**District Judge John F. Kness** was appointed to the Northern District of Illinois by President Donald J. Trump in 2020. Judge Kness was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969. Before law school, he served as a patrol officer for the Oak Park Police Department. After law school, he clerked for Judge William H. Pryor, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois from 2009 to 2016, with stints in the National Security and Cybercrimes, Narcotics, and General Crimes Sections. From 2016 to 2020, he served as General Counsel of the College of DuPage, overseeing all legal matters at the second-largest institution of higher learning in Illinois. **Education** - Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2003 - Northwestern University, B.A., cum laude, 1991 **Career** - General Counsel, College of DuPage (2016–2020) - Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois (2009–2016) - Law Clerk, Hon. William H. Pryor Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit - Patrol Officer, Oak Park Police Department (prior to law school)
**Courthouse:** Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604 **Chambers:** Room 2156 **Phone:** (312) 435-5356 **Fax:** (312) 554-8477 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Ellen Reyes, (312) 582-3254, Room 2132 - Court Reporter: Nancy LaBella, (312) 435-6890, Room 2128
Courtesy copies are required for pretrial orders. Details: 2 copies, delivery upon filing, by hand delivery. Proposed Pretrial Orders must be emailed in Word format and two courtesy copies with labeled tabs delivered to chambers.
Yes. A pre-motion letter is required for motions in limine. Meet-and-confer required before filing motions in limine.
The rule requires drafting sequence. Plaintiff must provide draft Proposed Pretrial Order to defendant 21 days before due date.
The rule requires objections, page line numbers, counter designations, concise basis for objections, and page order. Joint chart required for deposition designations with specific content.
Requests should be made at least 7 calendar days in advance when this rule applies before Judge John F. Kness. Expedited transcript requests must be made 7 days before trial.
Yes. Judge John F. Kness requires bundling for covered papers. Exhibit submission requirements: USB drives and binders for proposed and final exhibits.
Plaintiff must provide draft Proposed Pretrial Order to defendant 21 days before due date.
Each side limited to 12 proposed disputed questions (good cause exception).
Expedited transcript requests must be made 7 days before trial.
Proposed Pretrial Order must be electronically signed by all counsel.
Proposed Pretrial Orders must be emailed in Word format and two courtesy copies with labeled tabs delivered to chambers.
Proposed Pretrial Orders must be filed on ECF docket under 'Other Documents'.
Defendant must respond to plaintiff's draft with objections and additions 14 days before due date.
Parties must meet and confer 7 days before Proposed Pretrial Order due date.
Proposed Pretrial Order must include cover document with case caption and title.
Proposed Pretrial Order must be signed by all counsel and include space for judge's signature.
Witnesses not on disclosure lists are barred from testifying unless good cause shown.
Objections not in final pretrial order are waived unless good cause shown.
Exhibit submission requirements: USB drives and binders for proposed and final exhibits.
Deposition designations must be submitted on USB drives with color-coding.
Joint chart required for deposition designations with specific content.
Opposing party must serve objections and counter-designations 14 business days before pretrial order due date.
Motions memorializing non-objections must state there is no objection.
Motions in limine must include meet-and-confer statement.
Meet-and-confer required before filing motions in limine.
Encouraged to consolidate multiple motions in limine filings.