Judge Carrie E. Hamilton
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Exhibit List
- 1 copy • At Least Two Full Court Days Before Pretrial
Motion
- 1 copy • Email • At Least Two Full Court Days Before Motion Date
Motion in Limine, Deposition Transcript, Exhibits, Witness List
- 1 copy • Email • Two Full Court Days Before Pretrial
Status Call Motion
- 1 copy • Email • At Least Two Court Days in Advance
Adjournments
- Trial dates are firm and continuance requests must be made in writing, supported by a detailed affidavit, and heard at least five business days before trial unless exigent circumstances exist.
Communication
Clerk
Chambers
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Phone
Court-wideChambers
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Page & Word Limits1 rule
Memorandum in support of a filing (both original motion and response to motion) may not exceed 20 pages without specific prior leave of Court. ii. Reply memorandum may not exceed 10 pages without specific prior leave of Court.
Document Format Requirements3 rules
All filings for Calendar 1 must be double-spaced, typed in 13-point Times New Roman or Century School Book.
- Font size
- 13 points
- Line spacing
- Double
The Court requests that the parties: i. Use Word format, so the Court can make changes if needed.
- File type
- Word
but need not be spindled.
Document Filing Requirements10 rules
A copy of the notice, motion, proof of service, and draft order must be emailed to ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov at least two full court days before the noticed date.
- Document
- Motion
Must include
- •Certificate of service
A complete prove-up email package must include the notice, summons showing service, motion for default judgment, draft judgment order, operative complaint, and any materials establishing a prima facie case.
Court's wording
i. The notice, summons showing service, and motion for default judgment; ii. A draft judgment order specifying the precise relief sought; iii. A copy of the operative complaint; and iv. Any other materials supporting the movant’s burden of showing a prima facie case for the relief sought. See 735 ILCS 5/2-1301(d). Such materials include, without limitation, a Verified Complaint or other evidence provided by affidavit.
Any brief prepared with the assistance of AI shall state on page 1 thereof: “Created by or with the assistance of AI.” There is an ethical obligation not to submit “hallucination” case citations to this Court.
- Document
- AI assisted brief
Must include
- •AI disclosure
A party wishing to present a TRO motion should deliver a copy of the motion papers (including the Complaint), marked “EMERGENCY,” to the Court via email, at CCC.ChanceryCalendar1@cookcountyil.gov.
The complete set of motion papers emailed to the Court must be marked “EMERGENCY.”
- Document
- Emergency motion papers
Must include
- •Marked “EMERGENCY”
Court's wording
A complete set of the motion papers, marked “EMERGENCY,” must be emailed to the Court via email, at ccc.ChanceryCalendar1@cookcountyil.gov by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing date.
Exhibits. If a deposition is cited, a copy of the entire transcript must be provided, with an index and exhibits.
The parties must submit and exchange pre-trial settlement memos with specified content, delivered to the Court by email at least two calendar days before the settlement conference.
Court's wording
The parties must submit and exchange pre-trial memos setting forth a brief nature of the case, the stipulated and contested issues, the status of settlement negotiations and any other information any party believes would educate the judge or facilitate a compromise. This memo should be delivered to the Court via e- mail at least two calendar days before the settlement conference.
Proposed exhibit lists must be exchanged with exhibits attached and must include a cover sheet with a table covering exhibit number, description, foundation stipulation, remaining objections, and admission status.
- Document
- Proposed exhibit list
Must include
- •Exhibit list
Court's wording
The parties must exchange copies of their proposed exhibit lists with exhibits attached. Each proposed exhibit list must have a cover sheet showing a table with columns for (1) the exhibit number, (2) the description, (3) whether the parties stipulate to the foundation, (4) whether there are any other objections to the admissibility of the exhibit and if so, the nature of the objection, and (5) whether the exhibit was admitted or not.
Default-motion email must include the notice, summons, motion, an attorney certification of no appearance/answer, and a military affidavit if against a person.
Court's wording
The Court requires an email to with the following two documents: (i) The notice, summons showing service, and motion; (ii) An attorney’s signed and certified statement that the Clerk’s electronic docket indicates that the defendant has not filed an appearance or answer; and (iii) A military affidavit, if the default is against a person.
The Court requests that the parties include the following information for remote appearances: Identify the parties who appeared and did not appear. State the date of the appearance.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
For routine motions, copies of the notice, motion, proof of service, and draft order must be emailed to the court's calendar email address.
A copy of the notice, motion, proof of service, and draft order must be emailed to ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov at least two full court days before the noticed date.
Civil cases
Page 2 | II. ROUTINE MOTIONS
After any court appearance, the parties must email an agreed proposed order to the calendar address.
After any appearance in Court, the Parties must email an agreed proposed order to ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov.
Civil cases
Page 4 | VI. PROPOSED ORDERS FOLLOWING ANY COURT APPEARANCE
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Routine motion papers must be emailed to chambers at least two full court days before the planned hearing date.
