All local rules for N.D. Ill., integrated with this judge's published requirements.
Neither a motion nor brief in support of or in opposition to any motion nor objections to a report and recommendation or order of a magistrate judge or special master, shall exceed 15 pages without prior approval of the court. Local Rule 7.1 ↗
Neither a motion nor brief in support of or in opposition to any motion nor objections to a report and recommendation or order of a magistrate judge or special master, shall exceed 15 pages without prior approval of the court. Local Rule 7.1 ↗
Neither a motion nor brief in support of or in opposition to any motion nor objections to a report and recommendation or order of a magistrate judge or special master, shall exceed 15 pages without prior approval of the court. Local Rule 7.1 ↗
(b) A judge may require a motion or an objection to a magistrate judge’s order to be accompanied by a notice of presentment specifying the date and time on which, and judge before whom, the motion or objection is to be presented. The date of presentment shall be not more than 14 days following the date on which the motion or objection is delivered to the court pursuant to LR 78.1. Local Rule 5.3(b) ↗
Except where a judge fixes a different time in accordance with this rule, the original of any motion shall be filed by 4:30 p.m. of the second business day preceding the date of presentment. A judge may fix a time for delivery longer than that provided by this rule, or elect to hear motions less frequently than daily, or both. Local Rule 78.1 ↗
The court may set a briefing schedule. Oral argument may be allowed in the court’s discretion. Local Rule 78.3 ↗
Any judge wishing to refer a matter in a civil case pending on that judge’s calendar to a magistrate judge may do so following procedures approved by the Executive Committee. Local Rule 72.1 ↗
Discovery All parties must comply with the initial-disclosure requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26. Parties are advised that there is no “order” in which discovery must occur. One party’s failure or inability to respond to discovery requests does not excuse any other party’s timely compliance. Parties also are reminded that the pendency of a motion–even a dispositive motion–does not operate as a stay of discovery.
Motions Motions must be noticed for a date certain. Judge Alonso’s main web page will list any dates on which he is not hearing motions. The court will hold hearings on civil motions (except for emergency motions) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. The court will hold hearings on criminal motions (except for emergency motions) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Motions noticed for a given day must be filed no later than 4:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding the day the motion is to be heard. Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions should be so identified in the title and the body of the motion. Counsel shall not make or respond to motions by correspondence with the court. Source ↗
Courtesy copies should be delivered to Judge Alonso's courtroom deputy in Room 1908 within 24 hours of filing. Please do not bring courtesy copies to chambers. Courtesy copies do not need to be delivered in an envelope unless the filing contains under-seal material. The Court prefers courtesy copies printed after the document has been filed with the CM/ECF header stamp on it. Courtesy copies should be double-sided. The BEST way to Judge Alonso's courtroom deputy, Lesley Fairley, is to send her an email at lesley_fairley@ilnd.uscourts.gov . Parties requesting to change a previously-set hearing before Judge Alonso may jointly email Lesley Fairley at lesley_fairley@ilnd.uscourts.gov with agreed-upon dates. Hearing dates may not be changed by telephone . The email must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. on the day before the hearing. A motion will need to be filed if the hearing date has been reset more than once or if the request is not agreed to by all parties to the case. Calendar Schedule Judge Jorge L. Alonso --> Procedures to be followed in cases assigned to Judge Jorge L. Alonso Bankruptcy Appeals Briefs on appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court must be filed in compliance with the deadlines set out in Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 8018. Any motions to extend time must be filed within the applicable briefing period. Principal briefs are limited to 30 pages and the reply brief 15 pages. Consent to Proceed Before a Magistrate Judge Judge Alonso strongly encourages counsel to consider and to inform their clients of the efficiencies and potential cost savings to be gained by having cases tried before a United States Magistrate Judge. Consent to Proceed Before Magistrate Judge Counterfeit Product Cases Plaintiffs in cases alleging counterfeit products and joining many defendants (also known as Schedule A cases) should use the template proposed orders linked below to assist the Court in reviewing motions for: (1) temporary restraining orders; (2) preliminary injunctions; and (3) default judgments. Plaintiffs should create a redline comparison of their proposed order against the relevant template and submit that redline comparison along with their proposed order to the Court's proposed-order email box at Proposed_Order_Alonso@ilnd.uscourts.gov in Word format rather than PDF. A proposed order's conformity with the template does not imply that the associated motion will be granted. Plaintiffs should be prepared to explain any differences between their proposed orders and the templates. Judge Alonso will presumptively require a bond of $1,000 per defendant. Plaintiffs should inform the Court of any circumstances that make such a bond inappropriate. Temporary Restraining Order Template Preliminary Injunction Template Default Judgment Template The Court requires that any motion for a temporary restraining order is accompanied by a declaration from an attorney of record that provides the following information. Source ↗
