Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Georgia N. Alexakis -- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
1719
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Pre-motion in-chambers conference is effectively required before filing summary judgment. Parties 'should always inquire with the Court prior to filing.' No written submissions before the conference.
- 2. Reply briefs are capped at 10 pages -- tighter than most ILND judges. LR 7.1 15-page limit applies only to opening and response briefs.
- 3. Email or letters alone do NOT satisfy LR 37.2 meet-and-confer. Face-to-face, videoconference, or phone required. This is strictly enforced.
- 4. No courtesy copies unless Judge Alexakis specifically requests them. Do not deliver them proactively.
- 5. Contact Courtroom Deputy via email (Carmen_Acevedo@ilnd.uscourts.gov) -- preferred over phone. All parties must be copied on case-related emails to the deputy.
- 6. Limit of 25 requests for admission per side -- significantly tighter than the 10-per-party-per-day FRCP default.
- 7. Amended complaints require a redline filed as an attachment showing all changes from the prior version.
- 8. Trial dates are firm. Extensions denied to accommodate foreseeable calendar conflicts.
- 9. Do not contact chambers or Courtroom Deputy for extension requests -- file a motion.
- 10. Check docket after 4 p.m. day before motion date to confirm whether appearance is necessary.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Motions must be filed no later than the third business day (excluding federal holidays and weekends) before presentment. Example: motion filed Monday may be noticed for upcoming Thursday; motion filed Thursday may be noticed for following Tuesday. Check docket after 4 p.m. the day before to confirm whether appearance is necessary. [Judge Alexakis -- Motion Practice and Memoranda of Law] |
| Motion Limit | 15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. [Judge Alexakis -- Motion Practice and Memoranda of Law] |
| Reply Limit | 10 pages maximum. [Judge Alexakis -- Motion Practice and Memoranda of Law] |
| Chambers Copies | ✗ Not required Judge Alexakis generally does not accept courtesy copies. Do not prepare them, and do not try to deliver them. If Judge Alexakis needs a... |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. Court rules on papers. |
| Remote Appearances | Parties expected to appear in person unless Judge Alexakis advises otherwise. Any request to appear by telephone must be made via email to the Courtroom Deputy no later than 24 hours before the motion hearing. Opposing counsel must be copied on the email. |
| Discovery | Discovery disputes resolved by this judge. LR 37.2 compliance required. Meet and confer must occur face-to-face, by videoconference, or by phone -- exchange of emails or letters normally will not be sufficient. E-discovery impasse: in-person/video/phone conference required with IT representatives of all parties before filing. Pendency of a motion (even dispositive) does not stay discovery absent explicit order. |
Procedural Briefing by Motion Type
C.D. Cal. · Standing Orders
Procedural Requirements
Key Traps
Compare to Other C.D. Cal. Judges
Procedural facts only. Judges shown to illustrate variance in this district.
mail Subscribe to Judge Alexakis procedures email updates
Primary sources. No fluff. Straight to your inbox.
chevron_right
Before You File
Motion Days & Times
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Motions must be filed no later than the third business day (excluding federal holidays and weekends) before presentment. Example: motion filed Monday may be noticed for upcoming Thursday; motion filed Thursday may be noticed for following Tuesday. Check docket after 4 p.m. the day before to confirm whether appearance is necessary. [Judge Alexakis -- Motion Practice and Memoranda of Law]
Notice Period
3 business days (excluding federal holidays and weekends) before the motion hearing.
Motion Page / Word Limit
15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. [Judge Alexakis -- Motion Practice and Memoranda of Law]
Opposition Limit
15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1.
Reply Limit
10 pages maximum. [Judge Alexakis -- Motion Practice and Memoranda of Law]
Font & Formatting
Per LR 5.2(e).