A copy of the notice, motion, proof of service, and draft order must be emailed to ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov at least two full court days before the noticed date.
Civil cases
Page 2 | II. ROUTINE MOTIONS
A routine motion should be noticed for 9:30 a.m. on any court day.
A routine motion should be noticed for 9:30 a.m. on any court day.
Civil cases
Page 2 | II. ROUTINE MOTIONS
Objections may be made by a written filing and emailed to ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov before 9:30 a.m. on the date noticed.
Objections may be made by a written filing and emailed to ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov before 9:30 a.m. on the date noticed.
Civil cases
Page 3 | II. ROUTINE MOTIONS
Proposed orders following the afternoon call must be submitted by 4:00 p.m.
Orders following the afternoon call must be submitted by 4:00 p.m.
Civil cases
Page 4 | VI. PROPOSED ORDERS FOLLOWING ANY COURT APPEARANCE
Default motions are on the 10:30 a.m. call, are not routine, and require an email with specified documents at least two full court days beforehand.
Motions for default must be noticed up on the 10:30 a.m. motion call. The Court does not consider motions for default to be routine motions. The Court requires an email to ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov at least two full court days before the scheduled motion with the following documents:
Civil cases
Page 4 | VII. DEFAULT AND PROVE-UP HEARINGS
Proposed orders following morning calls must be submitted by 1:00 p.m.
Orders following the morning calls must be submitted by 1:00 p.m.
Civil cases
Page 4 | VI. PROPOSED ORDERS FOLLOWING ANY COURT APPEARANCE
Courtesy copies sent to the Court after 4:30 p.m. will not be reviewed until the next day.
Please note that courtesy copies sent to the Court after 4:30 p.m. on a date certain will be reviewed the next day.
Civil cases
Page 1 | TRO MOTION PROCEDURE
Courtesy copies sent after noon will never be set for a same-day hearing.
Courtesy copies sent after noon will never be set for a same-day hearing.
Civil cases
Page 1 | TRO MOTION PROCEDURE
The motion must be filed and noticed for the 10:30 a.m. motion call, and spindling is not required.
be filed and noticed for the 10:30 a.m. motion call but need not be spindled.
Civil cases
Page 2 | TRO MOTION PROCEDURE
A complete set of the motion papers, marked “EMERGENCY,” must be emailed to the Court via email, at ccc.ChanceryCalendar1@cookcountyil.gov by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing date.
A complete set of the motion papers, marked “EMERGENCY,” must be emailed to the Court via email, at ccc.ChanceryCalendar1@cookcountyil.gov by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing date.
Civil cases
Page 2 | TRO MOTION PROCEDURE
Agreed orders may be emailed at least two full court days before the scheduled date; if no approved order is received, the parties must appear.
Agreed Orders: Agreed orders may be submitted to the Court by email at least two full court days before the scheduled court date. The Court cannot guarantee that the Agreed Order will be approved, entered, and sent to the parties by the Clerk of Court by the scheduled court date. Accordingly, if the parties do not receive an agreed order before the scheduled court date, they must appear on the scheduled date.
Civil cases
Page 3 | II. ROUTINE MOTIONS
Contested fully briefed motions are given a clerk's status at 9:30 a.m., conducted by email with no appearance needed.
When a briefing schedule is set on a contested motion, the Court will set a clerk’s status for the fully briefed motion at 9:30 a.m. b. The clerk’s status date is conducted entirely by email, with no need to appear in person or by Zoom.
Civil cases
Page 3 | III. CLERK’S STATUS
If the Court denies routine-motion treatment, the movant must re-notice the motion for the regular motion call and present it there.
If the Court declines to entertain a motion as routine, the movant must re-notice the motion for the regular motion call and present it then.
Civil cases
Page 3 | II. ROUTINE MOTIONS
The regular motion call is at 10:30 a.m., unless a motion is routine, emergency, piggybacked, or otherwise scheduled by the Court.
Motions are heard at 10:30 a.m. This applies to all motions that are not routine, nor emergency, nor piggybacked, nor otherwise allowed in the Court’s discretion.
Civil cases
Page 4 | V. MOTION CALL
If default is granted, a prove-up hearing is set on the 11:00 a.m. call.
If the Court grants the motion for default, a prove-up hearing will be scheduled on the 11:00 a.m. call at least
Civil cases
Page 4 | VII. DEFAULT AND PROVE-UP HEARINGS
The pre-trial settlement memo must be emailed to the Court at least two calendar days before the settlement conference.
This memo should be delivered to the Court via e-mail at least two calendar days before the settlement conference.
Civil cases
Page 6 | XI. SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES
The Court may, after reviewing the motion, decline to treat a TRO motion as a genuine “emergency” and direct the movant to notice the motion on the regular motion call (which is 10:30 a.m. on any day of the week).
The Court may, after reviewing the motion, decline to treat a TRO motion as a genuine “emergency” and direct the movant to notice the motion on the regular motion call (which is 10:30 a.m. on any day of the week).