Initial Status Hearings The court usually will set all newly filed cases for a status hearing approximately 60 to 90 days from the date the complaint is filed. At least 14 days before the initial status hearing, the parties shall meet to discuss the nature and basis of their claims and defenses, the possibilities for a prompt settlement or resolution of the case, and the arrangements for making Rule 26(a)(1) disclosures. Plaintiff is responsible for initiating such a meeting, and all parties are required to attend. Failure or refusal to participate in such a meeting may constitute a basis for sanctions, including dismissal for want of prosecution. Parties are directed to file an initial status report at least 3 business days before the initial status hearing. Joint Initial Status Report Jury Selection in Civil Trials On the morning of jury selection, the venire will enter the courtroom and be sworn. They will then be given a letter welcoming them to the courthouse, a combined list of background questions and the parties’ questions, and a witness list. The first 14 jurors will be seated in the jury box according to the random-order list. Questioning and any required follow-up will be conducted by the Court. Jurors will be given the option of answering sensitive questions at sidebar. Once all questions have been asked, the Court will consult with the parties at sidebar as to additional follow-up questions and will then complete the questioning. The Court will then return to sidebar to hear any challenges for cause. If necessary, any juror successfully challenged for cause will be replaced with new jurors in the jury box, and questioning will then be repeated in the same fashion until the result is a qualified pool of at least 14 jurors on whom peremptory challenges will be exercised. The parties will submit peremptory challenges in writing simultaneously. Each side is permitted 3 peremptory challenges, and double-strikes will count against both sides. The first 8 (or however many jurors are being seated for the trial) non-struck jurors will comprise the jury. There are no alternate jurors. All jurors seated will be allowed to deliberate. Memoranda of Law and Citations The 15-page limitation on all memoranda contained in Local Rule 7.1 will be strictly enforced. A motion for leave to exceed that limit will not be granted unless warranted. The court prefers that the parties use the Westlaw citation for unpublished opinions and materials cited in memoranda. Parties should not attach as exhibits materials that are available on Westlaw. Motions Motions must be noticed for a date certain. Judge Alonso’s main web page will list any dates on which he is not hearing motions. The court will hold hearings on civil motions (except for emergency motions) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. The court will hold hearings on criminal motions (except for emergency motions) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Source ↗
Motions Motions must be noticed for a date certain. Judge Alonso’s main web page will list any dates on which he is not hearing motions. The court will hold hearings on civil motions (except for emergency motions) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. The court will hold hearings on criminal motions (except for emergency motions) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Motions noticed for a given day must be filed no later than 4:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding the day the motion is to be heard. Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions should be so identified in the title and the body of the motion. Counsel shall not make or respond to motions by correspondence with the court. Source ↗
Motions Motions must be noticed for a date certain. Judge Alonso’s main web page will list any dates on which he is not hearing motions. The court will hold hearings on civil motions (except for emergency motions) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. The court will hold hearings on criminal motions (except for emergency motions) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Motions noticed for a given day must be filed no later than 4:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding the day the motion is to be heard. Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions should be so identified in the title and the body of the motion. Counsel shall not make or respond to motions by correspondence with the court. Source ↗
Motions Motions must be noticed for a date certain. Judge Alonso’s main web page will list any dates on which he is not hearing motions. The court will hold hearings on civil motions (except for emergency motions) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. The court will hold hearings on criminal motions (except for emergency motions) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. Motions noticed for a given day must be filed no later than 4:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding the day the motion is to be heard. Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions should be so identified in the title and the body of the motion. Counsel shall not make or respond to motions by correspondence with the court. Source ↗