Northern District of Illinois Electronic Filing Rules

Applies to

Adr certification

Parties, through their attorneys, must e-file the ADR certification with the court unless otherwise ordered.

Unless otherwise ordered, and no later than the date specified in the case management order, the parties, through their attorneys, must e-file with the court a certification

Applies to

Motion to extend mediation deadline

Requests to extend the mediation deadline must be e-filed to the ADR Magistrate Judge.

Requests for extension of the deadline for conducting a mediation must be e-filed to the ADR Magistrate Judge, with a paper copy to the the mediator (if selected).

Applies to

Mediation statement

Mediation statements must not be filed with the court.

(b) Prohibitions against Filing. The statements must not be filed.

Applies to

Motion to be excused from mediation

The motion seeking excusal from in-person mediation attendance must be filed electronically, and a copy must be supplied to the mediator.

A person seeking to be excused must submit, no fewer than 15 calendar days before the date set for the mediation, an electronically filed motion and supply a copy to the mediator.

Applies to

Settlement agreement and stipulation to dismiss

If a settlement is reached in mediation, the mediator assists the parties in drafting a settlement agreement and stipulation to dismiss within the same 14 days, and the executed documents must be electronically filed with the court.

Within the same 14 calendar days, if a settlement was reached, the mediator shall assist the parties in drafting a settlement agreement and a stipulation to dismiss which, once executed, is then electronically filed with the court.

Applies to

Letter of complaint

The letter of complaint and accompanying declaration must not be filed in the case.

The letter of complaint and declaration shall not be filed in the case.

Applies to

Mediator report

The mediator's written report of a material violation must not be filed in the case.

Such report shall not be filed in the case.

Required

Always

All civil, criminal, and admiralty cases are assigned to the ECF electronic filing system except specifically excepted categories of cases.

All civil, criminal, and admiralty cases are assigned to ECF except those categories of cases specifically excepted below.

Applies to

Petitions, motions, memoranda of law, and other pleadings and documents

All petitions, motions, memoranda of law, and other pleadings or documents in ECF-assigned cases filed after September 30, 2005 must be filed electronically.

Except as expressly provided and in exceptional circumstances preventing an E-Filer from filing electronically, all petitions, motions, memoranda of law, or other pleadings and documents required to be filed with the court after September 30, 2005 in connection with a case assigned to ECF shall be electronically filed.

Required

Always

Email or fax transmissions to court staff do not constitute a filing.

An email or fax transmission to court staff does not constitute a filing.

Applies to

Charging documents, warrants for arrest and summons, documents requiring a criminal defendant's signature, sealed complaints, bonds, letters of request, and other designated or court-ordered paper documents

Charging documents, arrest warrants and summons, defendant-signature documents, sealed complaints, bonds, letters of request, and other designated or court-ordered documents must not be filed electronically.

The following categories of documents are not to be filed electronically: (a) charging documents in a criminal case, including superseding indictments, superseding informations, and superseding complaints; (b) warrants for arrest and summons in criminal cases; (c) all documents that require the signature of a criminal defendant; (d) sealed complaints; (e) bonds; (f) letters of request; (g) other designated documents in accordance with procedures established by the Clerk of the Court; and (h) documents that the court expressly orders or permits to be filed in paper form.

The order lists special categories of documents (administrative records, state court records in habeas cases, restricted/sealed/in camera documents, ex parte motions, pretrial services and presentence reports, and MLAT applications) that, consistent with the following subsection referring to them as paper-form documents, are not filed electronically.

following categories of documents shall be filed electronically: (a) administrative records; (b) state courtrecords in ahabeas co{pus case; (c) restricted, sealed, or in camera documents; (d) ex parte motions; (e) pretrial services reports and presentence reports; (0 applications pursuant to Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs).

Applies to

Emergency filing

For emergency filings, the filer must bring the paper document to the court.

If the case is an emergency filing, the filer must bring the paper document.

Parties in custody may not register as E-Filers, and an E-Filer placed in custody during the action must promptly advise the Clerk to terminate the registration.

Parties who are in custody are not permitted to register as E-Filers. Iq dr.rring the course of the action, aparty who is registered as an E-Filer is placed in custody, the E-Filer shall promptly advise the Clerk of the Court to terminate the E-Filer's registration as an E-Filer.

Login and password use is limited to the E-Filer and specifically authorized agents, and documents filed with the password are deemed authorized and signed by the E-Filer, who is responsible for associated charges.

Use of the login and password is limited to the E-Filer and agents specifically authorized by the E-Filer. The E-Filer shall be responsible for all applicable charges associated with use of the E-Filer's password, and any documents filed by use of the password shall be deemed authorized and signed by the E-Filer.

Applies to

All documents

E-Filers must file all documents electronically unless this General Order or the court permits otherwise.

E-Filers must file all documents in electronic form, except where this General Order or the court permits otherwise.

