Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Edmond E. Chang -- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
2341
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Paper courtesy copies are NOT accepted -- do not prepare or deliver them. The ONLY exception is digital courtesy copies for sealed filings via Box.com, which are REQUIRED on the same business day as the under-seal filing.
- 2. Sealed filing digital courtesy copies must follow strict file-naming convention: [year]_C_[5-digit case no.]_[5-digit docket no.]_[Case Name] with prefix zeros. Multiple PDFs in one docket entry must be combined into a single PDF with bookmarks before uploading.
- 3. All filings of any kind (including exhibits and LR 56.1 statements) must have OCR run in Adobe before uploading to CM/ECF. Word-processed documents must be converted by printing/publishing to PDF -- not manual scanning.
- 4. Do not respond to motions by correspondence with the Court -- all communications must be motions, briefs, or status reports.
- 5. LR 37.2 applies not only to motions to compel, but also to motions to quash discovery and motions for protective orders. Correspondence 'will almost never be good enough.'
- 6. 25 requests to admit per side limit (FRCP 36). 'Per side' means parties represented by same counsel.
- 7. Motions to strike are strongly disfavored -- argue inaccuracies in the response or reply brief instead. Applies equally to SJ 56.1 statements.
- 8. No early SJ motions without prior leave. Court disfavors two rounds of summary judgment (one mid-discovery, one at close).
- 9. Copy opposing counsel on ALL emails to Courtroom Deputy Michael Wing.
- 10. Search/seizure warrant applications in cases assigned to Chang must come to Judge Chang (not duty magistrate).
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Civil and non-custodial criminal: Monday through Thursday at 8:30 a.m. In-custody criminal defendants (or where defendant attendance required): Monday through Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Exception: if there is an already-scheduled status hearing at a different time, the motion may be noticed for that already-scheduled time (time only; all other notice requirements still apply). [Judge Chang -- Motion Practice] |
| Motion Limit | 15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. [Judge Chang -- Motion Practice] |
| Reply Limit | Not separately specified; follow LR 7.1 default. |
| Chambers Copies | ✓ Required Paper courtesy copies are generally NOT accepted -- do not prepare or deliver them. If you believe a paper courtesy copy would be truly... [Judge Chang -- Digital Courtesy Copies of Sealed Filings] |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. Court rules on papers. |
| Remote Appearances | Not separately specified. Contact Courtroom Deputy Michael Wing at Michael_Wing@ilnd.uscourts.gov (copy opposing counsel on all emails to courtroom deputy). |
| Discovery | Discovery disputes handled by this judge. LR 37.2 compliance required for all discovery motions (including motions to quash and for protective orders). Face-to-face or telephone conferral required; correspondence 'will almost never be good enough.' E-discovery impasse: must meet and confer in person with IT representatives of the ESF before filing. Pendency of a motion does not automatically stay discovery. Limit of 25 requests to admit per side (parties represented by same counsel = one side). |
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 and non-custodial criminal: Monday through Thursday at 8:30 a.m. In-custody criminal defendants (or where defendant attendance required): Monday through Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Exception: if there is an already-scheduled status hearing at a different time, the motion may be noticed for that already-scheduled time (time only; all other notice requirements still apply). [Judge Chang -- Motion Practice]
Notice Period
3 business days (excluding federal holidays and weekends) before the day the motion is to be heard. Example: motion filed Monday may be noticed for Thursday; motion filed Thursday may be noticed for the following Tuesday.
Motion Page / Word Limit
15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. [Judge Chang -- Motion Practice]
Opposition Limit
15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1.
Reply Limit
Not separately specified; follow LR 7.1 default.
Font & Formatting
Per LR 5.2(e). Court also applies LR 5.2(c) requirements to electronically filed briefs (page-size, font-size, margin, and spacing). All word-processed filings must be converted to PDF by printing/publishing to PDF (not manual scanning) to generate searchable OCR text. All filings of any kind (including exhibits and LR 56.1 statements) must have OCR run before uploading to CM/ECF.
Footnote Policy
Not specified.
