United States District Court - Northern District of Illinois

General Rules

Rules 3.10 To 3.19 Appearance Of Attorneys

Rule 3.10 Appearance Of Attorneys Generally

A. Who May Appear

Except as provided in General Rules 3.11 and 3.12 and as otherwise provided in this Rule, only members in good standing of the bar of this Court may enter appearance of parties, file pleadings, motions or other documents, sign stipulations or receive payments upon judgments, decrees or orders. Attorneys admitted to the trial bar may appear alone in all matters. Attorneys admitted to the bar, but not to the trial bar, may appear in association with a member of the trial bar in all matters and may appear alone except as otherwise provided by this Rule. The following officers appearing in their official capacity shall be entitled to appear in all matters before the court without admission to the trial bar of this Court: the Attorney General of the United States, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, the attorney general or other highest legal officer of any state, and the state's attorney of any county in the State of Illinois. This exception to membership in the trial bar shall apply to such persons as hold the abovedescribed offices during their terms of office, not to their assistants.

B. Appearance in Testimonial Proceedings

An attorney who is a member of the trial bar may appear alone during testimonial proceedings. An attorney who is a member of the bar, but not of the trial bar, may appear during testimonial proceedings only if accompanied by a member of the trial bar who is serving as his/her advisor. For the purposes of this Rule the definition of the term "testimonial proceedings" is the same as in General Rule 3.00 C (1).

C. Appearances in Criminal Proceedings

An attorney who is a member of the trial bar may appear alone on behalf of a defendant in a criminal proceeding. An attorney who is a member of the bar, but not a member of the trial bar, may (1) appear as lead counsel for a defendant in a criminal proceeding only if accompanied by a member of the trial bar who is serving as his/her advisor and (2) sign pleadings, motions or other documents filed on behalf of the defendant only if they are co-signed by a member of the trial bar.

D. Waiver in Exceptional Cases

A judge may grant permission in a civil or criminal proceeding pending before him/her to an attorney admitted to the bar, but not to the trial bar, to appear alone in any aspect of the matter only upon written request by the client and a showing that the interests of justice are best served by waiving the experience requirements otherwise required by these Rules. Such permission shall apply only to the proceeding in which it was granted. Granting of such permission shall be limited to exceptional circumstances.