PLEASE NOTE: Due to current circumstances in the Northern District of Illinois, Judge Kness’s staff is reporting to the courthouse only intermittently. If you need assistance with a case assigned to Judge Kness, please send an email to the courtroom deputy, Enjoli Fletcher, at enjoli_fletcher@ilnd.uscourts.gov. Until further notice, the only way to contact the Court is by email. Please note that that Ms. Fletcher cannot be reached by telephone at this time.
Until further notice, consistent with the Tenth Amended General Order 20-0012 of the Northern District of Illinois, litigants are neither required nor permitted to notice motions for in-person presentment. If the Court determines that a hearing by electronic or other means is required, Court staff will notify the parties accordingly. Motions should instead be filed on the docket.
The following policy applies to all motions other than motions to dismiss (see the Court's separate Standing Order on motions to dismiss):
Each motion filed on the docket must state whether it is agreed or opposed. If the motion is opposed, counsel are directed to confer on a proposed briefing schedule. Within two business days of the filing of the motion, the moving party must file a separate statement on the docket setting forth a proposed briefing schedule. The moving party may not set forth the proposed briefing schedule in the motion itself, nor may the moving party present the proposed briefing schedule to the Court in an email or other unfiled communication. If the parties propose competing schedules, both positions must be presented in the statement. If, after a good faith effort, the moving party is unable to contact opposing counsel to discuss a proposed briefing schedule, the moving party should file the statement, explain that it was unable to consult with opposing counsel, and briefly describe its efforts to contact opposing counsel. Upon completion of these steps, the Court will either enter a briefing schedule, rule on the motion without briefing, or schedule a hearing. Please note that the Court appreciates the understanding and patience of parties and counsel during this extended interruption of normal Court operations.
