printing Print

The site you are about to visit contain(s) information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience.

The U.S. District Court of Northern District of Illinois does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information; nor does it control or guarantee the on-going availability, maintenance, or security of these internet sites.

Further, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance or to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.


Proceed


Trial – Civil

  1. Civil. The parties shall comply with Local Rule 16.1(6) and (10) concerning Final Pretrial Orders. Generally, once a trial date has been set, the parties can expect the following deadlines:
    Event Date
    Motions in Limine 6 weeks prior to trial date
    Responses to Motions in Limine 4 weeks prior to trial date
    Final Pretrial Order 4 weeks prior to trial date
    Final Pretrial Conference 2 weeks prior to trial date
    1. Motions in Limine. The parties must meet and confer on all motions in limine prior to filing them. The parties should not file unopposed motions in limine; instead, the parties should describe any unopposed motions in limine in the Final Pretrial Order. All motions in limine should be separately numbered in one filing that shall not exceed fifteen pages (absent prior leave of the Court). Responses should have corresponding numbering as to each motion in limine and the combined response shall not exceed fifteen pages (absent prior leave of the Court).
    2. Jury Instructions. The parties must meet and confer on jury instructions. I intend to use the Seventh Circuit’s pattern jury instructions; and encourage the parties to start there. The parties shall file proposed jury instructions with the final pretrial order. For each proposed instruction that is not a pattern instruction, the parties must identify the legal authority supporting the instruction. The parties shall indicate whether each instruction is agreed or disputed. If disputed, each party shall concisely state the reasons for or against the instruction. I will rule on all disputed jury instructions at the final pretrial conference.
    3. Jury Selection. I typically will seat a twelve-person jury in civil trials. The parties shall meet and confer on questions to be asked of prospective jurors, and submit the proposed questions with the Final Pretrial Order. During jury selection, I will ask those questions of prospective jurors. I will allow limited follow-up questions from counsel. I typically will question prospective jurors in groups of twelve, and will hear and rule on challenges for cause once all questions have been asked of each group of prospective jurors. Any prospective juror may ask to answer sensitive questions at sidebar. Once we have enough prospective jurors to survive peremptory challenges, the parties shall submit their peremptory challenges in writing. Each party will have three peremptory challenges, unless otherwise requested and approved prior to the start of jury selection. In the event parties exercise a peremptory challenge on the same prospective juror, the parties will not receive additional peremptory challenges. The first twelve non-challenged prospective jurors will be seated. If jurors are excused during trial, the remaining jurors will be allowed to deliberate. I will not seat alternate jurors in civil trials.


Note: The court does not control nor can it guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this information. Neither is it intended to endorse any view expressed nor reflect its importance by inclusion in this site.
#CMPID1377