Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Sunil R. Harjani -- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
1925
description
Motions decided on papers — no hearings held
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. Courtesy copies required ONLY for SJ motions -- not for other filings. SJ copies must be tabbed, bound, with CM/ECF header, delivered to Room 1932 within 24 hours of filing.
- 2. ALL electronically filed documents must be made word-searchable (OCR conversion) before uploading to CM/ECF. This applies to every filing including exhibits -- an unusually broad OCR requirement.
- 3. Before filing any motion, movant must ask opposing counsel whether there is an objection. Agreed/unopposed motions MUST include 'agreed' or 'unopposed' in the title.
- 4. Motions to dismiss: nonmoving party has 21 days to amend once as of right (FRCP 15(a)(1)(B)). Court directs parties to consider this. If party elects not to amend, response due 21 days after motion; reply due 14 days after response.
- 5. LR 56.1 motions to strike not accepted -- raise all objections in briefs.
- 6. Amended complaints must include a redline exhibit showing all changes from prior version.
- 7. Counsel should cite to Westlaw citations for unpublished opinions. Cite exhibits by ECF docket number and page, not exhibit number.
- 8. Bench trial: proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law filed AFTER trial -- not included in pretrial order.
- 9. No post-trial contact with jurors without prior court permission.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No presentment. Parties should not notice motions for presentment. Upon filing of a contested motion, the Court will enter a minute order in due course either setting a motion hearing, setting a briefing schedule, or providing further direction. Motion schedule shows Tu/W/Th at 9:45 a.m. (civil/criminal) for court-set hearings; status hearings at 9:15 a.m. [Judge Harjani -- Civil Motion Practice and Memoranda of Law] |
| Motion Limit | 15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. [Judge Harjani -- Civil Motion Practice and Memoranda of Law] |
| Reply Limit | Not separately specified; follow LR 7.1 default. |
| Chambers Copies | ✓ Required Courtesy copies required ONLY for summary judgment motions and accompanying LR 56.1 statements and exhibits. Must be tabbed and bound... |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. Court rules on papers. |
| Remote Appearances | Most routine status hearings held by telephone. Court may strike telephone hearing as unnecessary after reviewing status report. If no ruling 24 hours before hearing, parties should note desire to proceed in status report or email Courtroom Deputy. In-person hearings set for important case issues; motions to appear by telephone or videoconference will likely be denied for in-person hearings. |
| Discovery | LR 37.2 required. Court will not hear any discovery motion unless LR 37.2 has been satisfied. Parties strongly encouraged to resolve disputes without motion practice. |
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
No presentment. Parties should not notice motions for presentment. Upon filing of a contested motion, the Court will enter a minute order in due course either setting a motion hearing, setting a briefing schedule, or providing further direction. Motion schedule shows Tu/W/Th at 9:45 a.m. (civil/criminal) for court-set hearings; status hearings at 9:15 a.m. [Judge Harjani -- Civil Motion Practice and Memoranda of Law]
Notice Period
N/A. Court sets hearing dates after reviewing the motion.
Motion Page / Word Limit
15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. [Judge Harjani -- Civil Motion Practice and Memoranda of Law]
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). All format requirements of LR 5.2(e) apply to electronically filed briefs.
Footnote Policy
Not specified.
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
✓ Required
Courtesy copies required ONLY for summary judgment motions and accompanying LR 56.1 statements and exhibits. Must be tabbed and bound (binder or spiral bound). Deliver to Courtroom Deputy Lynette Santiago, Room 1932, within 24 hours of filing. Copies must include the printed CM/ECF header at the top of every page. No courtesy copies required for other filings unless specifically requested.
Proposed Orders
Do not file proposed orders on the docket. Email in Word-compatible format to Proposed_Orders_Harjani@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Subject line must include case number and name, docket number of corresponding motion (if any), and title of proposed order. Copy all parties. Note: submitting a proposed order is not a substitute for filing a motion. A proposed order may only be submitted after the corresponding motion has been filed (unless court grants prior leave). [Judge Harjani -- ESI 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 by minute order. Oral argument set at court's discretion. Status hearings often held by telephone.
Remote Appearances
Most routine status hearings held by telephone. Court may strike telephone hearing as unnecessary after reviewing status report. If no ruling 24 hours before hearing, parties should note desire to proceed in status report or email Courtroom Deputy. In-person hearings set for important case issues; motions to appear by telephone or videoconference will likely be denied for in-person hearings.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
Case-related matters: email courtroom deputy at lynette_santiago@ilnd.uscourts.gov (copy opposing counsel). Non-case matters: email Chambers_Harjani@ilnd.uscourts.gov.
Discovery Referral
LR 37.2 required. Court will not hear any discovery motion unless LR 37.2 has been satisfied. Parties strongly encouraged to resolve disputes without motion practice.
Discovery Dispute Procedure No-presentment
LR 37.2 required. ESI: court has a sample ESI order for non-complex ESI discovery available on judge's webpage. For complex ESI including TAR, submit a detailed proposed order with accompanying motion.
Ex Parte Applications
Emergency motions: must arise from unforeseen circumstance requiring immediate action to avoid serious or irreparable harm. Motions for extension of time or continuances are highly unlikely to qualify. Must make all reasonable efforts to notify affected persons and opposing counsel.
Settlement Notification
Court may refer case to magistrate judge for settlement. Judge Harjani has published articles on settlement conference practice: 'Writing Effective Settlement Conference Letters,' 'The Five Don'ts of Settlement Conferences,' 'The Price of Admission,' and 'Timing is Everything' -- available on judge's webpage.
Lead Counsel
Not specified.
Under Seal Filings
Not separately specified; follow Local Rules.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Motions for extension of time: indicate whether opposed or unopposed and specify any prior extensions granted. If opposed, include opposing party's specific grounds for objection.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
District judge (confirmed from page title). No presentment; court enters minute order after filing. Narrow courtesy copy requirement (SJ only, within 24 hours). Broad OCR requirement for all ECF filings is the most unusual trap. MTD: court advises parties of FRCP 15(a)(1)(B) amendment right and expects consideration. Bench trials: closing arguments replaced by post-trial briefs.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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