Footnote Policy
Footnotes to be used sparingly and only when necessary.
chevron_right
At Filing
Chambers Copies
✗ Not required
Judge Alexakis generally does not accept courtesy copies. Do not prepare them, and do not try to deliver them. If Judge Alexakis needs a courtesy copy, she will contact counsel. If requested, copies must be (1) printed from ECF with header; (2) printed double-sided; and (3) if 50 pages or more, spiral-bound or in a three-ring binder with exhibits tabbed.
Proposed Orders
Email Word format to Proposed_Order_Alexakis@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Subject line must include (1) case name and number, (2) docket number of corresponding motion, and (3) title of the order as indicated on the Notice of Electronic Filing. All other parties must be copied on the email. Do not file proposed orders on the docket. [Judge Alexakis -- Proposed Orders]
chevron_right
Before the Hearing
Tentative Rulings
Not issued. Court rules on papers.
Prohibition / Ex Parte Contact Re Tentatives
N/A.
Oral Argument
Parties expected to appear in person unless judge advises otherwise. Check docket after 4 p.m. day before scheduled motion date to see if appearance is necessary.
Remote Appearances
Parties expected to appear in person unless Judge Alexakis advises otherwise. Any request to appear by telephone must be made via email to the Courtroom Deputy no later than 24 hours before the motion hearing. Opposing counsel must be copied on the email.
chevron_right
Background Rules
Chambers Contact
All substantive case-related communication with Judge Alexakis must be on the record (motion, brief, status report). All other communications should be directed to the Courtroom Deputy -- email preferred over phone. All parties must be copied on any case-related emails to the Courtroom Deputy. Do not contact chambers for case-related communications unless specifically directed by Judge Alexakis. Do not contact chambers or Courtroom Deputy to request extensions of time -- file a motion.
Discovery Referral
Discovery disputes resolved by this judge. LR 37.2 compliance required. Meet and confer must occur face-to-face, by videoconference, or by phone -- exchange of emails or letters normally will not be sufficient. E-discovery impasse: in-person/video/phone conference required with IT representatives of all parties before filing. Pendency of a motion (even dispositive) does not stay discovery absent explicit order.
Discovery Dispute Procedure Calendar-first
LR 37.2 required. Good-faith in-person, videoconference, or phone conferral (emails normally insufficient). E-discovery impasse: must involve IT representatives of the party serving the request, the facility to be searched, and the party that received the request. Limit of 25 requests for admission per side. Boilerplate objections (overbroad, unduly burdensome without detail) will not be sustained. Discovery motions argued at motion call, usually without additional briefing; expedited schedule set if briefing needed. [Judge Alexakis -- Discovery]
Ex Parte Applications
Emergency matters must be of such a nature that delay would cause serious harm. Contact Courtroom Deputy with as much advance notice as possible before filing. Emergency motions must include: good faith efforts to resolve before filing; nature of emergency; basis for emergency treatment. All reasonable efforts to notify persons affected and opposing counsel.
Settlement Notification
Settlement conferences referred to assigned Magistrate Judge. Contact Courtroom Deputy to request referral. Before submitting dismissal order, counsel should review Seventh Circuit case law on retention of jurisdiction.
Lead Counsel
Not separately specified.
Under Seal Filings
Presumption of public access to all court filings. No documents may be filed under seal absent a separate motion showing good cause. A party's mere designation of information as 'confidential' is insufficient. Redacted public-record version must accompany any under-seal filing.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Trial dates are firm and will not be reset except in exceptional circumstances unforeseeable at the time the trial date was set. Discovery cutoff dates generally will not be reset except by written motion. Extensions not granted to accommodate foreseeable conflicts.
chevron_right
AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
Active motion call Mon/Tue/Thu at 9:30 a.m. with in-person appearance generally required. Notable for requiring a pre-filing in-chambers conference before summary judgment motions (informal off-the-record discussion), a strict 10-page cap on replies, and a hard limit of 25 requests to admit. No courtesy copies accepted unless specifically requested. Discovery meet-and-confer must be voice/video -- email insufficient.
Sources & Currency
verified
Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
Verify now →