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United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

7th Circuit Chicago, Illinois
Official Court Website

About This Court

Located in Chicago, the Northern District of Illinois is one of the busiest federal trial courts in the United States. It covers 18 counties in the northeastern portion of Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area, and sits within the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

The court is known for its complex commercial litigation, significant criminal dockets involving organized crime and public corruption, and high-profile civil rights matters. Chicago's status as a major financial and commercial hub contributes to a substantial volume of securities, antitrust, and bankruptcy-related proceedings.

The district maintains an Eastern Division based in Chicago and a Western Division based in Rockford, each handling matters arising from counties within their respective geographic areas.

Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois.

Divisions

Eastern Division (Chicago), Western Division (Rockford)

Caseload

The Northern District of Illinois carries one of the largest federal caseloads in the country, with a strong concentration of complex commercial disputes, federal criminal prosecutions, and civil rights litigation. Public corruption cases have historically been a notable feature of the court's criminal docket.

Bar Admission

Attorneys must be admitted to the general bar of the Northern District of Illinois, which requires current membership in good standing with the Illinois bar or another state bar, along with compliance with the court's local rules governing admission. Attorneys not admitted in Illinois may seek admission under the court's local rules for out-of-state practitioners.

Clerk's Office

219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604

(312) 435-5670

Active Judges 38

Name Appointed By Confirmed Law School
Georgia Alexakis Joseph R. Biden 2024 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
Jorge Alonso Barack Obama 2014 George Washington University Law School
Marvin Aspen Jimmy Carter 1979 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
John Blakey Barack Obama 2014 Notre Dame Law School
Elaine Bucklo William J. Clinton 1994 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
Edmond Chang Barack Obama 2010 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
Sharon Coleman Barack Obama 2010 Washington University School of Law
Suzanne Conlon Ronald Reagan 1988 Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Jeffrey Cummings Joseph R. Biden 2023 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
Jeremy Daniel Joseph R. Biden 2023 Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Robert Dow George W. Bush 2007 Harvard Law School
Thomas Durkin Barack Obama 2012 DePaul University College of Law
Sara Ellis Barack Obama 2013 Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Robert Gettleman William J. Clinton 1994 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
Joan Gottschall William J. Clinton 1996 Stanford Law School
Ronald Guzman William J. Clinton 1999 New York University School of Law
Sunil Harjani Joseph R. Biden 2024 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
LaShonda Hunt Joseph R. Biden 2023 University of Michigan Law School
Lindsay Jenkins Joseph R. Biden 2023 Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Iain Johnston Donald J. Trump 2020 John Marshall Law School (now University of Illinois Chicago School of Law)
Frederick Kapala George W. Bush 2007 University of Illinois College of Law
Virginia Kendall George W. Bush 2005 Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Matthew Kennelly William J. Clinton 1999 Harvard Law School
John Kness Donald J. Trump 2020 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
Charles Kocoras Jimmy Carter 1980 DePaul University College of Law
Joan Lefkow William J. Clinton 2000 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
George Marovich Ronald Reagan 1988 University of Illinois College of Law
Charles Norgle Ronald Reagan 1984 John Marshall Law School (now University of Illinois Chicago School of Law)
Martha Pacold Donald J. Trump 2019 University of Chicago Law School
Rebecca Pallmeyer William J. Clinton 1998 University of Chicago Law School
April Perry Joseph R. Biden 2024 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
Philip Reinhard George H.W. Bush 1992 University of Illinois College of Law
Mary Rowland Donald J. Trump 2019 University of Chicago Law School
Steven Seeger Donald J. Trump 2019 University of Michigan Law School
Manish Shah Barack Obama 2014 University of Chicago Law School
John Tharp Barack Obama 2012 Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law)
Franklin Valderrama Donald J. Trump 2020 DePaul University College of Law
Andrea Wood Barack Obama 2013 Yale Law School

Local Rules

143 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.

