judge console · N.D. Ill.
N.D. Ill. · Judge Aspen · Practice Guide

Hon. Marvin E. Aspen

All local rules for N.D. Ill., integrated with this judge's published requirements.

Know Before You Go
👤 Judge Aspen — practice notes
  • No courtesy copies are required unless specifically requested. All civil hearings will be held via telephone conference unless otherwise specified.
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Before You File
Contacting chambers
👤 Judge Aspen — standing order

Important Information The information on this and linked pages contains important information about my pretrial case management procedures. Please take the time to read it carefully. These policies and rules have been designed to facilitate the prompt, efficient and equitable disposition of civil cases on my docket. The success of this court's trial procedures depends on your willingness to familiarize yourself with these materials and to act accordingly. Counsel will be expected to fully explain to the court any failure to comply with the court's pretrial procedures. Calendar Schedule Judge Marvin E. Aspen --> Procedures to be followed in cases assigned to Judge Marvin E. Aspen Initial Status Conference The court will set cases for status within 45 days of the filing of the complaint. At the initial status conference the parties will: 1) inform the court of the nature and scope of the case, 2) identify settlement opportunities, 3) set the initial discovery parameters, and 4) schedule future conferences and, when necessary, motions. The court will set discovery and pretrial order deadlines at the time of the initial status. Scheduling and Settlement Conferences Parties are to the Judge's Courtroom Deputy to schedule a date for a settlement conference. Both sides must agree to the settlement conference. Principles or someone with settlement authority are to be present. Motion Practice Scheduling Motions -- The court hears motions on Thursdays at 10:30 AM. Unless the court has told a party it need not appear, counsel is expected to be present whether or not the motion is agreed. The Original is to be filed electronically no later than three business days preceding the day the motion is to be heard. Discovery Motions a. Meeting Requirement The court encourages the parties to work out discovery disputes and discourages the filing of discovery motions. Discovery disputes are normally resolved at a status call or a pretrial conference without briefing. If the matter is not resolved, then the court will set a briefing schedule. With regard to the filing of motions for discovery and production of documents under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26-37 , the court will not hear or consider any discovery motions unless the parties have complied with Local Rule 37.2 In any motion for discovery or production of documents, the movant shall state when and how the movant complied with Local Rule 37.2 . Failure to comply with these rules will result in the imposition of sanctions. Most often the court will rule on these motions after oral argument at the motion call and without briefing. The court will also consider these motions at a status call or a settlement conference. Consent to Proceed Before a Magistrate Judge Too often litigants are unaware of the efficiencies to be gained by having their cases tried before United States Magistrate Judges. The court strongly encourages counsel to inform their clients of this option, and to discuss it with opposing counsel.

Drafting the Motion
Length limits — motion, opposition, reply
🏛 N.D. Ill. local rule
Motion

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 ↗

Opposition

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 ↗

Reply

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 ↗

Filing & Scheduling
Briefing schedule & hearing date
🏛 N.D. Ill. local rule
Notice period

(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) ↗

Hearing days

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 ↗

Proposed orders
The Hearing
Oral argument
🏛 N.D. Ill. local rule

The court may set a briefing schedule. Oral argument may be allowed in the court’s discretion. Local Rule 78.3 ↗

Discovery
Discovery referral procedure
🏛 N.D. Ill. local rule

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 dispute procedure
👤 Judge Aspen — standing order

Discovery Motions a. Meeting Requirement The court encourages the parties to work out discovery disputes and discourages the filing of discovery motions. Discovery disputes are normally resolved at a status call or a pretrial conference without briefing. If the matter is not resolved, then the court will set a briefing schedule. With regard to the filing of motions for discovery and production of documents under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26-37 , the court will not hear or consider any discovery motions unless the parties have complied with Local Rule 37.2 In any motion for discovery or production of documents, the movant shall state when and how the movant complied with Local Rule 37.2 . Failure to comply with these rules will result in the imposition of sanctions. Most often the court will rule on these motions after oral argument at the motion call and without briefing. The court will also consider these motions at a status call or a settlement conference.

More from Judge Aspen’s procedures
👤 Judge Aspen — standing order
Courtesy copies details

No courtesy copies are required unless specifically requested. Source ↗

Initial conference timing

Initial Status Conference The court will set cases for status within 45 days of the filing of the complaint. At the initial status conference the parties will: 1) inform the court of the nature and scope of the case, 2) identify settlement opportunities, 3) set the initial discovery parameters, and 4) schedule future conferences and, when necessary, motions. The court will set discovery and pretrial order deadlines at the time of the initial status. Scheduling and Settlement Conferences Parties are to the Judge's Courtroom Deputy to schedule a date for a settlement conference. Both sides must agree to the settlement conference. Principles or someone with settlement authority are to be present. Motion Practice Scheduling Motions -- The court hears motions on Thursdays at 10:30 AM. Unless the court has told a party it need not appear, counsel is expected to be present whether or not the motion is agreed. The Original is to be filed electronically no later than three business days preceding the day the motion is to be heard. Discovery Motions a. Meeting Requirement The court encourages the parties to work out discovery disputes and discourages the filing of discovery motions. Discovery disputes are normally resolved at a status call or a pretrial conference without briefing. If the matter is not resolved, then the court will set a briefing schedule. With regard to the filing of motions for discovery and production of documents under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26-37 , the court will not hear or consider any discovery motions unless the parties have complied with Local Rule 37.2 In any motion for discovery or production of documents, the movant shall state when and how the movant complied with Local Rule 37.2 . Failure to comply with these rules will result in the imposition of sanctions. Most often the court will rule on these motions after oral argument at the motion call and without briefing. The court will also consider these motions at a status call or a settlement conference. Consent to Proceed Before a Magistrate Judge Too often litigants are unaware of the efficiencies to be gained by having their cases tried before United States Magistrate Judges. The court strongly encourages counsel to inform their clients of this option, and to discuss it with opposing counsel. Magistrate Judge Consent Form Bankruptcy Appeals Briefs on appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court must be filed within 15 days of the entry of judgment by the Bankruptcy Court. Any motions to extend time must be filed during the 15-day period. Briefs are limited to 15 pages each. Short Civil Trial Calendar The Chief Judge is the administrative liaison Judge for Visiting Judges. Once a case has been assigned to a Visiting Judge for trial, any motions are to be filed in Judge Aspen's chambers, Room 2548. An original and a copy are to be filed. Parties are to send a courtesy copy to the designated Visiting Judge. Motions are not to be noticed for a hearing date. Source ↗

Motion word page limits

Motion Practice Scheduling Motions -- The court hears motions on Thursdays at 10:30 AM. Unless the court has told a party it need not appear, counsel is expected to be present whether or not the motion is agreed. The Original is to be filed electronically no later than three business days preceding the day the motion is to be heard. Source ↗

Oral argument procedure

Motion Practice Scheduling Motions -- The court hears motions on Thursdays at 10:30 AM. Unless the court has told a party it need not appear, counsel is expected to be present whether or not the motion is agreed. The Original is to be filed electronically no later than three business days preceding the day the motion is to be heard. Source ↗

Pre motion procedure

Motion Practice Scheduling Motions -- The court hears motions on Thursdays at 10:30 AM. Unless the court has told a party it need not appear, counsel is expected to be present whether or not the motion is agreed. The Original is to be filed electronically no later than three business days preceding the day the motion is to be heard. Source ↗

content assembled from published local rules & standing orders · click any section in the rail for the full treatment
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