**Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez** was appointed to the Northern District of Illinois in May 2005. She served as Chief Magistrate Judge for the district from 2016 to 2020. Judge Valdez received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law. She began her legal career in 1988 as a federal public defender in Los Angeles, California, representing indigent criminal defendants. She also worked as a senior associate at Hughes, Socol, Piers, Resnick & Dym in Chicago, specializing in federal civil rights litigation. Prior to becoming a federal magistrate judge, she was the Chicago Regional Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), concentrating her practice in constitutional law and the federal Voting Rights Act. In her role as Magistrate Judge, she has served as a mediator in thousands of cases covering intellectual property, contract disputes, employment, and civil rights matters. **Education** - University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D. - University of California, Los Angeles, undergraduate degree **Career** - Chief Magistrate Judge, Northern District of Illinois (2016–2020) - Chicago Regional Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) - Senior Associate, Hughes, Socol, Piers, Resnick & Dym, Chicago (federal civil rights) - Federal Public Defender, Los Angeles, California (1988–approximately 1993)
**Courthouse:** Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604 **Chambers:** Room 1058 **Phone:** (312) 435-5690 **Fax:** (312) 554-8941 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Kerwin Posley, (312) 408-5135, Room 1036 - Law Clerks: Andrew Hamilton, Michelle Mills
Courtesy copies are required for exhibits. Details: 1 copy, delivery with filing, by hand delivery. One courtesy copy of all exhibits must be delivered to Courtroom Deputy on pretrial order due date.
Judge Maria Valdez's rules set a pre-motion procedure for motions in limine. Motions in limine must be filed separately, 21 days before pretrial order, with responses due 14 days before.
Judge Maria Valdez's rule states these limits: 5 pages. Settlement letters limited to 5 pages; 10 pages requires leave.
Judge Maria Valdez's rule states these limits: 3 pages. Joint status report limited to 3 pages.
The rule requires liens disclosure and litigation funding disclosure. Settlement letters must disclose liens or litigation funding sources.
The rule requires written motion. Extension requests for letter schedule must be by written motion.
Parties may contact Judge Maria Valdez's chambers by email only as allowed by the rule. The rule lists email Proposed_Order_Valdez@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Settlement letters must be emailed to court, not filed with clerk.
Judge Maria Valdez's rules specify what an adjournment or extension request must include. The request must include reason for request and extreme hardship. No continuances for settlement conferences without motion showing extreme hardship.
The rule addresses filing timing, filing status, or cure windows. Opening brief due within 60 days of the filing of the administrative record.
Final pretrial order requires one courtesy copy to be included.
One courtesy copy of all exhibits must be delivered to Courtroom Deputy on pretrial order due date.
Motions in limine must be filed separately, 21 days before pretrial order, with responses due 14 days before.
Proposed findings and conclusions must be filed separately with chambers copy 7 days before bench trial.
Trial briefs not required for jury trials; bench trials only with court approval.
Settlement letters must disclose liens or litigation funding sources.
Settlement letters limited to 5 pages; 10 pages requires leave.
Discovery audio/video/photos relevant to liability/damages must be submitted with settlement letters.
Counsel must provide settlement letters to clients before conference.
Settlement letters must be emailed to court, not filed with clerk.
Extension requests for letter schedule must be by written motion.
Settlement letters must be in good faith; demands for full recovery or zero offers may result in amended letter or closed referral.
Attorneys-Only conferences limited to 1 hour.
Only one lawyer per side may actively participate in Attorneys-Only conferences; others must be muted with camera off.
Settlement conferences held remotely on Webex unless otherwise ordered.
No continuances for settlement conferences without motion showing extreme hardship.
Modifications to standing order procedures require motion; no telephonic requests accepted.
Opening brief due within 60 days of the filing of the administrative record.
Responsive brief due 45 days after the opening brief.
Reply brief, if any, due 14 days after the responsive brief.
Plaintiff's opening brief must attach a copy of the ALJ's decision as an exhibit.
Joint status report limited to 3 pages.