Judge Maire Dempsey
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- No Later Than 7 Days Before Ruling
- Within 5 Business Days of Reply
Non Dispositive Motions
- 1 copy • Email
Adjournments
- All hearings are in person unless Zoom is requested at least 24 hours in advance and confirmed by the Court.
Communication
Other Contacts9 contacts
Chambers4 contacts
Clerk3 contacts
Page & Word Limits2 rules
Briefs shall not exceed 15 pages unless specifically allowed by the Court.
- Brief
- Up to 15 pages
For dispositive motions, paper courtesy copies required; briefs must be double-sided, deposition transcripts in mini-script (4 pages per page) and double-sided; briefs limited to 15 pages unless allowed by Court.
- Brief
- Up to 15 pages
Court's wording
For any dispositive motion, such as Motions to Dismiss or Motions for Summary Judgment, the Court requires paper courtesy copies, and requests that all briefs be double-sided and any deposition transcripts submitted in mini-script, 4 pages per one page, and double-sided. A thumb drive need not be submitted for any courtesy copies, but may be advisable for video or photographic exhibits. Briefs shall not exceed 15 pages unless specifically allowed by the Court.
Document Filing Requirements4 rules
Petitions to approve settlement must include an itemized list of costs, description of all lien claims, and appropriate probate language if required.
Court's wording
Petitions shall include: (1) an itemized list of costs; (2) a description of all lien claims, even if the lien does not attach to the proceeds; and (3) appropriate language where further probate proceedings are required, a sample of which is: IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the settlement is approved, provided that the settlement amount approved herein shall be paid only to a Guardian appointed by the Probate Division or Circuit Court where the minor or disabled person resides, and this Order shall be effective only after entry in the appropriate Probate Division of an Order approving the bond or other security required to administer the settlement and distribution provided for in this Order.
Agreed Dismissal Orders must strike future court dates and indicate if minors or wrongful death claims are involved; do not include language striking trial dates in Room 2005.
Court's wording
In any such Orders, please strike any specific future Court dates. If the dismissal is via settlement, please indicate in the Order whether any minors or Wrongful Death claims are involved. Please be advised that the Motion Calendar cannot strike trial dates in Room 2005, so please do not include that language in the Order.
Self-represented or pro se litigants must comply with the relevant Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, Illinois Supreme Court Rules, and Circuit Court of Cook County Rules.
Parties may submit a pre-trial memorandum by 3 days before the Conference to the Calendar H email containing (1) a summary of the allegations/defenses, evidence, claimed injuries and specials/damages, and; (2) the last demand/offer/policy limit.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Non-agreed regular motions must be spindled through Odyssey for in-person hearing; courtesy copy may be emailed prior to presentment.
Any regular motion to which there is no agreement must be spindled on the Motion Call through Odyssey for in-person hearing. The Movant may email a courtesy copy of the motion to the Court prior to presentment.
Page 2 | II. Motions
Petitions to settle cases involving minors, disabled persons, survival, and wrongful death claims must be submitted by email or drop off.
Petitions to settle cases involving minors, disabled persons and survival and wrongful death claims shall be presented to the court electronically by emailing said petition to law.calHcc@cookcountyil.gov or dropping off in 2209.
Page 3 | V. Petitions to Approve Settlement
Agreed Motions/Orders may be submitted by email or drop off; must include a proposed Order with 'Agreed' in the title.
The Court will accept Agreed Motions and/or Orders by email or drop off rather than spindling a Court date through Odyssey. Please include a proposed Order with the word “Agreed” in the title.
Page 1 | II. Motions
Agreed Dismissal Orders may be submitted by email or dropped off in Room 2209.
The Court will accept Agreed Dismissal Orders, whether via settlement or 2-1009 voluntary dismissal, by email or dropping off in 2209.
Page 1 | I. Generally
Routine motions should be emailed or dropped off at 8:45 am on the noticed date with a proposed Order; no need to spindle through Odyssey.
Any routine motion should be emailed to the Court at law.calHcc@cookcountyil.gov, or dropped off in 2209, at 8:45 am on the date set in the notice, with a proposed Order. Routine motions need not be spindled through Odyssey.
