All local rules for N.D. Ill., integrated with this judge's published requirements.
Neither a motion nor brief in support of or in opposition to any motion nor objections to a report and recommendation or order of a magistrate judge or special master, shall exceed 15 pages without prior approval of the court. Local Rule 7.1 ↗
Neither a motion nor brief in support of or in opposition to any motion nor objections to a report and recommendation or order of a magistrate judge or special master, shall exceed 15 pages without prior approval of the court. Local Rule 7.1 ↗
Neither a motion nor brief in support of or in opposition to any motion nor objections to a report and recommendation or order of a magistrate judge or special master, shall exceed 15 pages without prior approval of the court. Local Rule 7.1 ↗
(b) A judge may require a motion or an objection to a magistrate judge’s order to be accompanied by a notice of presentment specifying the date and time on which, and judge before whom, the motion or objection is to be presented. The date of presentment shall be not more than 14 days following the date on which the motion or objection is delivered to the court pursuant to LR 78.1. Local Rule 5.3(b) ↗
Except where a judge fixes a different time in accordance with this rule, the original of any motion shall be filed by 4:30 p.m. of the second business day preceding the date of presentment. A judge may fix a time for delivery longer than that provided by this rule, or elect to hear motions less frequently than daily, or both. Local Rule 78.1 ↗
Civil Motions will proceed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Criminal Motions will proceed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Both Civil and Criminal Motions require THREE business days notice.
The parties are ordered to retain copies of all documents containing confidential information which are provided in discovery under the protective order. Documents containing confidential information shall NOT be file with the Clerk of Court. Documents requiring the court's review shall be submitted to chambers in camera in a sealed envelope bearing the caption of the case, case number, the title of the motion or response to which the submitted confidential information pertains, and the name and telephone number of counsel submitting the documents. After the court's review, the in camera items will be returned by the court to the producing party who shall maintain the submission intact for any future review. A redacted copy of the pleading shall be filed with the Clerk of Court for the record.
The court may set a briefing schedule. Oral argument may be allowed in the court’s discretion. Local Rule 78.3 ↗
Any judge wishing to refer a matter in a civil case pending on that judge’s calendar to a magistrate judge may do so following procedures approved by the Executive Committee. Local Rule 72.1 ↗
All parties must comply with Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Local Rule 26.1 of the Northern District of Illinois . The Court believes that parties can and should work out most discovery disputes and discourages the filing of discovery motions. The Court will not hear or consider any discovery motion unless the movant has complied with the "meet and confer" requirement of Local Rule 37.2 . The motion must state with specificity when and how the movant complied with Local Rule 37.2 . Parties are reminded that compliance with Local Rule 37.2 requires a good faith effort to resolve discovery disputes and communication that takes place face to face or by telephone. The exchange of correspondence will not normally be sufficient to comply with Local Rule 37.2 . All parties should be fully prepared to argue any discovery motion on the date that it is presented. The Court most often will rule on discovery motions after hearing argument at the motion call and without briefing. If after hearing argument, the Court believes that the motion requires briefing, the Court normally will set an expedited briefing schedule so that the matter can be resolved promptly. Parties are reminded that there is no "order" in which discovery must occur, and that one party's failure or inability to respond to discovery will not excuse any other party's prompt compliance. Parties also are reminded that the pendency of a motion, such as a motion to dismiss, does not operate as a stay of discovery nor do settlement discussions. Electronic discovery disputes If the parties have reached an impasse regarding the discovery of voluminous records from a database, server, computer, service provider or similar electronic storage facility (ESF), before filing a motion to compel , the parties are required to meet and confer with an IT representative of the ESF to be searched in order to determine the most effective way to retrieve the requested material. The party seeking the discovery must also bring its IT specialist to this meeting in order to discuss the proper format for the retrieval of the records. This electronic discovery conference must take place in person and both sides should be prepared to discuss specifically the parameters of both the search and the ESF.
