Judge D. Renee Jackson
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- Email • Upon Completion of Briefing
- Hand Delivery
Emergency Motions
- Email • When Scheduling
File Under Seal Motions
Filings < 25 pages
Adjournments
- Requests to continue trial dates must be made in writing before the pre-trial conference, showing good cause with a detailed affidavit.
Request must include
Communication
Clerk24 contacts
- probatecrt1812orders@
cookcountycourt.com - probatedivorders@
cookcountycourt.com - probatecrt1809orders@
cookcountycourt.com - probatecrt1811orders@
cookcountycourt.com - probatecrt1801orders@
cookcountycourt.com - dwhensel@
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- snadams@
cookcountycourt.com - beanaele@
cookcountycourt.com - joseph.fleming@
cookcountyil.gov - probatedivservices@
cookcountycourt.com - jlmckay@
cookcountycourt.com - probatecrt1804orders@
cookcountycourt.com - efilehelp@
cookcountycourt.com - probate.divatty@
cookcountyil.gov - (312) 603-6878
- (312) 603-2486
- (312) 603-5694
- (312) 603-5157
- (312) 603-2591
- (312) 603-6558
- (312) 603-5647
- (312) 603-7229
- (312) 603-5025
- (312) 603-3784, (312) 603-5647
Other Contacts9 contacts
Chambers3 contacts
Page & Word Limits1 rule
Briefs and memorandums are limited to fifteen (15) double-spaced pages. Except reply briefs are limited to seven (7) double-spaced pages.
- Brief
- Up to 15 pages
- Reply brief
- Up to 7 pages
- Format
- Double-spaced
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Citations to authority must comply with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 6 and the Bluebook, using official reporters. Parallel citations are unnecessary. Parties must include pin cites when applicable. As court personnel only have access to LEXIS, parties should provide copies of any cases cited in their memoranda that are not available from the official reporters or LEXIS.
Formatting
- •Parallel citations are unnecessary
Document Filing Requirements14 rules
Motions for default must include specific documents: notice and motion, summons face and return, certificate of service, certificate of no appearance/answer, and military affidavit if applicable.
Court's wording
A motion for default must include the following documents: • A copy of the notice and motion • The face of the summons • A copy of the return of summons • A certificate of the officer or an affidavit of the person who served the summons • A certificate from the attorney or pro se litigant, confirming that the court file and docket have been checked for any appearance or answer filed by the defendant • A military affidavit if defaulting an individual
Proposed protective orders must include specified language about seeking leave to seal, redacting confidential information, and labeling sealed submissions.
Court's wording
All proposed protective orders must include the following language: “The parties must seek leave of court to file documents or other materials containing Confidential Information under seal. To the extent possible, the parties shall redact Confidential Information from documents or other materials filed with the court so as to minimize requests to file under seal. If leave is allowed to file documents or other materials under seal, such documents or other materials shall be submitted in an envelope or other container labeled “CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION – SEALED PURSUANT TO COURT ORDER” and including the caption of this action and a description of the nature but not the substance of the contents.”
TRO motions must be accompanied by a verified complaint or an affidavit that complies with § 5/11-101.
Parties must provide the court with: • A copy of the file-stamped motion. • A notice of motion clearly designating it as routine. • A copy of the proposed order.
When insurance contract is at issue, movant must provide Bates-stamped copies of the contract, application, and certificates; motions should reference these copies.
Court's wording
If an insurance contract is at issue, the movant (or the insurance company on cross-motions) must provide Bates-stamped copies of the contract, including the application and any relevant certificates. All motions should reference these Bates- stamped copies and need not include the policy as an exhibit.
Courtesy copy set for contested motions must include motion, briefs, exhibits, complaint, pleadings, and administrative record if applicable.
Court's wording
These copies may be submitted via email unless otherwise instructed and should include: • Motion, supporting brief, response brief, reply brief, and all exhibits (tabbed for physical copies and clearly marked for electronic versions). • Sur-response and sur-reply, and if applicable, along with all exhibits. • Most recent complaint. • All relevant pleadings. • The administrative record for administrative review cases.
Trial materials must include joint statement, witness list, exhibit table of contents, and exhibits in binders with page numbers and tabs.
