Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge Steven C. Seeger -- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
2319, 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. Courtesy copies REQUIRED for ALL complaints and ALL motions longer than 5 pages, plus memorandums and exhibits. This is one of the broadest courtesy copy requirements in the district.
- 2. Proposed order file naming convention: file name must begin with the case number (e.g., '24-cv-1234 - Party v. Party - Proposed Order re Topic').
- 3. Emergency threshold is higher than all other judges in this batch: 'serious AND irreparable harm' per LR 77.2 -- not just 'serious harm.'
- 4. Do NOT call chambers. Email Courtroom Deputy Jessica Ramos only.
- 5. Do NOT file a notice of filing or notice of motion -- these are not things in federal court. General Order 21-0027 suspended notice of motion practice.
- 6. Deposition objections: speaking objections prohibited. 'Asked and answered' is not an appropriate objection at deposition. Coaching interjections ('if you know,' 'if you remember') are prohibited.
- 7. 30(b)(6): 10-topic presumptive limit; subtopics count. Cannot depose government agencies in enforcement capacity without leave.
- 8. 'Pocket veto' rule: if you request a meet-and-confer, the opposing party must respond promptly. Ignoring the request is itself sanctionable conduct.
- 9. Motions in limine: 25-page limit is per side total for all in limine motions combined, not per individual motion.
- 10. Injunctions must be standalone separate documents -- no incorporation by reference.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | Motion call: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Do NOT file a notice of motion -- General Order 21-0027 suspended this practice. Simply file the motion. Court will set hearing or briefing schedule by minute entry. [Judge Seeger -- Notice of Filing vs. Notice of Motion] |
| Motion Limit | 15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. [Judge Seeger -- Motions and Memoranda of Law] |
| Reply Limit | Not separately specified; follow LR 7.1 default. |
| Chambers Copies | ✓ Required REQUIRED for: (1) ALL complaints; (2) ALL motions longer than 5 pages; (3) memorandums; (4) exhibits. Per Local Rule 5.2(f). Deliver to... [Judge Seeger -- Courtesy Copies] |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. N.D. Ill. does not use a tentative ruling system. |
| Remote Appearances | No published individual procedures beyond standard docket entries. |
| Discovery | Discovery disputes resolved by this judge. Extensive standing order on discovery practice. Court may rule on discovery motions after oral argument without requiring briefing. |
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
Motion call: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Do NOT file a notice of motion -- General Order 21-0027 suspended this practice. Simply file the motion. Court will set hearing or briefing schedule by minute entry. [Judge Seeger -- Notice of Filing vs. Notice of Motion]
Notice Period
No notice of motion or presentment date required per General Order 21-0027.
Motion Page / Word Limit
15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. [Judge Seeger -- Motions 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).
Footnote Policy
Not specified.
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At Filing
Chambers Copies
✓ Required
REQUIRED for: (1) ALL complaints; (2) ALL motions longer than 5 pages; (3) memorandums; (4) exhibits. Per Local Rule 5.2(f). Deliver to drop-box outside Courtroom Deputy's office, Room 2316A. Do NOT bring to chambers. No delivery signature is available. Print from ECF with ECF header. Stapled preferred (not bound on left side) unless filing is too large to staple. Also deliver courtesy copy of Initial Status Report to Room 2316A drop-box no later than one week before the initial status hearing. [Judge Seeger -- Courtesy Copies]
Proposed Orders
Email Word format (NOT PDF) to Proposed_Order_Seeger@ilnd.uscourts.gov. File name must begin with the case number (e.g., '24-cv-1234 - Meade v. Lee - Proposed Order re Gettysburg'). Subject line: (1) case name; (2) case number; (3) docket number of motion; (4) title of order. Copy all parties. Not required for routine motions (extensions) or dispositive motions. Must still file a motion on the docket -- email alone is not a substitute.
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Before the Hearing
Tentative Rulings
Not issued. N.D. Ill. does not use a tentative ruling system.
Prohibition / Ex Parte Contact Re Tentatives
N/A.
Oral Argument
Court may rule on discovery motions after argument without briefing. No specific default for other motions.
Remote Appearances
No published individual procedures beyond standard docket entries.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
Do NOT call chambers to check on the status of pending motions or to ask general questions. Contact Courtroom Deputy Jessica J. Ramos by email only.
Discovery Referral
Discovery disputes resolved by this judge. Extensive standing order on discovery practice. Court may rule on discovery motions after oral argument without requiring briefing.
Discovery Dispute Procedure No-presentment
LR 37.2 required. In-person or telephonic (correspondence via email or letters is insufficient). 'Pocket veto' rule: if one party requests a meet-and-confer, the other party must respond promptly -- ignoring the request is not permitted. Boilerplate instructions in interrogatories and document requests are prohibited. Boilerplate objections are inadequate and count for nothing. Evasive discovery responses are treated as a failure to respond. E-discovery impasse: meet and confer with IT representatives (in person or by phone) before filing motion. Court often rules after argument without briefing. [Judge Seeger -- Discovery]
Ex Parte Applications
Emergency TRO under Rule 65(b)(1): may seek ex parte. All other emergency motions: must make all reasonable efforts to give actual notice to opposing counsel before filing.
Settlement Notification
No published individual procedures.
Lead Counsel
Not specified.
Under Seal Filings
Not separately specified; follow Local Rules.
Continuances & Calendar Conflicts
No published individual procedures.
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AI & Style Preferences
AI Disclosure Requirement
Not specified.
Additional Notes
No-presentment model per General Order 21-0027. Extensive deposition standing order with highly specific objection rules. Broad courtesy copy requirement (all complaints, all motions over 5 pages). Emergency threshold is 'serious AND irreparable harm' (higher than district default). Courtroom Deputy email: jessica_j_ramos@ilnd.uscourts.gov (note lowercase j in first name).
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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