Motion Practice The majority of motions DO NOT REQUIRE c ourtesy copies. The exception is for Rule 56 motions, corresponding Rule 56 statements, and responses where courtesy copies are required. In that case, the copies should be delivered to the Courtroom Deputy's Office, located at Room 2528-A. A party seeking an extension of time must contact all other parties in the case to determine whether they object to the extension. Any motion for extension of time must indicate whether it is the first or subsequent extension request, shall include the reasons for the request, any previous relief granted and whether any other party objects to the extension. Failure to state the number of extensions requested will result in the request either being denied or being granted as a FINAL extension. The moving party shall specify a date certain or seek a specific amount of time when making a request for an extension of time. Parties are NOT permitted to agree to an extension of time without moving the Court for such an extension. All joint, uncontested, or agreed motions must be so identified in the title and body of the motion and electronically filed as an unopposed motion on CM/ECF. Unless the court has told a party it need not appear, counsel for all parties are expected to be present whether or not the motion is agreed. After 4:00 p.m. on the afternoon prior to the hearing date, counsel should check the case docket to determine whether an appearance is necessary. Counsel also may call Lynn Kandziora, the courtroom deputy, at (312) 408-5153. If an appearance is not required, the movant is directed to notify the respondent(s) accordingly. Counsel should not respond to motions by correspondence with the Court, the Court's Law Clerks, or the Courtroom Deputy. Source ↗
COURTESY COPIES: Courtesy copies should NOT be delivered except for the following: (1) when briefing summary judgment motions and their corresponding Rule 56 statements (2) if there are documents filed under seal (3) unredacted documents (4) voluminous and over 50 pages. Source ↗
Initial Status Reports The Court will set all newly filed cases for status approximately 60 days or less after the filing of the complaint. At the initial status conference, parties should be prepared to discuss: 1) the nature of the case; 2) factual and legal issues; 3) settlement potential and discussions to date; 4) discovery taken to date and intended; and 5) potential motions to be filed. At least three days prior to the status conference, the parties are directed to file a joint written status report of not more than five pages. The purpose of the initial status report is to inform the court of the main issues in the case in order to have a productive discussion at the initial status conference regarding deadlines to be set for the parties. The parties should be prepared to discuss facts and the law at their Initial Status including potential costs of litigation, an estimate of damages, and details about the allegations and the defenses. This discussion goes beyond the basic information contained in the Initial Status Report. For employment cases, the parties should be prepared to address any relevant salary or wage information so the Court can assess proportionality for discovery purposes. At the Initial Status Judge Kendall will provide a date to the parties at a mid-point by which they must seek a referral to the Magistrate Judge in order for the parties to efficiently schedule a conference with the Magistrate Judge at the end of their discovery period. The lead attorney who will be trying the case must appear at the initial status conference and if he or she is unable to do so then the initial status conference should be rescheduled. Telephonic appearances are generally inappropriate for an initial status conference absent extraordinary circumstances. Source ↗
Memoranda of Law The fifteen (15) page limitation on all memoranda contained in Local Rule 7.1 shall be strictly enforced. A motion for leave to exceed that limit is looked upon with disfavor and shall not be granted except in unusual circumstances. Any such leave must be requested prior to submission of the memorandum. Parties must attach to their memoranda copies of any cited authority that is unpublished in the West National Reporter System and unavailable on Westlaw. Citations should follow the format prescribed in "A Uniform System of Citation" (the "Bluebook"). All citations should include a pin-point citation to the precise page on which the language relied on appears. The Court strongly encourages all filings to include hyperlinks to any cases or docket entries referred to in the pleadings. If possible, the Court prefers hyperlinks to exhibits as well but recognizes that this may entail more time and expense. To the extent possible, the Court prefers any citation to exhibits, cases, and docket entries to be hyperlinked. Please see http://www.ned.uscourts.gov/internetDocs/cmecf/hyperlinking_attorneys_word.pdf for directions on how to include hyperlinks in filings. Source ↗