Civil cases
Page 1 | TRO MOTION PROCEDURE
Status and case management calls occur daily at 10:00 a.m.
Statuses and case management calls are heard daily at 10:00 a.m.
Civil cases
Page 3 | IV. STATUS AND CASE MANAGEMENT CALL
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Except in extremely unusual and compelling circumstances, demonstrated clearly and convincingly by the movant, all parties must be cc’d.
Except in extremely unusual and compelling circumstances, demonstrated clearly and convincingly by the movant, all parties must be cc’d.
Civil cases
Page 1 | TRO MOTION PROCEDURE
When emailing the complete set of emergency motion papers, all parties should be cc’d absent extremely unusual circumstances clearly proven.
Except in extremely unusual and compelling circumstances, demonstrated clearly and convincingly by the movant, all parties should be cc’d.
Civil cases
Page 2 | TRO MOTION PROCEDURE
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A courtesy copy must be emailed to the calendar address at least two full court days before a noticed motion, or the motion may be stricken.
A courtesy copy must be emailed to Calendar 1 at ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov with a copy to all parties of record, at least two full court days prior to the date on which the motion is noticed. Failure to do so may result in the motion being stricken.
Civil cases
Page 4 | V. MOTION CALL
Each party must deliver a courtesy copy of the exhibit list and cover sheet at least two full court days before the pre-trial, with all columns completed except admission status, after holding at least one meaningful conference.
At least two full court days before the pre-trial, each party must submit a courtesy copy of said list and cover sheet with every column completed except whether the exhibit was admitted or not admitted.
Civil cases
Page 8 | XIII. PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCES
Parties may present motions on a previously set status or case management date, as long a courtesy copy is emailed to Calendar 1 at least two court days in advance of the date.
Parties may present motions on a previously set status or case management date, as long a courtesy copy is emailed to Calendar 1 at least two court days in advance of the date.
Civil cases
Page 3 | IV. STATUS AND CASE MANAGEMENT CALL
Pre-trial conference courtesy copies—including all motions in limine, marked deposition transcripts, complete pre-marked exhibits, and a witness list—must be emailed at least two full court days before the conference, and undisclosed witnesses are usually barred.
Parties must also submit courtesy copies of the following by email at least two full court days before the pre-trial conference: i. A complete set of all motions in limine. ii. Full transcripts of any evidence depositions which any party will use, marked to identify what portions will be offered at trial. iii. A complete, pre-marked set of all exhibits. iv. A complete witness list, specifying who will, and who may, be called by each party. Failure to disclose a witness will usually result in barring the witness.
Civil cases
Page 8 | XIII. PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCES
Filing Bundling Requirements
The movant must email file-stamped PDF copies of all briefs, exhibits, and the operative pleading together to Calendar 1 before the clerk's status call.
At or shortly before 9:30 a.m. on the clerk’s status date, the Court requires the movant to email Calendar 1 with a copy to all parties of record, file-stamped PDF copies of all of the briefs and any exhibits, including a copy of the operative pleading.
Civil cases
Page 3 | III. CLERK’S STATUS
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Trial dates are firm and continuance requests must be made in writing, supported by a detailed affidavit, and heard at least five business days before trial unless exigent circumstances exist.
Trials are set by the Court. Trial dates are firm and will not be re- scheduled absent compelling circumstances. Any request for a continuance for trial must be in writing and supported by a detailed affidavit and heard as soon as possible or at least five business days preceding trial, unless exigent circumstances arise.
Civil cases
Page 7 | XII. TRIALS
Motions to exceed page limits are disfavored, evasion of the page limits is prohibited, and motions for page-limit extensions are not routine.
Motions to exceed page limits are disfavored. This limit may not be evaded by font size, margin manipulation or otherwise. A motion for extension of page limits is not a routine motion.
Civil cases
Page 5 | VIII. FORMAT REQUIREMENTS
Chambers Communication Rules
The movant must email the default-judgment/prove-up package to the Calendar 1 email address at least two full court days before the scheduled prove-up hearing.
an email to ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov at least two full court days before the scheduled prove-up hearing with the following documents:
Civil cases
Page 5 | VII. DEFAULT AND PROVE-UP HEARINGS
A party wishing to present a TRO motion should deliver a copy of the motion papers (including the Complaint), marked “EMERGENCY,” to the Court via email, at CCC.ChanceryCalendar1@cookcountyil.gov.
A party wishing to present a TRO motion should deliver a copy of the motion papers (including the Complaint), marked “EMERGENCY,” to the Court via email, at CCC.ChanceryCalendar1@cookcountyil.gov.
Civil cases
Page 1 | TRO MOTION PROCEDURE
Interpreter requests must be emailed to chambers at least two full court days before the hearing.
To request an interpreter, email ccc.chancerycalendar1@cookcountyil.gov at least two full court days before the hearing.
Civil cases
Page 2 | d. Using an Interpreter