Procedures verified June 28, 2026
Judge Keri L. Holleb Hotaling -- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
1700, Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60604
description
Motions decided on papers — no hearings held
warning
Key Traps — Where Counsel Gets Caught
- 1. LR 37.2 meet-and-confer requires face-to-face or telephone communication -- email exchange alone is almost never sufficient. Failure to seriously engage is grounds for denial.
- 2. No early summary judgment without leave of Court before close of ALL discovery including expert discovery. Always contact Chambers before filing.
- 3. In-chambers conference required before substantive summary judgment work begins. Schedule with Courtroom Deputy first.
- 4. LR 56.1 strictly enforced. Motions to strike disfavored on summary judgment -- raise objections in response/reply instead.
- 5. Proposed orders require BOTH a red-lined and a clean version for confidentiality orders. Send to Proposed_Order_HollebHotaling@ilnd.uscourts.gov -- do not file on CM/ECF.
- 6. Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions must be identified as such in both the title and the body of the motion.
- 7. Settlement conferences typically held via WebEx. Standing Order on Settlement Conferences must be read and followed before any conference.
- 8. Copy opposing counsel on all communications with the Court.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No individual motion call. Court rules on papers via CM/ECF or sets a hearing date if one is necessary. All parties must be fully prepared to argue any discovery motion on the date it is noticed. |
| Motion Limit | 15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. |
| Reply Limit | Not separately specified; follow LR 7.1 default. |
| Chambers Copies | ✗ Not required No courtesy copies required for standard motion practice. Summary judgment: courtesy copies of memoranda, depositions, and other materials... |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. Court rules on papers. |
| Remote Appearances | Settlement conferences are typically WebEx video conferences. The Court may set in-person settlement conferences on occasion. |
| Discovery | Discovery disputes handled by Judge Holleb Hotaling directly. LR 37.2 meet-and-confer required before any discovery motion. Failure to seriously engage in the meet-and-confer process is grounds for denial of the motion. |
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 individual motion call. Court rules on papers via CM/ECF or sets a hearing date if one is necessary. All parties must be fully prepared to argue any discovery motion on the date it is noticed.
Notice Period
Not separately specified. Follow Local Rules.
Motion Page / Word Limit
15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1.
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).
Footnote Policy
Not specified.
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
✗ Not required
No courtesy copies required for standard motion practice. Summary judgment: courtesy copies of memoranda, depositions, and other materials must be delivered to Chambers the next business day following CM/ECF filing. No cover letter with the courtesy copy.
Proposed Orders
Submit via email to Proposed_Order_HollebHotaling@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Subject line must include: (1) case number and name; (2) docket number of corresponding motion; (3) title of order proposed. Submit BOTH a red-lined and a clean version for confidentiality orders. Serve on all parties. Do not file on CM/ECF. A proposed order may only be submitted after the corresponding motion has been filed unless the Court has given prior leave. [Judge Holleb Hotaling -- Confidentiality 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 rules on papers via CM/ECF or sets a hearing date when necessary. No default oral argument.
Remote Appearances
Settlement conferences are typically WebEx video conferences. The Court may set in-person settlement conferences on occasion.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
Contact Courtroom Deputy Rosa Franco for scheduling questions. Ensure you copy opposing counsel on all communications with the Court. Do not communicate about case merits by letter, phone, or email.
Discovery Referral
Discovery disputes handled by Judge Holleb Hotaling directly. LR 37.2 meet-and-confer required before any discovery motion. Failure to seriously engage in the meet-and-confer process is grounds for denial of the motion.
Discovery Dispute Procedure District-default
LR 37.2 required. Face-to-face meeting preferred; mere exchange of correspondence including e-mail will normally not suffice. Motion must state with specificity when and how movant complied with LR 37.2. Joint, uncontested, and agreed motions must be so identified in the title and body. On contested motions, Court typically sets a date for responsive brief. No reply normally required. Court rules on papers or sets hearing. All parties must be fully prepared to argue on the noticed date. [Judge Holleb Hotaling -- Discovery Motions]
Ex Parte Applications
Not separately specified. Follow General Order procedures.
Settlement Notification
Parties desiring a settlement conference may request one in any joint status report or by contacting the Courtroom Deputy at (312) 435-7558. Settlement conferences are typically WebEx video conferences. Court will set an off-the-record pre-conference telephone call for scheduling. Parties must read and follow the Court's Standing Order on Settlement Conferences prior to any conference. [Judge Holleb Hotaling -- Settlement Conferences]
Lead Counsel
Not specified.
Under Seal Filings
For confidentiality orders: parties directed to use the model LR 26.2 Form Confidentiality Order. Deviations must be red-lined. Submit both red-lined and clean versions to Proposed_Order_HollebHotaling@ilnd.uscourts.gov. [Judge Holleb Hotaling -- Confidentiality Orders]
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Not separately specified. Follow Local Rules.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
Magistrate Judge handling consent and referral cases. No individual motion call -- Court rules on papers. Discovery disputes decided by Judge Holleb Hotaling directly under LR 37.2. Strong preference for face-to-face meet-and-confer; email insufficient. In-chambers conference required before summary judgment.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 28, 2026.
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