Judge Fuentes will be out of the office from Monday August 31, 2020 through and including Tuesday September 8, 2020.
**IMPORTANT NEW PROCEDURE** In view of the three Amended General Orders issued by the Court during the public health emergency (No. 20-0012), the magistrate judge has adopted revised procedures in which, for now, there are no motion or status calls. Status reports are being requested and submitted in writing. Motions are being decided on the filings. Status or motion hearings will be held only in extraordinary circumstances, and largely by telephone. Further detail on revised procedures is believed to be forthcoming as the Court adapts to a fluid situation. In the meantime, the magistrate judge on May 18, 2020, issued revised standing order for civil cases and for settlement conferences, and parties are encouraged to review the revised standing orders on the Court's website.
Communications with Chambers: For case related matters, the Court strongly prefers email communication with the courtroom deputy, with a copy to opposing counsel. Counsel may jointly contact the courtroom deputy at jenny_jauregui@ilnd.uscourts.gov.
Three Business Day Notice Requirement for Motions: Motions shall be filed by the third business day preceding the date of presentment.
Motions noticed for Tuesdays should be filed the preceding Thursday.
Motions noticed for Wednesdays should be filed the preceding Friday.
Motions noticed for Thursdays should be filed the preceding Monday.
Courtesy Copies: Courtesy copies are not required unless the electronic filing, including exhibits, exceeds 15 pages. Courtesy copies should be delivered to Judge Fuentes' courtroom deputy Jenny Jauregui within 24 hours of the filing. Please do not leave courtesy copies in the drop box in the lobby. Courtesy copies should include the printed CM/ECF header at the top of every page. All electronically filed documents should be made word searchable before being filed on the CM/ECF system.
Telephone Appearances: The Court will consider requests for leave to appear telephonically at routine hearings that will not require substantive argument when counsel has an office outside the Northern District of Illinois. Counsel may request to appear by telephone by sending an email, with a copy to opposing counsel, to Jenny Jauregui at jenny_jauregui@ilnd.uscourts.gov at least one day prior to the hearing. The email must include the case name and number, the date and time of the hearing, the name of the attorney seeking to appear by telephone, the name of the party he or she represents, and a direct telephone number where he or she can be reached when the case is called.
