Procedures verified June 26, 2026
Judge John J. Tharp Jr. -- United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
2303, 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. JOINT PROPOSED BRIEFING SCHEDULE required with every contested motion. File a joint submission with the motion; if no agreement, state each side's position. Failure to include this will draw a minute order.
- 2. Supplemental authority is strictly limited to 350 words (excluding caption/signature). The responding party has 7 days to file an equally limited response.
- 3. Courtesy copies required for pretrial orders, MIL, and jury instructions -- even though routine courtesy copies are suspended.
- 4. Telephone hearings: use ONLY the specific dial-in instructions emailed by Courtroom Deputy. Using a different method may result in termination of participation.
- 5. Proposed orders not accepted for dispositive motions; optional (not required) for non-dispositive motions.
- 6. Confidentiality orders must use Model Confidentiality Order (LR 26.2) as base; show all changes by redline.
Quick Reference
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Motion Days | No longer noticed for presentment. For contested motions: movant must confer with opposing counsel and submit a joint proposed briefing schedule with or immediately after the motion filing. If no agreement on schedule, indicate each side's position in a joint submission filed with the motion. Court sets briefing schedule by minute entry or determines whether response is required. Court generally rules on briefs without a hearing; sets hearing if needed. Agreed motions generally granted without briefing or hearing. [Judge Tharp -- Motion Practice] |
| Motion Limit | 15 pages maximum per Local Rule 7.1. [Judge Tharp -- Motion Practice] |
| Reply Limit | Not separately specified; follow LR 7.1 default. |
| Chambers Copies | ✓ Required Courtesy copies required for: (1) pretrial orders; (2) motions in limine; (3) proposed jury instructions. Not generally required for other... |
| Tentative Rulings | Not issued. N.D. Ill. does not use a tentative ruling system. |
| Remote Appearances | Telephone hearings: specific dial-in or log-in directions provided by Courtroom Deputy via email. Counsel MUST use those specific directions -- failure to use the provided instructions may result in termination of participation. |
| Discovery | Discovery disputes resolved by this judge. LR 37.2 compliance required. Court sets expedited briefing after argument if needed. |
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 longer noticed for presentment. For contested motions: movant must confer with opposing counsel and submit a joint proposed briefing schedule with or immediately after the motion filing. If no agreement on schedule, indicate each side's position in a joint submission filed with the motion. Court sets briefing schedule by minute entry or determines whether response is required. Court generally rules on briefs without a hearing; sets hearing if needed. Agreed motions generally granted without briefing or hearing. [Judge Tharp -- Motion Practice]
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 Tharp -- Motion Practice]
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
Courtesy copies required for: (1) pretrial orders; (2) motions in limine; (3) proposed jury instructions. Not generally required for other filings.
Proposed Orders
Email Word format (not WordPerfect) to Proposed_Order_Tharp@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Subject line: (1) case number/name; (2) docket number of motion; (3) title of order. Serve on all parties. Not required for routine motions (extensions). Not submitted for dispositive motions. Do NOT file as attachment to motion. Party may (but is not required to) submit proposed order with a non-dispositive motion. [Judge Tharp -- Proposed Orders]
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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 generally rules on briefs without a hearing. Sets hearing if needed.
Remote Appearances
Telephone hearings: specific dial-in or log-in directions provided by Courtroom Deputy via email. Counsel MUST use those specific directions -- failure to use the provided instructions may result in termination of participation.
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Background Rules
Chambers Contact
Contact Courtroom Deputy Brenda Rinozzi for scheduling questions. Do not communicate about case merits by letter, phone, or email.
Discovery Referral
Discovery disputes resolved by this judge. LR 37.2 compliance required. Court sets expedited briefing after argument if needed.
Discovery Dispute Procedure No-presentment
LR 37.2 required. Correspondence alone is insufficient; in-person or telephonic conferral required. [Judge Tharp -- Motion Practice]
Ex Parte Applications
Not separately specified. Follow General Order procedures.
Settlement Notification
No published individual procedures.
Lead Counsel
Not specified.
Under Seal Filings
Confidentiality orders: follow Model Confidentiality Order (LR 26.2) as base. Proposed changes shown by redline. Submit clean Word copy and redlined version to Proposed_Order_Tharp@ilnd.uscourts.gov.
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. Key distinguishing feature: joint proposed briefing schedule required with every contested motion. Supplemental authority word-limited to 350 words. Proposed orders to Proposed_Order_Tharp@ilnd.uscourts.gov in Word format.
Sources & Currency
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Procedures verified June 26, 2026.
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