Northern District of Illinois Local Rules — The Practitioner's Guide
Briefing Schedule
§4. Briefing Schedule
Standard Motions
The local rules do not set district-wide response or reply deadlines. LR 78.3 states only that "the court may set a briefing schedule." In the absence of a court-ordered schedule, FRCP defaults apply.
| Event | Deadline | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Response/opposition | Set by the court (or FRCP default) | LR 78.3 |
| Reply | Set by the court; failure to file within the requisite time = waiver | LR 78.3 |
| Motion filing deadline before presentment | 4:30 PM, second business day before presentment | LR 78.1 |
Practical note: Because NDIL is a presentment court, briefing schedules are often set at the motion call rather than prescribed in advance. Many judges set their own deadlines in standing orders. Always check the assigned judge's procedures.
Modification
The court may on motion or on its own initiative modify any time schedule (LR 78.3).
Formatting & Page Limits
§1. Formatting & Page Limits
Document Format
| Requirement | Details | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Font size (body) | 12 points minimum | LR 5.2(e)(1) |
| Font size (footnotes) | 11 points minimum | LR 5.2(e)(1) |
| Line spacing | Double-spaced (2.0 lines minimum) | LR 5.2(e) |
| Margins | 1 inch minimum on all sides | LR 5.2(e)(2) |
| Paper size | 8½ x 11 inches, opaque, unglazed, white | LR 5.2(e) |
| Binding (paper originals) | Staple or removable metal fastener at top; no front/back covers; no protruding tabs | LR 5.2(f) |
Electronic filings must conform to the same formatting requirements as paper documents (LR 5.2(e)).
Documents are encouraged to be text-searchable with hyperlinked tables of contents and citations (LR 5.2(h)).
Word and Page Limits
| Document Type | Limit | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Motions and briefs (all types) | 15 pages | LR 7.1 |
| Briefs exceeding 15 pages | Requires prior court approval + TOC + table of cases | LR 7.1 |
Consequence: Any brief or objection that does not comply with the 15-page limit shall be filed subject to being stricken by the court (LR 7.1).
Note: The local rules specify a page limit, not a word limit. This differs from some other districts (e.g., SDTX judges who use word limits).
Courtesy Copies
The local rules do not contain a district-wide courtesy copy requirement. Individual judges may require courtesy copies per their standing orders — check the assigned judge's procedures page on the court website (LR 5.3(a)).
Recent Changes
§10. Recent Changes
| Effective Date | Rule | Change | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2026 | Various | Current through this date | Rules effective as of extraction |
| September 29, 2025 | LR 79.1.1 | Adopted Digital Media Exhibits rule | New procedure for submitting audio/video exhibits via court portal |
| May 22, 2025 | LR 5.8.1 | Adopted Highly Sensitive Material (HSM) procedures | New category of sealed filings with offline storage requirements |
| April 24, 2025 | LR 77.2, LR 83.17 | Amended emergency judges and counsel withdrawal procedures | Updated emergency filing protocols |
| October 24, 2024 | LR 26.2 | Amended sealed documents procedures | Updated electronic sealing process |
| March 28, 2024 | LR 26.3 | Amended discovery materials filing rule | Clarified that discovery materials are not filed unless in support of/opposition to a motion |
| June 27, 2024 | LR 37.1 | Amended contempt procedures | Updated contempt proceeding requirements |
| October 3, 2023 | LR 78.2 | Abrogated | Removed "denial for failure to prosecute" rule |
| September 29, 2023 | LR 56.1, LR 80 | Amended | Updated summary judgment procedures and international arbitration rules |
| July 6, 2023 | LR 5.4 | Abrogated by General Order 23-0026 | Removed filing notice and motion delivery procedures |
| July 6, 2023 | LR 83.15 | Abrogated by General Order 23-0021 | Local counsel no longer required for nonresident attorneys |
Meet-and-Confer Requirements
§5. Meet-and-Confer Requirements
Discovery Motions — Mandatory Conferral
The court will refuse to hear any discovery motion under FRCP Rules 26-37 unless the motion includes a statement that (LR 37.2):
- After consultation in person or by telephone and good faith attempts to resolve differences, counsel were unable to reach an accord; or
- Counsel's attempts to engage in such consultation were unsuccessful due to no fault of counsel's.
Certification Requirements
Where the consultation occurred, the statement must recite (LR 37.2):
- The date, time, and place of the conference
- The names of all parties participating
Where counsel was unable to engage in consultation, the statement must recite the efforts made by counsel to engage in consultation.
Format
The rule specifies in person or by telephone — email-only conferral does not satisfy LR 37.2.
Non-Discovery Motions
The local rules do not impose a general meet-and-confer requirement for non-discovery motions. Individual judges may require conferral before filing other types of motions — check the assigned judge's standing orders.
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