Page 1 | II. Motions
Courtesy Copy Requirements
For dispositive motions, paper courtesy copies required; briefs double-sided; deposition transcripts in mini-script (4 pages per page) and double-sided.
For any dispositive motion, such as Motions to Dismiss or Motions for Summary Judgment, the Court requires paper courtesy copies, and requests that all briefs be double-sided and any deposition transcripts submitted in mini-script, 4 pages per one page, and double-sided.
Page 2 | II. Motions
For motions set for bench ruling, courtesy copies must be delivered no later than 7 days before the ruling date.
Courtesy copies of Motions that are set for Bench Ruling can be delivered at any time practical by the Movant after fully briefed, but no later than 7 days prior to the ruling date.
Page 2 | II. Motions
For non-dispositive motions with a briefing schedule, movant must email a complete courtesy copy of all briefs and exhibits; hard copies only needed if exhibits exceed 15 pages.
For any non-dispositive motions for which a briefing schedule has been allowed, the movant is responsible for emailing a complete courtesy copy of the motion consisting of all briefs and exhibits filed in support of or in opposition to the motion to law.calHcc@cookcountyil.gov. Movant's failure to submit a complete courtesy copy will result in the denial or continuance of the motion. Hard copies of any briefs do not need to be provided unless there is over 15 pages of exhibits.
Page 2 | II. Motions
Courtesy copies of motions that are set for Written Ruling should be delivered by the Movant within 5 business days of the Reply being filed, or the deadline for said Reply having expired.
Courtesy copies of motions that are set for Written Ruling should be delivered by the Movant within 5 business days of the Reply being filed, or the deadline for said Reply having expired.
Page 3 | II. Motions
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Emergency motions must include a proposed Order, state grounds, provide at least 24 hours notice to other parties, and be presented at 9:30 am.
Emergency Motions, with a proposed Order, must be submitted to law.calHcc@cookcountyil.gov or dropped off in 2209 and include the grounds for the emergency. Emergency motions must provide at least 24 hours to other parties who have appeared, absent an exigent circumstance where such Notice cannot be provided. Emergency Motions will be noticed and presented at 9:30 am.
Page 1 | II. Motions
Briefing schedules are unlikely for non-dispositive motions; parties should expect to argue and receive a ruling on the presentment date.
Briefing schedules on any motions that are not potentially dispositive are unlikely to be granted, and the parties should expect to argue such a motion on the date of presentment and receive a ruling that day.
Page 2 | II. Motions
No briefing for §2-615 and §2-622 motions; movant must describe deficiencies and provide pleadings; respondent may submit a response at Court's discretion.
There will generally be no briefing allowed for §2-615 and §2-622 motions. The movant shall succinctly describe alleged deficiencies in the complaint, or the §2-622 Affidavit/report, and shall provide a copy of the pleadings for the court's review. The respondent may be allowed to submit a written response, but only at the Court's discretion.
Page 2 | II. Motions
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
All hearings are in person unless Zoom is requested at least 24 hours in advance and confirmed by the Court.
All matters are in person unless zoom is requested at least 24 hours in advance via email and confirmed by the Court. A party may also request zoom for the next hearing and include the permission in the court order.
Page 3 | IV. Zoom
Motions may be piggy-backed onto an existing court date with adequate notice to all parties.
This Calendar will allow any motion to be piggy-backed onto an already-set date in the case, provided adequate notice is provided to all parties.
Page 2 | II. Motions
Chambers Communication Rules
Official communication with the Court (courtesy copies of motions or submitted Orders) will take place through the email address dedicated to Calendar H: law.calHcc@cookcountyil.gov. All email correspondence to the Court must notice/copy all parties.
Official communication with the Court (courtesy copies of motions or submitted Orders) will take place through the email address dedicated to Calendar H: law.calHcc@cookcountyil.gov. All email correspondence to the Court must notice/copy all parties.
Page 1 | I. Generally
Technical or logistical questions should be directed to the Court Clerk via email.
If your email is asking a question of a technical or logistical nature, please direct that to the Court Clerk, Sarah, at skoneil@cookcountycourt.com.
Page 1 | I. Generally