United States District Court - Northern District of Illinois

General Rules

Rule 9

Rule 9. Form Of Papers Filed

A. Paragraphs to be Numbered

Averments in any pleading seeking relief shall be made in numbered paragraphs, each of which shall be limited, as far as practicable, to a statement of a single set of circumstances. Responsive pleadings shall be made in numbered paragraphs each corresponding to and stating a concise summary of the paragraph to which it is directed.

B. Form of Documents

Each document filed shall be flat and unfolded, shall be plainly written, or typed with not less than one and onehalf spaces between lines, or printed or prepared by means of a duplicating process, without erasures or interlineations which materially deface it, on opaque, unglazed, white paper approximately 8 ½ x 11 inches in size and shall be secured on the top of the document. Where the document is typed or printed, (a) the size of the type in the body of the text shall be 12 point and that in footnotes, no less that 11 point and (b) the margins, left-hand, right-hand, top, and bottom, shall each be 1 inch. The first page of each document shall bear the caption, descriptive title and number, if any, of the action or proceedings in which it is filed. The final page of each document shall contain the name, i.d. number, address and telephone number of the attorney in active charge of the case.

C. Interrogatories: Form of Answer; Objections

A party answering interrogatories shall set forth immediately preceding each answer a full statement of the interrogatory to which the party is responding. When objecting to an interrogatory or to the answer to an interrogatory, a party shall set forth the interrogatory or the interrogatories and answer thereto immediately preceding the objection.

D. Briefs and Objections Limited to 15 Pages Without Leave of Court *

Neither a brief in support of or in opposition to any motion nor objections to a report and recommendation of a magistrate judge or special master shall exceed 15 pages without prior approval of the court.

E. Documents Not Complying May be Stricken

Documents which fail to comply with the provisions of this Rule shall be filed subject to being stricken by the court.

F. Attaching Note to Subpoena Permitted

The attaching to a subpoena of a note or other memorandum containing instructions to the witnesses regarding the exact date, time, and place the witness is required to appear, or the delivering of such a note or memorandum of the persons served shall not affect the validity of the subpoena.

G. Judge s Copy of Document

Each person or party filing a pleading, motion, or document, other than a deposition or exhibit, shall file in addition to the record copy a copy for use by the Court.