Court's wording
Required trial materials include: • A joint short statement outlining the nature of the case. • A list of all potential witnesses, indicating those who will and may testify for each party. • A comprehensive table of contents listing all exhibits each party intends to use at trial. • Exhibits should be page-numbered, tabbed, and presented in binders. • All exhibits shall be listed by the number that the party offering it intends to use at trial, and any stipulations or agreements as to foundations or admissibility.
An affidavit of compliance with all Supreme Court Rule 237 notices and a statement of all outstanding disputes regarding such notices.
Parties must execute a settlement conference stipulation and consent, available on the court’s website.
Parties must bring copies of motions in limine and memoranda, and discuss them before pre-trial conference.
Court's wording
Copies of all motions in limine and supporting and opposing memoranda. Motions in limine must be discussed between and among counsel in advance of the pre-trial conference to ensure that the motions remaining are those that the parties in good faith cannot resolve before trial.
Copies of any Supreme Court Rule 216 requests to admit and responses thereto which any party anticipates using at trial.
Copies of the most recent pleadings (i.e., complaint, answer, counterclaim, third-party complaint with all exhibits attached, and so forth).
Parties expecting to offer opinion testimony shall tender responses to Supreme Court Rule 213 interrogatories (with any supplements) and/or deposition testimony that will support the opinion testimony to be offered at trial. If testimony is challenged at trial as not in compliance with Rule 213, the proponent will be expected to promptly locate the previous disclosure demonstrating compliance with the Rule’s requirements.
Evidence depositions, if there are objections requiring rulings.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Motions for alternative service or publication must be spindled on the docket through Odyssey or piggy-backed.
Any motion for alternative service or motion for publication are not considered routine motions and must be spindled on the Court’s docket through Odyssey or “piggy-backed.”
Civil cases
Page 3 | f
Special Process Server motions and motions with notice may be filed as routine motions without spindling.
The following motions may be filed as routine motions and do not require spindling with the Clerk’s office: • Special Process Server • See 735 ILCS 5/2-202. • Motions with notice:
Civil cases
Page 4 | h
Settlement conference worksheets must not be filed with the clerk; they must be delivered to the court.
The worksheets shall not be filed with the clerk, but delivered to the court no later than fourteen (14) days before the status date set for the conference.
Civil cases
Page 7 | VIII. SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Settlement conference worksheets must be delivered to the court at least 14 days before the status date.
The worksheets shall not be filed with the clerk, but delivered to the court no later than fourteen (14) days before the status date set for the conference.
Civil cases
Page 7 | VIII. SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES
Routine motions are accepted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Routine motions and orders will be accepted off-call Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Civil cases
Page 5 | III. i. Submission Guidelines
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Except in extraordinary circumstances, the court will not schedule an emergency motion with less than 24 hours notice.
Except in extraordinary circumstances, the court will not schedule an emergency motion with less than 24 hours notice.
Civil cases
Page 4 | g
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Motions under 25 pages require file-stamped courtesy copies emailed to the court.
File-stamped courtesy copies of all motions under twenty-five (25) pages must be emailed to the court.
Civil cases
Page 2 | III. MOTIONS
Motions over 25 pages require email and hard copies (tabbed and bound) delivered to Courtroom 2305 at least 7 business days before presentment.
For courtesy copies over twenty-five (25) pages, please email AND deliver hard copies tabbed and bound to Courtroom 2305 at least seven (7) business days before the presentment date.
Civil cases
Page 2 | III. MOTIONS
Courtesy copies of a motion to file under seal should include both redacted and unredacted versions, with the proposed redactions clearly highlighted, as indicated here.
Courtesy copies of a motion to file under seal should include both redacted and unredacted versions, with the proposed redactions clearly highlighted, as indicated here.
Civil cases
Page 3 | d
Motions to reconsider require courtesy copies of previous briefs.
For any motion requiring the court to rule on prior briefings, such as a motion to reconsider, the movant must also provide courtesy copies of the previous briefs.
Civil cases
Page 3 | e
Courtesy copies of prove-up affidavits and draft judgment order must be submitted at least 5 days before prove-up hearing.
Courtesy copies of any prove-up affidavits and a draft judgment order must be submitted to the court at least five (5) days before the prove-up hearing.
Civil cases
Page 3 | c
Emergency motions require a courtesy copy of the file-stamped motion marked 'EMERGENCY MOTION' with all supporting documents when scheduling.
