Room 2342

Common questions about Judge Edmond E. Chang's rules

Does Judge Edmond E. Chang require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Edmond E. Chang's rules set a pre-motion procedure for motion in limine. Motions in limine must be thoroughly briefed; the Court will set a briefing schedule.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Motions in Limine

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Edmond E. Chang?

Judge Edmond E. Chang's formatting rule includes binding three ring binder, supply exhibits in digital format on usb/dvd/cd, and supply one paper set double-sided in three-ring binders. Five business days before trial, each party must supply exhibits on USB/DVD/CD and one paper set double-sided in three-ring binders.

View ruleSource: page 4, section Exhibits at Trial Stage

What must be included with joint pretrial statement filings before Judge Edmond E. Chang?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Joint Pretrial Statement must be filed on the docket and emailed to chambers in MS Word format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section 1. Joint Pretrial Statement

What must be included with witness list filings before Judge Edmond E. Chang?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Witness list must be filed on the same date as the Joint Pretrial Statement and emailed to chambers in MS Word format.

View ruleSource: page 2, section 2. Witness Description Lists

How may parties contact Judge Edmond E. Chang's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge Edmond E. Chang's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email Judge Chang's Proposed Order email account. Jury instructions must be emailed to Judge Chang's Proposed Order email account in MS Word format.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Jury Instructions / Verdict Forms

When is a filing treated as filed before Judge Edmond E. Chang?

The rule states that filing is treated as not specified. The deadline for motions in limine also covers Santiago motions unless set separately.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Motions in Limine
Complete rules summary for Judge Edmond E. Chang

Parties must confer to try to agree on jury instructions and the verdict form.

Each side is limited to 15 proposed disputed voir dire questions unless good cause shown.

Court prefers Seventh Circuit Pattern Instructions but parties may propose modifications or additional instructions.

Proposed voir dire questions must be exchanged 5 business days before the Joint Pretrial Statement due date, and parties must confer 2 business days before.

Proposed stipulations must be served 5 business days before the pretrial conference.

Joint Pretrial Statement must be filed on the docket and emailed to chambers in MS Word format.

Witness list must be filed on the same date as the Joint Pretrial Statement and emailed to chambers in MS Word format.

Exhibit chart must be filed on the same date as the Joint Pretrial Statement and emailed to chambers in MS Word format.

Proposed exhibit charts must be exchanged 10 business days before the filing deadline; objections must be returned 5 business days before the deadline.

Parties must submit a USB/DVD/CD with all proposed exhibits and 2 sets of exhibit binders with objected-to exhibits only.

The objecting party must provide copies of objected-to exhibits unless parties agree otherwise.

Parties should raise exhibit objections at the pretrial conference to resolve them before trial.

Motions in limine must be thoroughly briefed; the Court will set a briefing schedule.

The deadline for motions in limine also covers Santiago motions unless set separately.

Santiago motions must specifically identify the offered statements for briefing and analysis.

Proposed jury instructions must include proponent, legal authority, and objection status for each instruction.

Proponent of a disputed instruction should concisely explain its basis if needed beyond legal authority.

Objecting party must state grounds for objection and proposed modification on the page immediately following the disputed instruction.

The same requirements for jury instructions apply to proposed verdict forms.

Jury instructions must be emailed to Judge Chang's Proposed Order email account in MS Word format.

Five business days before trial, each party must supply exhibits on USB/DVD/CD and one paper set double-sided in three-ring binders.

Exhibit binders must have tabs corresponding to exhibit numbers.

For courtroom display technology instruction, call the Systems Department at 312.435.6045.

JERS allows jury to review digital exhibits on monitors instead of paper copies.

JERS accepts specific file types for documents, photos, video, and audio.

Exhibits must be named with number_underscore_neutral description format.

Neutral description in exhibit names limited to 200 characters.

Multiple parties on same side must coordinate exhibit numbering.

Physical objects need placeholder PDFs for JERS with exhibit number and description.

Supply exhibits on USB/DVD/CD to court and opposing side 5 business days before pretrial conference; provide 3 double-sided paper copies of objected-to exhibits to chambers in three-ring binders.

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