| Initial
Status Conference |
The Court will set cases for status within 60 days of the filing of
the complaint. At the initial status conference the parties are to
report on the following: 1. The possibility of settlement in the
case. 2. If no possibility of settlement exists, the
nature and length of discovery necessary to prepare the case for
trial.
To maximize the effectiveness of the scheduled
status conference, the Court asks plaintiff’s counsel to schedule a
preliminary meeting with opposing counsel to fully explore early
settlement opportunities and identify areas of agreement. Plaintiff’s
counsel shall advise opposing counsel of the need to obtain a copy of
the Court’s Case Management Procedures.
The Court recognizes that in some cases the scheduled status
conference will take place before defendants have filed a responsive
pleading to the complaint. However, the Court expects all defendants
who have been served to participate in this process regardless of
whether they have filed a responsive pleading.
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| Scheduling
and Settlement Conferences |
After the initial status and scheduling conference, the court may hold
scheduling and settlement conferences.
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| Motion
Practice |
Scheduling Motions
The court hears motions Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at
9:30 a.m.
All motions, stipulated or not, must be noticed for
hearing. All motions must be filed
at least two working days prior to the date of the hearing of the
motion pursuant to Local
Rule 78.1. Counsel may contact chambers or the Courtroom Deputy (Stephen
C. Tokoph 312-435-5689) after 4:00 p.m. on the afternoon before
the scheduled motion day to see if an appearance is necessary. Counsel
may also check the Call Sheet
posted on this Court's web page. Unless the Court has told a party it
need not appear, knowledgeable counsel is expected to be present
whether or not the motion is agreed. ALL electronic filings must include a courtesy hard copy to the chambers of Judge Kocoras on the date of filing.
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| Discovery
Motions |
Meeting Requirement
The court encourages the parties to work out discovery disputes and
discourages the filing of discovery motions. With regard to the filing
of motions for discovery and production of documents under Fed.
R. Civ. P. 26-37, the court will not hear or consider any
discovery motions unless the parties have complied with Local
Rule 37.2
In any motion for discovery or production of documents, the movant
shall state when and how the movant complied with Local
Rule 37.2. The court will generally rule on these motions
after oral argument at the motion call and without briefing.
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| Consent
to Proceed before a Magistrate Judge |
Some litigants are unaware of the efficiencies to be gained by having
their cases tried before United States Magistrate Judges. The court
encourages counsel to inform their clients of this option, and to
discuss it with opposing counsel. Magistrate
Judge Consent Form
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| Bankruptcy
Appeals |
Briefs on appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court must be filed
within 15 days of the entry of judgment by the Bankruptcy Court. Any
motions to extend time must be filed during the 15-day period. Briefs
are limited to 15 pages each.
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| Trials
and Final Pretrial Orders |
Trial dates are firm. Any motion to reset a trial date shall be
made at the earliest possible time.
All exhibits are to be marked and numbered before trial and copies
are to be furnished to opposing counsel. Two (2) copies of exhibit
lists and two (2) copies of witness lists shall be provided to the
Court on the morning of the first day of trial.
Counsel are to meet before trial for the purpose of designated
agreed jury instructions.
If a case has been settled, counsel are directed to immediately
inform the Courtroom Deputy. Failure to inform the Courtroom Deputy of
a settlement will result in the assessment of jury costs against all
parties. (Local Rule 54.2)
BASIC JUROR BIOGRAPHICAL QUESTIONS
FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER
PRETRIAL MEMORANDUM - PERSONAL INJURY
PRETRIAL MEMORANDUM - EMPLOYMENT
DISCRIMINATION
COURT’S JURY INSTRUCTIONS
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| Contact
With Jurors |
After the conclusion of any trial, civil or criminal, no party or
attorney shall communicate or attempt to communicate with any juror
without prior authorization of the Court.
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| Court
Schedule |
| Office Hours: |
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Status Call: |
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:30 AM |
| Motion Call: |
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:30 AM |
| Pretrial Conferences: |
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10:00 AM |
| Change of Plea: |
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:45 AM |
| Sentencings: |
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:45 AM |
| Trial: |
Monday through Thursday
10:30 AM - 12:45 PM
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
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| Submitting a Proposed Order, Agreed or Otherwise, for Electronic Entry by the Judge |
Proposed Orders are technically not to be "filed." Rather, they are to be "submitted" to the judge to consider, to modify, if appropriate, and to enter electronically. For example, proposed orders such as stipulated protective orders require court approval before actually being given full effect. To prevent confusion, such proposed orders must be attached to an e-mail sent to the e-mail address of the assigned judge,
Proposed_Order_Kocoras@ilnd.uscourts.gov
The subject line of the e-mail must include the case number and name, the docket number of the corresponding motion, if any, and the title of the order that is proposed as indicated on the Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF). All such documents must be submitted to the court in a format compatible with WordPerfect, which is a "Save As" option in most word processing software. Such proposed orders should also be served on all parties.
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