United States District Court - Northern District of Illinois

General Rules

Rule 18

Rule 18. Discovery Materials

A. Definition Of Discovery Materials

For the purpose of this Rule, the term "discovery materials" shall include all interrogatories, requests for production and inspection, requests for admission, and responses and objections thereto made pursuant to Rules 33, 34, and 36 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and notices of depositions issued and depositions taken pursuant to Rules 30 and 31 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

B. Discovery Materials Not To Be Filed Except By Order

(1) Except as provided by this Rule, discovery materials shall not be filed with the court. The party serving the discovery materials or taking the deposition shall retain the original and be custodian of it. The court, on its own motion, on motion of any party, or on application by a nonparty, may require the filing of any discovery materials or may make provisions for a person to obtain a copy at his/her own expense.

(2) Where discovery materials are offered into evidence as an exhibit, the attorney producing them will retain them unless the court orders them deposited with the clerk. Where the court orders them deposited, they will be treated as exhibits subject to the provisions of Rule 33 of the General Rules.

C. Depositions

Whenever a deposition is to be read in court, counsel using the deposition shall provide the court with a copy. Where depositions are to be filed, the clerk, unless otherwise ordered by the court, shall open and file them on receipt.