Applies to

Brief

Electronic filing does not override local-rule page limitations: pages of electronic documents must substantially comply with LR 5.2, and absent leave of court the LR 7.1 page limitations apply to briefs filed in electronic form.

Nothing in section VII of this General Order shall override the local rules regarding page limitations on specific types of documents. The pages of electronic documents should substantially comply with the page limitations contained in LR 5.2. Absent leave of court, the page limitations set forth in LR 7.1 applyto briefs filed in elecfronic form.

Applies to

Documents requiring original signatures

E-Filers must retain paper originals of electronically filed documents requiring another person's signature (e.g., affidavits, declarations) until 4 years after all appeal periods expire.

Documents that are electronically filed and require original signatures other than that of the E-Filer, e.g, affidaits, declarations, must be maintained in paper fonn by the E-Filer until 4 years after all time periods for appeals expire.

An E-Filer's ECF login and password serve as the E-Filer's signature on all electronically filed documents, including for purposes of Fed. R. Civ. P. 11 and any other purpose requiring a signature.

The user login and password required to transmit documents to ECF serve as the E-Filer's signature on all elechonic documents filed with the court. They also serve as a signature for purposes of Fed. R. Civ. P. 11, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the local rules of this court, and.any other purpose for which a signature is required in connection with proceedings before the court.

E-Filers may not knowingly allow anyone other than an authorized agent to use their ECF password, and delegated filing by an authorized agent still constitutes the E-Filer's signature.

No E-Filer or other person may knowingly penrrit or cause to permit an E-Filer's password to be used by anyone other than an authorized agent of the E-Filer. Elecfronic filing may be delegated to an authoized agufi, who may use the login and password to transmit a filing. However, use of the login and password to transmit the filing constitutes a signature by the E-Filer, even when the E-Filer does not perform the physical act of filing.

Applies to

Documents requiring multiple signatures

In ECF cases, documents requiring signatures of more than one party must be e-filed by scanned signatures, represented consent of the other parties, a notice of endorsement filed no later than three court days after filing, or another court-approved manner.

In cases assigned to ECF, documents requiring signatures of more than one party must be electonically filed either by: (1) fransmitting a scanned document containing all necessary signatures; (2) representing the consent of the other parties on the document; (3) identifring on the document the parties whose signatures are required and by the submission of a notice of endorsement by the other parties no later than three court days after filing; or (4) h any other manner approved by the court.

All E-Filers must maintain a current and active e-mail address to receive Notices of Electronic Filing through ECF.

All E-Filers shall maintain a curre,nt and active e-mail address to receive Notices of Electronic Filing through ECF.

Applies to

Deposition transcript

Deposition transcripts should not be filed on CM/ECF.

The deposition transcripts should not be filed on CM/ECF with the Proposed Pretrial Order.

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.

Settlement letters are not to be filed with the Clerk’s Office, will not be made part of the Court’s record, and will not be admissible as evidence.

Applies to

Exhibits

Exhibits should not be filed on CM/ECF.

The exhibits should not be filed on CM/ECF with the Proposed Pretrial Order.

Applies to

Pretrial order

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

The Proposed Final Pretrial Order (excluding copies of exhibits and deposition transcripts) must also be filed on the docket in CM/ECF.

Applies to

Settlement correspondence

Settlement correspondence must not be filed in the Clerk's Office or on the CM/ECF system; it is submitted to the Court by email only.

As a reminder, do not file copies of settlement correspondence in the Clerk's Office or on the CM/ECF system.

Applies to

Proposed findings conclusions

At trial, each party must submit its proposed findings and conclusions via email.

At trial, each party shall also submit via email its proposed findings and conclusions.

Applies to

Jury instructions

At trial, the parties must submit via email their joint set of jury instructions incorporating the court's changes.

Electronic submission. At trial, the parties shall submit via email their joint set of jury instructions which incorporates the court's changes.

Required

Always

Petty offenses, grand jury matters, sealed cases, and cases expressly ordered out of ECF do not qualify for electronic filing assignment.

The following categories of cases do not qualify to be assigned to ECF: (a) petty offenses; (b) grand jury matters; (c) sealed cases, until a point in the proceedings when the case is unsealed; and (d) any other specific case where the court expressly orders that it not be assigned to ECF, until a point in the proceedings that the court may order otherwise.

The Clerk's procedures may not provide for maintaining electronic versions of in camera documents unless the Clerk specifically determines the current version of ECF has adequate security protections.

Those procedures (a) may contain provisions for creating redacted versions of documents and (b) shall not provide for the maintenance of electonic versions of in catilera documents unless the Clerk of the Court specifically determines that the then-current version of ECF contains adequate protections for securing and restricting access to such documents.

Attorney E-Filer registration requires the applicant's name, address, telephone number, internet e-mail address, and a declaration (with a PACER account required per the continuation on the next page).

Registration shall be in accordance with procedures established by the Clerk of the Court and shall require that the applicant provide his or hetr name, address, telephone number, lnternet e-mail address, and a declaration that the applicant is

Pro se E-Filer registration requires identifying the case and the applicant's contact information and having or obtaining a PACER account.

