As a self-represented litigant in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, you can choose to receive notices of electronic filings via e-mail. By choosing this option, you will receive real-time notices and avoid delays that can occur when receiving postal mail. Currently, lawyers who practice in federal court are required to receive filings and orders via e-mail and I want to offer you the same access to justice.
If you choose to sign up for e-mail notifications, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5(b)2(E), you are waiving your right to receive a paper copy of all documents filed electronically and orders entered by this Court. This means that you will no longer receive mail with hard copies of court filings and orders. You will only receive notices via e-mail as soon as filings are submitted to the Court avoiding potential delays in the U.S. mail. Please note, you should not sign up for this service if you do not frequently check your e-mail.
You are under no obligation to sign up for this service. If you would like to receive notices electronically, you must complete this form and return it to the Clerk’s Office. Please be certain to print your e-mail clearly and sign the form. You are able to submit this form through our online portal at this website. Once you submit the form, you will no longer receive paper copies but will receive notifications immediately. Thank you for considering this feature.