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
✓ Required
Paper courtesy copies are generally NOT accepted -- do not prepare or deliver them. If you believe a paper courtesy copy would be truly invaluable, email the courtroom deputy (copying opposing side) for guidance. EXCEPTION AND REQUIREMENT: For sealed filings posted on CM/ECF, a digital courtesy copy via Box.com is REQUIRED and must be uploaded on the same business day as the under-seal filing. All PDFs from a single docket entry must be combined into one PDF with bookmarks. File naming convention required: [4-digit year]_C_[5-digit case number]_[5-digit docket entry number]_[Case Name] (use prefix zeros). Box.com link: https://iln.app.box.com/f/1fcbb118d2f44c8baccc11b860bf6979. Questions to Michael_Wing@ilnd.uscourts.gov (copy opposing counsel). [Judge Chang -- Digital Courtesy Copies of Sealed Filings]
Proposed Orders
Do not file proposed orders directly on the docket. File a motion asking the Court to enter the order, attach the proposed order to the motion. Simultaneously email proposed order (Word-compatible format) to Proposed_Order_Chang@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Subject line must include: case number and name, docket number of corresponding motion, and title of the order. Serve on all parties. [Judge Chang -- Submitting a Proposed Order]
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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 rules on papers at or before scheduled motion call. Check docket after 4:00 p.m. day before hearing; if court has already ruled, no appearance necessary. If no ruling, appear at 8:30 a.m. (civil/non-custodial criminal) or 9:00 a.m. (in-custody criminal).
Remote Appearances
Not separately specified. Contact Courtroom Deputy Michael Wing at Michael_Wing@ilnd.uscourts.gov (copy opposing counsel on all emails to courtroom deputy).
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
All communications must be motions, briefs, or status reports. Do not respond to motions by correspondence with the Court. For sealed filing digital courtesy copy questions: contact Michael_Wing@ilnd.uscourts.gov (copy opposing counsel on all emails to courtroom deputy).
Discovery Referral
Discovery disputes handled by this judge. LR 37.2 compliance required for all discovery motions (including motions to quash and for protective orders). Face-to-face or telephone conferral required; correspondence 'will almost never be good enough.' E-discovery impasse: must meet and confer in person with IT representatives of the ESF before filing. Pendency of a motion does not automatically stay discovery. Limit of 25 requests to admit per side (parties represented by same counsel = one side).
Discovery Dispute Procedure Calendar-first
LR 37.2 required. Face-to-face or telephone only (correspondence almost never sufficient). Must state with specificity when and how movant complied. Motions to quash and for protective orders also require LR 37.2 compliance. E-discovery: in-person meet and confer with IT representatives required before filing. Court most often rules on discovery motions after argument at motion call without further briefing. Parties must immediately notify court of any withdrawal or narrowing of previously filed discovery motions. [Judge Chang -- Discovery & Discovery Motions]
Ex Parte Applications
Not separately specified. Follow General Order procedures.
Settlement Notification
Parties desiring a settlement conference should request one in open court or by telephone from the courtroom deputy. In bench trials, settlement conferences usually referred to magistrate judge. Standing instructions for settlement conferences available on judge's website. Parties with full settlement authority must participate.
Lead Counsel
Not specified. Court encourages substantive speaking opportunities for less experienced attorneys and allows more than one attorney per side to speak.
Under Seal Filings
Highly Sensitive Documents not filed on docket under LR 5.8.1 are exempt from the digital courtesy copy requirement. All other sealed filings require digital courtesy copy via Box.com on same business day as filing.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Trial dates and discovery deadlines generally will not be reset except by written motion. 'No trial date' is not persuasive reason to extend discovery.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
Calendar-first model with motion call Monday through Thursday (8:30 a.m. civil/non-custodial criminal; 9:00 a.m. in-custody criminal). Standout rule: paper courtesy copies categorically rejected -- only digital Box.com copies for sealed filings, with strict file-naming and same-day requirement. LR 37.2 meet-and-confer applies to ALL discovery motions including protective orders, and correspondence almost never satisfies it. 25 RTA per side limit is an unusual express cap.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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