United States District Court - Northern District of Illinois

General Rules

Rules 2.20 to 2.29 Procedures To Be Used In Filing New Cases

Rule 2.22 Procedures For Filing And Assigning Cases

A. Case Presented for Filing During Regular Business Hours

The assignment clerk shall file each new case in the following manner:

(1) Enter the date and time of filing on the cover of the documents initiating the case;

(2) Stamp the appropriate case number on the initiating document, the file jacket, and the face of the top assignment card in the appropriate block of assignment cards;

(3) Stamp the date of filing on the face of the top assignment card in the appropriate block of assignment cards;

(4) Assign the case in accordance with these rules;

(5) Where required by these rules, designate a magistrate; and

(6) Stamp the name of the judge to whom the case is assigned and, where applicable, the name of the designated magistrate on the initiating documents and the file jacket.

The numbering and assignment of a case in any class of cases shall be completed before the process of the next case in that class is begun.

B. Cases Filed Outside of Regular Business Hours

A judge accepting an emergency matter for filing outside of the normal business hours of the Clerk's Office, shall cause the initiating documents to be delivered to the Clerk's Office as early as practicable on the next business day. On receipt of the initiating documents, the assignment clerk shall process the case in the same manner prescribed by part A of this Rule, except for part (1) thereof.

C. Cases Mailed in for Filing

All cases received through the mail for filing shall be filed and assigned in the same manner as prescribed by part A of this Rule. The process of filing and assignment shall be completed on the day of receipt, provided that all necessary initiating documents and filing fees are submitted.

D. Cases Presented for Filing in the Division other than the one in which they are to be Filed for Hearing

A document initiating a case that should be filed in one of the Divisions of this Court may be presented for filing to the assignment clerk of the other Division. In such instances, the person filing the document should clearly indicate that it is to be filed in the other Division. On receipt of such a document, the assignment clerk shall contact the assignment clerk of the other Division and determine the next case number for the class of case involved and the judge to whom the case is to be assigned. The case will be given that case number and assigned to that judge. Following processing the papers will then be forwarded to the proper Divisional office.

E. Order of Filing Criminal Cases Where Two or More Indictments or Informations are Presented for Filing at the Same Time

Where two or more indictments or informations are presented to the assignment clerk for assignment, the order in which they are to be filed and assigned shall be according to their grand jury numbers, the earliest such number being assigned first. Where indictments returned by two or more grand juries are presented for filing at the same time, the indictments of the older grand jury shall be taken first. If two grand juries were impanelled in the same month, the indictments of the special grand jury shall be taken first.