Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge John Robert Blakey -- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
1203
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. ALL civil motions must be noticed for presentment -- Wednesday 11:00 a.m. Filing deadline is 12:00 p.m. the preceding Friday. Court often strikes the notice date and rules without a hearing, but the notice is still required.
- 2. Presentment date must be within 14 days of filing per LR 78.1 -- do not set a presentment date further out.
- 3. Courtesy copies required for EMERGENCY MOTIONS and any filing with 50+ pages of exhibits. Not required for ordinary motions.
- 4. All substantive motions must include a proposed order -- email Word format to Proposed_Order_Blakey@ilnd.uscourts.gov at or near time of filing.
- 5. MTD procedure: non-moving party has right to amend within 21 days (FRCP 15(a)(1)(B)). If non-moving party declines to amend, response is due 28 days after filing; reply 14 days after response.
- 6. Attorneys must notify Chambers of any scheduling conflict -- telling opposing counsel is NOT enough. Failure to notify Chambers AND failure to appear may result in sanctions.
- 7. Criminal motions: contact Chambers directly (no set call time). Do not notice criminal motions on Wednesday civil call.
- 8. Change of plea: draft plea agreement to chambers at least 1 week before. If offense triggers remand, defendant must arrive prepared to go into custody.
- 9. SJ deposition transcripts: entire transcript filed electronically; courtesy copy includes only excerpted pages (condensed format preferred).
- 10. Motions to strike are strongly disfavored -- raise objections to 56.1 submissions in responsive briefs, not by separate motion.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Civil (non-emergency) motions on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. All civil motions must be noticed for presentment per LR 5.3. Presentment date must be within 14 days of filing per LR 78.1. Motions noticed for a given Wednesday must be filed no later than 12:00 p.m. on the preceding Friday (3 business days). Criminal motions: contact Chambers (Emily Wirtz at Emily_Wirtz@ilnd.uscourts.gov or (312) 818-6699). Court often strikes notice date and rules (or sets briefing schedule) without a hearing; if hearing proceeds, all counsel must be prepared to argue all pending motions. [Judge Blakey -- Motion Calls - Criminal and Civil] |
| Motion Limit | 15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. Strictly enforced; leave to exceed not granted unless warranted. [Judge Blakey -- Memoranda of Law] |
| Reply Limit | Not separately specified; follow LR 7.1 default. |
| Chambers Copies | ✓ Required Generally, Court does not require or accept courtesy copies. EXCEPTIONS: (1) emergency motions; (2) any filing with attached exhibits... |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. Court rules on papers. |
| Remote Appearances | All hearings proceed in person unless otherwise ordered. Parties seeking leave to appear by telephone must email Courtroom Deputy Emily Wirtz at Emily_Wirtz@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Attorneys granted telephone leave should not use speakerphones, appear while driving, or appear from a location with significant ambient noise. |
| Discovery | Discovery disputes resolved by this judge. LR 37.2 compliance required. Meet-and-confer required before any motion. Movant must state whether motion is opposed. |
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
Civil (non-emergency) motions on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. All civil motions must be noticed for presentment per LR 5.3. Presentment date must be within 14 days of filing per LR 78.1. Motions noticed for a given Wednesday must be filed no later than 12:00 p.m. on the preceding Friday (3 business days). Criminal motions: contact Chambers (Emily Wirtz at Emily_Wirtz@ilnd.uscourts.gov or (312) 818-6699). Court often strikes notice date and rules (or sets briefing schedule) without a hearing; if hearing proceeds, all counsel must be prepared to argue all pending motions. [Judge Blakey -- Motion Calls - Criminal and Civil]
Notice Period
Filed no later than 12:00 p.m. on the Friday preceding the Wednesday hearing (3 business days). Presentment date must be within 14 days of filing per LR 78.1.
Motion Page / Word Limit
15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. Strictly enforced; leave to exceed not granted unless warranted. [Judge Blakey -- Memoranda of Law]
Opposition Limit
15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. Strictly enforced.
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
✓ Required
Generally, Court does not require or accept courtesy copies. EXCEPTIONS: (1) emergency motions; (2) any filing with attached exhibits totaling 50 or more pages. Courtesy copies must be bound and tabbed per LR 5.2(d). Deliver to Courtroom Deputy Emily Wirtz in Room 1204. No envelope required unless pleading contains under-seal material. Copies must include the printed CM/ECF header at top of every page.
Proposed Orders
All substantive motions must be accompanied by a proposed order. Email Word format to Proposed_Order_Blakey@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Subject line must include case number and name, docket number of corresponding motion (if any), and title of proposed order. Submit at or near the time of filing of the related motion. Serve on all parties. Do not file proposed orders on the electronic docket. [Judge Blakey -- 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
All hearings proceed in person unless otherwise ordered. Telephone appearance requires prior leave. Court often strikes notice date and rules without hearing.
Remote Appearances
All hearings proceed in person unless otherwise ordered. Parties seeking leave to appear by telephone must email Courtroom Deputy Emily Wirtz at Emily_Wirtz@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Attorneys granted telephone leave should not use speakerphones, appear while driving, or appear from a location with significant ambient noise.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
Counsel shall not make or respond to motions by correspondence with this Court. Contact Courtroom Deputy Emily Wirtz at Emily_Wirtz@ilnd.uscourts.gov or (312) 818-6699.
Discovery Referral
Discovery disputes resolved by this judge. LR 37.2 compliance required. Meet-and-confer required before any motion. Movant must state whether motion is opposed.
Discovery Dispute Procedure Calendar-first
LR 37.2 required. Before filing any motion, movant must meet and confer with non-movant and determine whether motion is opposed. Motion must include a statement indicating whether it is opposed. Settlement conferences generally referred to assigned Magistrate Judge. [N.D. Ill. Local Rule 37.2]
Ex Parte Applications
Emergency matters must be of such a nature that delay would cause serious harm. Contact Courtroom Deputy Emily Wirtz at (312) 818-6699 with as much advance notice as possible. All reasonable efforts must be made to give actual notice to opposing counsel.
Settlement Notification
Settlement conferences generally referred to assigned Magistrate Judge. Parties may request one in open court or by telephone to Courtroom Deputy.
Lead Counsel
Attorneys required to appear at status and motion hearings as scheduled. Conflict with assigned date must be communicated to Chambers (not just opposing counsel) in advance. Failure to appear and failure to notify Chambers may result in sanctions.
Under Seal Filings
Not separately specified; follow Local Rules. Confidentiality orders must be based on the Model Confidentiality Order (LR Form 26.2). Proposed changes must be shown in redline with comments. Send redlined version and clean Word version to Proposed_Order_Blakey@ilnd.uscourts.gov.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Attorneys must notify Chambers of any conflict with the assigned date. Advising opposing counsel of a conflict is NOT a substitute for communicating with the Court. Extension of briefing schedule requires showing of good cause; circumstances must be stated in specific detail by written motion.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
Calendar-first judge with civil motions on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. (in person by default; telephone requires prior leave). Notable for requiring all substantive motions to be accompanied by a proposed order, courtesy copies only for emergency motions and 50+ page exhibit sets, and a detailed MTD procedure that explicitly invites amendment within 21 days before full briefing commences. Criminal matters handled separately through chambers contact.
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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