Procedures verified June 28, 2026
Judge Daniel P. McLaughlin -- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
1350, 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 response or reply briefs on discovery motions without leave of Court. Do not file a response to a discovery motion without first obtaining leave.
- 2. LR 37.2 certificate must be filed as a SEPARATE certificate with the motion and attested to by the attorney -- not embedded in the motion body.
- 3. In-person meeting required for discovery conferral unless impracticable. Videoconference satisfies. Mere correspondence will not comply. Certificate must explain why in-person/video was not possible if it was not.
- 4. Court enforces FRCP 37(a)(5) fee-shifting -- the winning party on any discovery motion is entitled to fees and costs unless the losing party was substantially justified.
- 5. Excessive discovery motions may result in court reporter at ALL meet-and-confer sessions with costs split equally between the parties.
- 6. Extensions of time: motion must state (1) that the movant sought opposing counsel's agreement AND (2) the specific result of that request.
- 7. Confidentiality orders: do not attach proposed order to the motion -- email it separately to Proposed_Order_McLaughlin@ilnd.uscourts.gov and state in the motion that it is being submitted via email.
- 8. Lead trial counsel or attorney with substantial case familiarity must appear at initial status conference ready to discuss all aspects of the case.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No individual motion call. Court sets schedules at initial status conference or via minute orders. Lead trial counsel or attorney with substantial familiarity with the case must appear at initial status conference. [Judge McLaughlin -- Initial Status Report] |
| 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 specified. Follow LR 5.2 for paper copy formatting. |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. Court rules on papers. |
| Remote Appearances | Videoconferencing satisfies in-person meet-and-confer requirement for discovery disputes. |
| Discovery | Discovery disputes handled by Judge McLaughlin directly. LR 37.2 required before any discovery motion. Separate certificate of compliance required. Parties not allowed to file response or reply briefs on discovery motions without leave of Court. |
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 sets schedules at initial status conference or via minute orders. Lead trial counsel or attorney with substantial familiarity with the case must appear at initial status conference. [Judge McLaughlin -- Initial Status Report]
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 specified. Follow LR 5.2 for paper copy formatting.
Proposed Orders
All proposed orders must be sent by email to Proposed_Order_McLaughlin@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Motion should not attach the proposed order; instead state in the motion that the proposed order is being submitted via email. For confidentiality orders: use the LR 26.2 Form Model Confidentiality Order; parties may deviate but must include both a clean version and a redline version showing changes. All materials to be protected from public disclosure must be described in sufficient detail justifying protection (e.g., 'trade secrets,' 'personnel files'). Parties cannot mark whatever they choose as confidential or have all discovery treated as confidential. [Judge McLaughlin -- Confidentiality Agreements, Protective Orders, and Filing Material Under Seal]
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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. No default oral argument.
Remote Appearances
Videoconferencing satisfies in-person meet-and-confer requirement for discovery disputes.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
Contact Courtroom Deputy Melanie Foster at Melanie_Foster@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Copy opposing counsel on all communications with the Court.
Discovery Referral
Discovery disputes handled by Judge McLaughlin directly. LR 37.2 required before any discovery motion. Separate certificate of compliance required. Parties not allowed to file response or reply briefs on discovery motions without leave of Court.
Discovery Dispute Procedure District-default
LR 37.2 required with separate certificate filed with the motion and attested to by the attorney. Must state with specificity when and how movant complied. Requires in-person meeting unless impracticable; videoconference satisfies. Mere exchange of correspondence is insufficient. Certificate must state that in-person/video requirement was met or explain why it cannot be met with particularity. No response or reply briefs on discovery motions without leave of Court. Court enforces FRCP 37(a)(5) -- winning side receives fees and costs unless losing party's position was substantially justified. Excessive discovery motions may result in additional meet-and-confer requirements including court reporter at all sessions (costs split equally). [Judge McLaughlin -- Discovery Motion Requirements]
Ex Parte Applications
Not separately specified. Follow General Order procedures.
Settlement Notification
Settlement conferences governed by Judge McLaughlin's Standing Order for Settlement Conferences. Parties must obtain and follow that order before any conference. Settlement conference dates and dates for exchange of pre-conference letters set at a status hearing. [Judge McLaughlin -- Settlement Conference]
Lead Counsel
Lead trial counsel or attorney with substantial familiarity and responsibility for the case must appear at initial status conference.
Under Seal Filings
Use LR 26.2 Form Model Confidentiality Order. Deviations allowed but must submit clean and redlined versions. Motion must state proposed order is submitted via email -- do not attach to motion. All materials to be protected must be described in sufficient detail justifying protection. [Judge McLaughlin -- Confidentiality Agreements, Protective Orders, and Filing Material Under Seal]
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
Motions for extension of time will not be entertained unless the motion includes: (1) a statement that the movant has sought the other side's agreement, and (2) the result of that request. [Judge McLaughlin -- Motions for Extension of Time]
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
Magistrate Judge handling consent and referral cases. No motion call -- rules on papers. Strict LR 37.2 discovery enforcement with mandatory in-person/video conferral, separate attorney-attested certificate, and FRCP 37(a)(5) fee-shifting enforced. No discovery response/reply briefs without leave.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 28, 2026.
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