Motion Practice The majority of motions DO NOT REQUIRE c ourtesy copies. The exception is for Rule 56 motions, corresponding Rule 56 statements, and responses where courtesy copies are required. In that case, the copies should be delivered to the Courtroom Deputy's Office, located at Room 2528-A. A party seeking an extension of time must contact all other parties in the case to determine whether they object to the extension. Any motion for extension of time must indicate whether it is the first or subsequent extension request, shall include the reasons for the request, any previous relief granted and whether any other party objects to the extension. Failure to state the number of extensions requested will result in the request either being denied or being granted as a FINAL extension. The moving party shall specify a date certain or seek a specific amount of time when making a request for an extension of time. Parties are NOT permitted to agree to an extension of time without moving the Court for such an extension. All joint, uncontested, or agreed motions must be so identified in the title and body of the motion and electronically filed as an unopposed motion on CM/ECF. Unless the court has told a party it need not appear, counsel for all parties are expected to be present whether or not the motion is agreed. After 4:00 p.m. on the afternoon prior to the hearing date, counsel should check the case docket to determine whether an appearance is necessary. Counsel also may call Lynn Kandziora, the courtroom deputy, at (312) 408-5153. If an appearance is not required, the movant is directed to notify the respondent(s) accordingly. Counsel should not respond to motions by correspondence with the Court, the Court's Law Clerks, or the Courtroom Deputy. Source ↗
Motion Practice The majority of motions DO NOT REQUIRE c ourtesy copies. The exception is for Rule 56 motions, corresponding Rule 56 statements, and responses where courtesy copies are required. In that case, the copies should be delivered to the Courtroom Deputy's Office, located at Room 2528-A. A party seeking an extension of time must contact all other parties in the case to determine whether they object to the extension. Any motion for extension of time must indicate whether it is the first or subsequent extension request, shall include the reasons for the request, any previous relief granted and whether any other party objects to the extension. Failure to state the number of extensions requested will result in the request either being denied or being granted as a FINAL extension. The moving party shall specify a date certain or seek a specific amount of time when making a request for an extension of time. Parties are NOT permitted to agree to an extension of time without moving the Court for such an extension. All joint, uncontested, or agreed motions must be so identified in the title and body of the motion and electronically filed as an unopposed motion on CM/ECF. Unless the court has told a party it need not appear, counsel for all parties are expected to be present whether or not the motion is agreed. After 4:00 p.m. on the afternoon prior to the hearing date, counsel should check the case docket to determine whether an appearance is necessary. Counsel also may call Lynn Kandziora, the courtroom deputy, at (312) 408-5153. If an appearance is not required, the movant is directed to notify the respondent(s) accordingly. Counsel should not respond to motions by correspondence with the Court, the Court's Law Clerks, or the Courtroom Deputy. Source ↗
The Court requires strict compliance with Rule 56.1(e)(2) which provides in part as follows: "Motions to strike all or portions of an opposing party’s LR 56.1 submission are disfavored. If a party contends that its opponent has included objectionable or immaterial evidence or argument in a LR 56.1 submission, the party’s argument that the offending material should not be considered should be included in its response or reply brief. In the event that the objection is overruled, the failure to admit or dispute an asserted fact may constitute a waiver." Motions for summary judgment and responses must comply with Local Rules 56.1(a) and 56.1(b), as well as the procedures outlined herein. The statements of undisputed material fact and responses shall be filed separately from the memoranda of law and shall include the line, paragraph, or page number where the supporting material may be found in the record. Courtesy copies of exhibits to summary judgment motions should be tabbed for easy access. The parties are to include only the relevant portions of any deposition cited to, including 2 pages before and 2 pages after the cite. Failure to abide by the Local Rules may result in the Court striking briefs, disregarding statements of fact, deeming statements of fact admitted, or denying summary judgment. The movant shall not file more than 80 statements of undisputed material fact without prior leave of Court. The respondent shall be limited to 40 statements of undisputed material fact absent prior leave of the Court. In complex cases, the Court may request that the parties submit a timeline of events in addition to the statements of undisputed material fact. Source ↗