Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Matthew F. Kennelly -- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
2103, 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. No motion call. Presentment suspended per General Order 20-0012. Do NOT notice motions for hearing. Simply file and wait.
- 2. No courtesy copies unless chambers specifically requests one. Do not deliver speculatively.
- 3. Proposed orders: most motions do NOT require a draft order (minute entry suffices). Submit a draft only for protective orders, HIPAA orders, TROs, preliminary injunctions, default orders requiring specific action, and class/collective settlement approvals. Do NOT submit drafts for extensions, page limit expansions, or motions to compel.
- 4. Protective orders: Court will NOT sign an order allowing counsel alone to designate confidentiality. Must specify categories of documents with explanation why each requires protection.
- 5. Protective orders and under-seal filing: Court will NOT sign a protective order allowing confidential-designated documents to be filed under seal by designation alone. Must separately move for good cause before the filing deadline.
- 6. Under seal filings: must file both an unredacted sealed version AND a redacted public record version.
- 7. Discovery motions: LR 37.2 face-to-face or telephone meet-and-confer required. Correspondence ordinarily insufficient. Court typically handles at upcoming status hearing, not by separate briefing.
- 8. Discovery is not stayed by pendency of any motion unless court orders it. One party's failure does not excuse another's non-compliance.
- 9. Joint motions and agreed motions must be identified as such in the title and body of the motion.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | In-court motion hearings have been suspended by General Order 20-0012, as amended. Motions are NOT to be noticed for presentment in court. Simply file the motion. If a hearing is required on a motion, the court will set it, and it will be conducted by telephone or video conference. In-person hearings are limited to matters that, by law, must be conducted in person. If a motion has not been addressed by either a ruling or the setting of a briefing schedule within a reasonable time after filing, counsel may call Judge Kennelly's courtroom deputy clerk to inquire. [Judge Kennelly -- Motion Practice] |
| Motion Limit | 15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. |
| Reply Limit | Not separately specified; follow LR 7.1 default. |
| Chambers Copies | ✗ Not required Courtesy copies need not be submitted per General Order 20-0012, as amended. If a courtesy copy is needed (e.g., for a very large filing),... |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. Court rules on papers. |
| Remote Appearances | In-court hearings suspended. If a hearing is required, it will be conducted by telephone or video conference. In-person hearings limited to matters that, by law, must be conducted in person. Status hearings conducted by telephone conference. |
| Discovery | Discovery disputes handled by this judge. LR 37.2 meet-and-confer required (face-to-face or telephone; correspondence 'ordinarily will not be sufficient'). Motion must state with specificity when and how movant complied. Court rarely sets briefing schedules on discovery motions -- more common practice is to address at an upcoming status hearing or separately set hearing at which all parties must be fully prepared to argue. If briefing schedule set, it will be expedited. Pendency of a motion (including a motion to dismiss) does NOT stay discovery. |
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
In-court motion hearings have been suspended by General Order 20-0012, as amended. Motions are NOT to be noticed for presentment in court. Simply file the motion. If a hearing is required on a motion, the court will set it, and it will be conducted by telephone or video conference. In-person hearings are limited to matters that, by law, must be conducted in person. If a motion has not been addressed by either a ruling or the setting of a briefing schedule within a reasonable time after filing, counsel may call Judge Kennelly's courtroom deputy clerk to inquire. [Judge Kennelly -- Motion Practice]
Notice Period
N/A -- motions should not be noticed for hearing. Simply file.
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
Courtesy copies need not be submitted per General Order 20-0012, as amended. If a courtesy copy is needed (e.g., for a very large filing), Judge Kennelly's chambers will contact counsel to request one. If requested: spiral bound on the side, with tabbed exhibits.
Proposed Orders
For most motions, a separate draft order is not needed -- a minute entry by the clerk will suffice. When a written order IS needed (protective orders, HIPAA orders, TROs, preliminary injunctions, orders of default requiring specific action, orders approving class/collective action settlements, etc.), email Word format to Proposed_Order_Kennelly@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Subject line must include case number and name, docket number of corresponding motion, and title of the order as indicated on the NEF. Copy all other parties on the email. These can and should be submitted at the time the motion is filed. Do NOT submit draft orders for: extensions of time, page limit expansions, motions to compel/prevent discovery, adding/withdrawing appearances. [Judge Kennelly -- Submitting a Proposed Order for Electronic Entry]
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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
No automatic oral argument. If a hearing is required, the court will set it. When set for discovery motions, all parties must be fully prepared to argue.
Remote Appearances
In-court hearings suspended. If a hearing is required, it will be conducted by telephone or video conference. In-person hearings limited to matters that, by law, must be conducted in person. Status hearings conducted by telephone conference.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
If a motion has not been addressed within a reasonable time, counsel may call Judge Kennelly's courtroom deputy clerk to inquire. Contact Courtroom Deputy Melissa Astell at Melissa_Astell@ilnd.uscourts.gov or (312) 435-5350.
Discovery Referral
Discovery disputes handled by this judge. LR 37.2 meet-and-confer required (face-to-face or telephone; correspondence 'ordinarily will not be sufficient'). Motion must state with specificity when and how movant complied. Court rarely sets briefing schedules on discovery motions -- more common practice is to address at an upcoming status hearing or separately set hearing at which all parties must be fully prepared to argue. If briefing schedule set, it will be expedited. Pendency of a motion (including a motion to dismiss) does NOT stay discovery.
Discovery Dispute Procedure No-presentment
LR 37.2 required. Face-to-face or telephone (correspondence ordinarily insufficient). Motion must state with specificity when and how compliance occurred. Court rarely briefs discovery motions -- typically addressed at status hearing or a separately set hearing. Parties must be fully prepared to argue on short notice. Discovery not stayed by pendency of any motion unless court orders it. No 'sequence' requirement -- one party's failure does not excuse another's. [Judge Kennelly -- Discovery Motions]
Ex Parte Applications
Not separately specified. Follow General Order procedures.
Settlement Notification
Detailed instructions for settlement conferences on judge's page. Parties must exchange demand and response letters before the conference. See instructions link on judge's page.
Lead Counsel
Defendants who have been served with process must participate in the initial case management conference even if they have not yet responded to the complaint.
Under Seal Filings
Detailed protective order requirements. Court will NOT sign a protective order allowing counsel alone to decide what is confidential. Proposed order must specify categories of documents subject to protection and explain why confidentiality is necessary for each category. Court will NOT sign a protective order providing that confidential-designated documents may be filed under seal -- must instead require a good cause motion before the filing deadline. Any filing under seal requires: (1) unredacted version filed under seal; (2) redacted version filed in public record. [Judge Kennelly -- Protective Orders; Filing of Documents Under Seal]
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Not separately specified.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
No-presentment model per General Order 20-0012. Simply file motions -- no notice of presentment. No courtesy copies unless chambers requests. Proposed order inbox used only for specific order types (protective orders, TROs, injunctions, class settlement approvals). Do NOT submit draft orders for routine motions. Protective order and under-seal requirements are detailed and strict.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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