The party seeking to obtain a hearing on an emergency motion must contact Calendar 11 chambers after filing the same with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County by sending an email with a courtesy copy of the file- stamped motion, clearly marked “EMERGENCY MOTION,” along with all supporting documents, must be provided to the law clerk when scheduling the motion.
Civil cases
Page 4 | g
Motions over 25 pages require emailed courtesy copies and hard copies tabbed and bound delivered to Courtroom 2305.
For courtesy copies over twenty-five (25) pages, please email AND deliver hard copies tabbed and bound to Courtroom 2305.
Civil cases
Page 5 | III. i. Submission Guidelines
Motions under 25 pages require courtesy copies emailed to the court.
Courtesy copies of all motions under twenty-five (25) pages must be emailed to the court.
Civil cases
Page 5 | III. i. Submission Guidelines
When setting a briefing schedule, the court typically requests that the movant submit a full set of courtesy copies upon completion of briefing. These copies may be submitted via email unless otherwise instructed and should include: • Motion, supporting brief, response brief, reply brief, and all exhibits (tabbed for physical copies and clearly marked for electronic versions). • Sur-response and sur-reply, and if applicable, along with all exhibits. • Most recent complaint. • All relevant pleadings. • The administrative record for administrative review cases.
When setting a briefing schedule, the court typically requests that the movant submit a full set of courtesy copies upon completion of briefing. These copies may be submitted via email unless otherwise instructed and should include: • Motion, supporting brief, response brief, reply brief, and all exhibits (tabbed for physical copies and clearly marked for electronic versions). • Sur-response and sur-reply, and if applicable, along with all exhibits. • Most recent complaint. • All relevant pleadings. • The administrative record for administrative review cases.
Civil cases
Page 6 | VI. a. Hearings on Contested Motions
Parties should prepare and submit courtesy copies of their pleadings (e.g., complaint, answer, affirmative defenses, counterclaims, and cross-claims) via email at least one week before the conference. Failure to submit courtesy copies via email may result in a delay of the conference.
Parties should prepare and submit courtesy copies of their pleadings (e.g., complaint, answer, affirmative defenses, counterclaims, and cross-claims) via email at least one week before the conference. Failure to submit courtesy copies via email may result in a delay of the conference.
Civil cases
Page 2 | II. CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES
Sealing & Redaction Procedures
Motions to file under seal must detail privacy interests, be supported by affidavit, include redacted version as exhibit, and cannot apply to all documents; protective orders must state they do not apply to court orders.
Motions to File Under Seal & Protective Orders • Cannot be applied to all documents and/or pleadings. • Must explicitly state that the protective order will not apply to court orders. • The request must detail the privacy interests involved and justify the necessity of the protective order, supported by an affidavit. • Motions to file under seal should include the redacted version as an exhibit. • Courtesy copies of a motion to file under seal should include both redacted and unredacted versions, with the proposed redactions clearly highlighted, as indicated here.
Civil cases
Page 3 | d
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
Requests to continue trial dates must be made in writing before the pre-trial conference, showing good cause with a detailed affidavit.
Trial dates are firm. Requests to continue a trial date must be made in writing before the pre-trial conference, demonstrating good cause and supported by a detailed affidavit.
Civil cases
Page 7 | Motions to Continue Trial Dates
Chambers Communication Rules
Emergency motions must be scheduled via email to Calendar 11 law clerks; phone calls not required; do not send notice to opposing parties until court confirms scheduling.
All emergency motions must be scheduled via email by one of the Calendar 11 law clerks. The party seeking to obtain a hearing on an emergency motion must contact Calendar 11 chambers after filing the same with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County by sending an email with a courtesy copy of the file- stamped motion, clearly marked “EMERGENCY MOTION,” along with all supporting documents, must be provided to the law clerk when scheduling the motion. Phone calls to the Calendar 11 law clerks is NOT required. Notice of the motion should not be sent to opposing parties until the court has confirmed scheduling.
Civil cases
Page 4 | g
All communications with the court must be made through the filing of pleadings, motions, applications, petitions, briefs, legal memoranda, etc.
All communications with the court must be made through the filing of pleadings, motions, applications, petitions, briefs, legal memoranda, etc.
Civil cases
Page 1 | General
Direct communications with law clerks are allowed only for administrative and scheduling matters, not substantive legal issues.
Direct communications with law clerks are permitted only for administrative and scheduling matters and not on substantive legal issues or legal advice.
Civil cases
Page 1 | General