Court Rules
Common questions about Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler?

Courtesy copies are required for exhibits. Details: 2 copies. Two courtesy copies of exhibits must be submitted to Chambers.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Contents of the Proposed Final Pretrial Order - 7. Exhibits

Does Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler's rules set a pre-motion procedure for motions in limine. Parties must meet and confer on all motions in limine before filing; absent prior leave, each side is limited to 5 total motions in limine.

View ruleSource: page 3, section Motions in limine

What page or word limits apply to settlement letter before Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler?

Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler's rule states these limits: 7 pages. Settlement letters are limited to a maximum of 7 pages.

View ruleSource: page 2, section A. Before the Settlement Conference: Status Hearing and Exchange of Settlement Letters

What page or word limits apply to joint status report before Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler?

Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler's rule states these limits: 5 pages. When the Court requires an initial joint status report, the report must not exceed five pages.

View ruleSource: page 1, section STANDING ORDER FOR INITIAL JOINT STATUS REPORTS

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler?

Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler's formatting rule includes file format docx. Proposed Final Pretrial Order must be in Word format.

View ruleSource: page 1, section STANDING ORDER FOR PREPARATION OF PROPOSED FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER

What must be included with settlement letter filings before Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Settlement letters must include specified content related to the case, demands/offers, attendees, and insurance representatives.

View ruleSource: page 1, section A. Before the Settlement Conference: Status Hearing and Exchange of Settlement Letters

What must be included with pretrial order filings before Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Proposed voir dire questions and objections should be included in Proposed Final Pretrial Order.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Contents of the Proposed Final Pretrial Order - 8. Proposed voir dire questions

How may parties contact Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler's chambers?

Parties may contact Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email Settlement_Correspondence_BassEhler@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Parties must submit settlement letters to the Court via email to the provided chambers address upon sending to opposing counsel.

View ruleSource: page 2, section A. Before the Settlement Conference: Status Hearing and Exchange of Settlement Letters

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler?

Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. Parties rescheduling a settlement conference must inform the Courtroom Deputy as soon as possible.

View ruleSource: page 4, section Prepare for Success

Is electronic filing required before Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler?

No. Electronic filing is prohibited for the covered filings. Settlement letters are prohibited from being filed with the Clerk’s Office, are not part of the court record, and are not admissible as evidence.

View ruleSource: page 2, section A. Before the Settlement Conference: Status Hearing and Exchange of Settlement Letters

What rule applies to service for settlement letter before Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: recipient: the opposing party. Parties must exchange settlement letters with opposing counsel prior to the settlement conference.

View ruleSource: page 1, section A. Before the Settlement Conference: Status Hearing and Exchange of Settlement Letters
Complete rules summary for Judge Karyn L. Bass Ehler

Settlement letters are limited to a maximum of 7 pages.

Settlement letters must include specified content related to the case, demands/offers, attendees, and insurance representatives.

Parties must exchange settlement letters with opposing counsel prior to the settlement conference.

Parties must submit settlement letters to the Court via email to the provided chambers address upon sending to opposing counsel.

Settlement letters are prohibited from being filed with the Clerk’s Office, are not part of the court record, and are not admissible as evidence.

Counsel responsible for settlement must participate in the initial status hearing, identify attendees with settlement authority, and raise inability to pay at the initial hearing.

Parties rescheduling a settlement conference must inform the Courtroom Deputy as soon as possible.

Deposition transcripts should not be filed on CM/ECF.

Exhibit chart must be submitted to Chambers by email with all counsel cc'd.

Two courtesy copies of exhibits must be submitted to Chambers.

Exhibits should not be filed on CM/ECF.

Proposed voir dire questions and objections should be included in Proposed Final Pretrial Order.

Each side is limited to 10 proposed disputed voir dire questions.

Joint chart of objections to designated testimony must be submitted to Chambers by email.

Proposed Final Pretrial Order must be submitted by email to Chambers_BassEhler@ilnd.uscourts.gov with all counsel cc'd.

Proposed Final Pretrial Order must be in Word format.

Email subject line must include case number, case name, and title of submission.

Proposed Final Pretrial Order must be filed on CM/ECF.

Two courtesy copies of Proposed Final Pretrial Order must be delivered to Chambers.

Deposition transcripts with proposed designations highlighted must be submitted to Chambers by email and two courtesy copies delivered to Chambers.

Two courtesy copies of highlighted deposition transcripts must be delivered to Chambers.

Parties must meet and confer on all motions in limine before filing; absent prior leave, each side is limited to 5 total motions in limine.

For jury trials, parties must meet and agree on proposed jury instructions and verdict forms to the maximum extent possible, and file them with the Proposed Final Pretrial Order noting any objections.

Proposed jury instructions and verdict forms must include per-instruction proponent, legal authority, objections, objection basis, and proposed modifications/alternatives.

Parties should use Seventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions for jury trials where applicable, unless there is a good reason to not use them.

Parties should jointly submit proposed jury instructions and verdict forms to Chambers via email, copying all counsel.

When the Court requires an initial joint status report, the report must not exceed five pages.

When the Court requires an initial joint status report, the report must contain specified sections on claims, referrals, discovery, ESI, settlement, magistrate judge consent, pending motions, and trial.

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