United States District Court - Northern District of Illinois

General Rules

Rules 1.20 To 1.29

Emergency Judges And Matters Relating To The Emergency Judges

Rule 1.20 Emergency Judge

A. Designation of the Emergency Judge

At all times there shall be at least one judge of the Court assigned to act as emergency judge and perform the duties specified by these Rules. The emergency judge shall be a regular active judge of the Court other than the Chief Judge, provided that the Chief Judge may designate a senior judge to serve as emergency judge if such senior judge consents. The judges of the Court shall serve as emergency judge for monthly terms as specified in Section B(2) of this Rule in order of seniority. No judge shall serve a second monthly term until all eligible judges have served a monthly term, nor shall any judge serve a second two week term until all eligible judges have served a two week term. No judge shall serve as emergency judge within the six months immediately after taking the oath of office. The Chief Judge may also serve as Emergency Judge.

B. Terms of Service of Emergency Judge

The term of service of an emergency judge shall start at 12:01 A.M. on Monday and end at midnight on the Sunday immediately preceding the Monday starting the next term of service. The length of service shall be as follows:

(1) During the summer sessions, i.e., the ten week period beginning the first Monday in July, the term shall be two weeks; and

(2) During the balance of the year, the term shall be for one month starting with the first Monday of each month, provided that if the first Monday in September falls in the summer session, the September terms of service shall start with the second Monday in September.