Procedures verified June 28, 2026
Judge Albert Berry III -- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
2214, Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60604
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Do NOT file a notice of motion. The Court controls scheduling entirely. Monitor the docket for hearing notices.
- 2. Motion hearings require IN-PERSON participation -- no remote appearances allowed unless extraordinary circumstances are established in advance with the Courtroom Deputy.
- 3. Meet and confer applies to ALL motions, not just discovery. This includes motions to dismiss, summary judgment motions, and motions in limine.
- 4. Discovery LR 37.2 Certificate must be filed separately, attested to by the attorney -- a statement in the motion body alone is insufficient.
- 5. Motions to compel must attach the actual discovery requests and responses -- not describe them by category. Summary striking may result.
- 6. An informal in-chambers conference is required BEFORE doing any substantive summary judgment preparation -- contact the Courtroom Deputy to schedule.
- 7. Summary judgment compendium must be delivered to chambers within 24 hours of CM/ECF filing, securely bound, separately tabbed, with CM/ECF header.
- 8. Social Security briefs capped at 20 pages -- leave of Court required for more.
- 9. Daubert motions must be filed no later than 35 days before the pre-trial conference -- not keyed to the trial date.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Motion hearings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise scheduled by the Court. Parties should not file a notice of motion -- the Court will order briefing or schedule the hearing. Monitor the public docket for hearing information. [Judge Berry III -- Motion Procedures] |
| Motion Limit | 15 pages per Local Rule 7.1 (district default). No individual judge modification for general civil motions. |
| Reply Limit | Not separately specified; follow LR 7.1 default. |
| Chambers Copies | ✗ Not required No courtesy copies are allowed unless the Court specifically requests one from the parties. Exception: Summary judgment filings -- courtesy... |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. Court rules on papers. |
| Remote Appearances | Motion hearings require in-person participation. Telephonic or remote appearances are not allowed for motion hearings. If extraordinary circumstances exist, contact Courtroom Deputy Yulonda Thomas in advance to seek permission to appear by phone. |
| Discovery | Discovery disputes resolved by Judge Berry III. LR 37.2 compliance required. Face-to-face meeting required unless impracticable; videoconferencing satisfies the requirement. Rule 37.2 Certificate must be filed separately with the motion, attested to by the attorney. |
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.
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Before You File
Motion Days & Times
Motion hearings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise scheduled by the Court. Parties should not file a notice of motion -- the Court will order briefing or schedule the hearing. Monitor the public docket for hearing information. [Judge Berry III -- Motion Procedures]
Notice Period
Not applicable. Do not file a notice of motion. Court controls scheduling.
Motion Page / Word Limit
15 pages per Local Rule 7.1 (district default). No individual judge modification for general civil motions.
Opposition Limit
15 pages per Local Rule 7.1 (district default).
Reply Limit
Not separately specified; follow LR 7.1 default.
Font & Formatting
Per LR 5.2(e).
Footnote Policy
Not specified.
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
✗ Not required
No courtesy copies are allowed unless the Court specifically requests one from the parties. Exception: Summary judgment filings -- courtesy copies of the memorandum and compendium must be delivered to chambers within 24 hours of CM/ECF filing.
Proposed Orders
Email Word format to Proposed_Order_Berry@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Subject line must include case number and name, docket number of corresponding motion (if any), and title of proposed order. Serve on all parties. For confidentiality orders, submit both a red-lined version and a clean version in Microsoft Word. A proposed order may only be submitted after the corresponding motion has been filed unless the Court has given prior leave. [Judge Berry III -- Submitting Proposed Orders]
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Before the Hearing
Tentative Rulings
Not issued. Court rules on papers.
Prohibition / Ex Parte Contact Re Tentatives
N/A.
Oral Argument
Court will order briefing or schedule motion hearing as appropriate. Monitor docket. Status reports typically by written submission.
Remote Appearances
Motion hearings require in-person participation. Telephonic or remote appearances are not allowed for motion hearings. If extraordinary circumstances exist, contact Courtroom Deputy Yulonda Thomas in advance to seek permission to appear by phone.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
For all court-related matters, contact Courtroom Deputy Yulonda Thomas at (312) 408-5178 or Yulonda_thomas@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Do not contact chambers directly about case merits.
Discovery Referral
Discovery disputes resolved by Judge Berry III. LR 37.2 compliance required. Face-to-face meeting required unless impracticable; videoconferencing satisfies the requirement. Rule 37.2 Certificate must be filed separately with the motion, attested to by the attorney.
Discovery Dispute Procedure Calendar-first
LR 37.2 compliance mandatory. Separate Rule 37.2 Certificate must be filed with the motion, attested to by the attorney. Face-to-face meeting required unless impracticable; videoconferencing satisfies the requirement. The certificate must state the requirement was met or explain with particularity why it cannot be met. Mere exchange of correspondence (emails, texts, instant messaging) will not comply. Motions to compel must identify and attach the specific discovery requests and responses at issue -- not just 'categories.' Motions to compel must argue relevance and proportionality. Court will not tailor overbroad requests -- denial with prejudice may result. No response or reply briefs on discovery motions without leave of Court. E-discovery impasse: parties must meet and confer with IT representatives in person, by telephone, or by video before filing. FRCP 37(a)(5) fee-shifting applies. [Judge Berry III -- Discovery Motions]
Ex Parte Applications
Not separately specified. Follow General Order procedures.
Settlement Notification
Settlement conference procedures available in Court's Standing Order, obtainable from the court website or from the Courtroom Deputy. Counsel and clients must read and follow the Standing Order prior to any settlement conference. [Judge Berry III -- Settlement Conferences]
Lead Counsel
Lead trial counsel, or attorney with substantial familiarity and responsibility for the case, must appear at initial status hearing if set by the Court.
Under Seal Filings
Follow Local Rule 26.2. Court will not approve filing of entire pleadings or briefs under seal. Motion to seal must demonstrate good cause with specific description of each document and why confidentiality is necessary.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Extensions on Social Security briefing schedules granted only for good cause shown. General continuances not separately specified.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
Calendar-first model (Tu/W/Th 9:30 a.m.) but no notice of presentment -- Court controls scheduling. In-person appearances mandatory for motion hearings. Pre-filing in-chambers conference required before any summary judgment motion. Leaner pre-trial order (no full FPTO required). LR 56.1 strictly enforced with courtesy copy requirement.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 28, 2026.
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