Registration shall be in accordance with procedures established by the Clerk of the Court and shall require that the applicant identify the action as well as the name, address, telephone number, and Internet e-mail address of the applicant. Registation also requires that the applicant have or obtain an account on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (,PACER,) system.

When a registered pro se party retains an attorney who appears, the attorney must advise the Clerk to terminate the party's E-Filer registration upon appearance.

If, during the course of the action, the party retains an attomey who appears on the party's behatf, the attomey must advise the C1erk of the Court to terminate the party's regishation as an E-Filer upon the attomey's appearance.

E-Filers must protect the security of their passwords and immediately notify the Clerk if the password is compromised.

E-Filers agree to protect the security of their passwords. (1) An E-Filer shall immediately notift the Clerk of the Court if he or she leams that the E-Filer's password has been compromised.

Required

Always

E-Filers may be sanctioned for failure to comply with the General Order or ECF procedures established by the Clerk.

E-Filers may be subject to sanctions for failure to comply with the provisions of this General Order or any ECF procedures established by the Clerk of the Court.

The E-Filer is responsible for maintaining adequate facilities and equipment to participate in ECF, including a current and active e-mail address (sentence continues beyond this chunk).

It is the responsibility of the E-Filer to maintain adequate facilities and equipment to participate in ECF, including maintaining a current and active e-mail

Applies to

Document component

Components that cannot be reduced to electronic format need not be e-filed; they must instead be filed in paper with the Clerk of the Court and served on the parties under the applicable Federal Rules and local rules.

E-Filers may be excused from filing a particular component electonically under certain limited circumstances, such as when the component cannot be reduced to an electronic format. Such component shall not be fi1ed electronically, but instead shall be filed with the Clerk of the Court and served upon the parties in accordance with the applicable Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and the local rules for filing and service of paper documents.

Applies to

Notice of paper filing

E-Filers who file a paper component must also file a corresponding notice electronically (source text is cut off mid-sentence).

E-Filers filing a paper component shall file electronically a Notice

Applies to

Exhibits

Electronic filers may submit as exhibits or attachments only excerpts of referenced documents that are directly germane to the matter before the court, and excerpted material must be clearly and prominently identified as such.

An E-Filer, unless otherwise inskucted by the court, may submit as exhibits or attachments only those excerpts of the referenced documents that are directly gennane to the matter under consideration by the court. Excerpted material must be clearly and prominently identified as such. E-Filers who file excerpts of documents as exhibits or attachments under this rule do so without prejudice to their right to timely file additional excerpts or the complete document.

Applies to

Documents requiring original signatures

On the court's request, the E-Filer must provide the original paper documents for review.

On request of the court, the E-Filer must provide original documents for review.

Applies to

Joint motion

Parties may electronically file a joint motion for relief from a court-ordered mediation referral.

The parties may e-file a joint motion under this Rule.

The Clerk may establish procedures for creating and storing electronic versions of documents filed in paper form.

As to those documents listed in $ [I(B)(2) and any other documents filed in p4per form, the Clerk of the Court may establish procedures for creating and storing electronic versions of such documents.

Attorneys admitted to the bar of the court (including pro hac vice) and attorneys representing the United States in their official capacity may register as E-Filers.

Attomeys admiued to the bar of this court, including those admiued pro hac vice, arrd attorneys representing the United States in the attorney's ofEcial capacily, may register as E-Filers.

A self-represented party to a pending civil action who is not under Executive Committee filing restrictions may register as an E-Filer solely for that case.

A party to a pending civil action who is not rqlresorted by an attomey and who is not under filing restrictions imposed by the Executive Committee of this Court, may register as an E-Filer solely for purposes of the case.

The Clerk may require E-Filer applicants to complete online and/or in-person ECF training before receiving full E-Filer access.

The Clerk of the Court may establish registration procedures that require an E-Filer applicant to complete on-line and/or in-person ECF training prior to being provided full access as an E-Filer.

After completing registration and/or training, the E-Filer receives notification of login and password from the Clerk.

Once registration and/or training is completed in accordance with procedures e.stablished by the Clerk of the Court, the Clerk of the Court shall provide the E-Filer with notification of the E-Filer's login and password.

Applies to

Witness list

Witness lists may be filed as separate ECF documents filed simultaneously with the proposed pretrial order, which must note their separate filing.

The witness lists may be filed as separate ECF documents. If so, the proposed pretrial order shall indicate in this section that the witness list(s) will be filed on the docket simultaneously with the proposed pretrial order.

Applies to

Exhibit chart

Exhibit charts may be filed as separate ECF documents filed simultaneously with the proposed pretrial order, which must note their separate filing.

The exhibit charts may be filed as separate ECF documents. If so, the proposed pretrial order shall indicate in this section that the exhibit chart(s) will be filed on the docket simultaneously with the proposed pretrial order.