Civil Rules 82

Rule Title
LR10.1 Responsive Pleadings
LR16.1 Standing Order Establishing Pretrial Procedure
LR16.1.1 Pretrial Procedures
LR16.2 Pretrial Conferences and Status Hearings
LR16.3 Voluntary Mediation Program
LR16.4 Scheduling in Social Security Cases
LR17.1 Actions By or On Behalf of Infants or Incompetents
LR24.1 Notice of Claims of Unconstitutionality
LR26.1 Scheduling Conference
LR26.2 Sealed Documents
LR26.3 Discovery Materials Offered in Evidence as Exhibit
LR26.4 Testimony for Use in Foreign Tribunals
LR27.1 Depositions: Fees for Attorneys Appointed to Represent Absent Party
LR 3.1 Designation Sheet
LR 3.2 Notification as to Affiliates
LR 3.3 Payment of Fees in Advance, In Forma Pauperis Matters, Sanctions
LR 33.1 Interrogatories, Form of Answer, Objections
LR 37.1 Contempts
LR 37.2 Motion for Discovery and Production
LR 4 Service in In Forma Pauperis Cases
LR 40.1 Assignment of Cases: General
LR 40.2 Assignment Procedures
LR 40.3 Direct Assignment of Cases
LR 40.3.1 Assignments Involving Bankruptcy
LR 40.4 Related Cases, Reassignment of Cases as Related
LR 40.5 Remands, Procedures for Following Appeals
LR 41.1 Dismissal for Want of Prosecution or By Default
LR 45.1 Attaching a Note to the Subpoena Permitted
LR 47.1 Juries
LR 48.1 Contact with Jurors
LR 5.1 Place of Filing, Division
LR 5.2 Electronic and Paper Documents Filed
LR 5.3 Motions: Review of Judge's Procedures and Notice of Motions and Objections
LR 53.1 Masters
LR 5.4 Motions: Filing Notice & Motion
LR 54.1 Taxation of Costs
LR 54.2 Jury Costs for Unused Panels
LR 54.3 Attorney's Fees and Related Non-taxable Expenses
LR 54.4 Judgment of Foreclosure
LR 54.5 Stipulation Regarding Payment of Fees and Costs Not Prepaid
LR 5.5 Proof of Service
LR 5.6 Filing Documents by Non-parties
LR 56.1 Motions for Summary Judgment
LR 56.2 Notice to Unrepresented Litigants Opposing Summary Judgment
LR 5.7 Filing Cases Under Seal
LR 5.8 Filing Materials Under Seal
LR 5.8.1 Highly Sensitive Material
LR 58.1 Satisfaction of Judgment
LR 5.9 Service by Electronic Means
LR 62.1 Supersedeas Bond
LR 65.1 Sureties on Bonds
LR 65.1.1 Notice of Motion to Enforce Liability of Supersedeas Bond
LR 65.2 Approval of Bonds by the Clerk
LR 65.3 Security for Costs
LR 66.1 Receivers; Administration of Estates
LR 67.1 Investment of Funds Deposited With Clerk
LR 69.1 Notice of Sale
LR 7.1 Briefs: Page Limit
LR 72.1 Designated Magistrate Judges: Referrals
LR 73.1 Magistrate Judges: Reassignment on Consent
LR 78.1 Motions: Filing in Advance of Hearing
LR 78.2 Motions: Denial for Failure to Prosecute
LR 78.3 Motions: Briefing Schedules, Oral Arguments, Failure to File Brief
LR 78.4 Motions: Copies of Evidentiary Matter to be Served
LR 78.5 Motions: Request for Decision; Request for Status Report
LR 79.1 Records of the Court
LR 79.1.1 Digital Media Exhibits
LR 79.2 Redemption from Judicial Sales
LR 80 International Arbitration Cases
LR 8.1 Social Security Cases: Notice of Social Security Number
LR 81.1 Complaints Under the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. §1983, by Persons in Custody
LR 81.2 Removals, Remands of Removals
LR 81.3 Habeas Corpus Proceedings by Persons in Custody
LR 81.4 Habeas Corpus Proceedings in Deportation Cases
LR 9.1 Three Judge Cases
LRSupA.1 Local Admiralty Rules, Application of Local Civil Rules
LRSupB.1 Attachments & Garnishments: Special Provisions
LRSupC.1 Actions in Rem: Special Provisions
LRSupE.1 Actions in Rem and Quasi in Rem: General Provisions
LRSupE.2 Appraisal
LRSupE.3 Safekeeping of Vessels; Movement Within Port
LRSupE.4 Judicial Sale

Criminal Rules 27

Rule Title
LCR 10.1 Arraignments
LCR 1.1 Adoption of Rules
LCR 11.1 Pleas by Corporate Defendants
LCR 1.2 Applicability of Local Rules
LCR 12.1 Pretrial Motions
LCR 16.1 Pretrial Discovery and Inspection
LCR 31.1 Contact With Jurors
LCR 32.1 Presentence Investigations
LCR 32.1.1 Petitions & Reports Relating to Modification of Terms of Probation or Supervised Release
LCR 32.3 Confidentiality of Records Relating to Presentence Investigation Reports and Probation Supervision
LCR 41 Search Warrants
LCR 44.1 Interim CJA Payments
LCR 46.1 Bail Bonds
LCR 46.2 Pretrial Services Agency
LCR 46.3 Notifying Pretrial Services Agency of Arrest and Filing of Case
LCR 46.4 Confidentiality of Pretrial Services Information and Reports
LCR 47.1 Motions
LCR 50.1 Related Cases: Reassignment of Cases as Related
LCR 50.2 Direct Assignments: Criminal
LCR 50.3 Magistrate Judges: Assignments and Referrals
LCR 50.4 Magistrate Judges: Reviews and Appeals
LCR 5.1 Duty Magistrate Judge
LCR 57.1 Attorneys: Filing Appearances
LCR 57.2 Release of Information by Courthouse Personnel
LCR 58.1 Petty Offenses; Central Violations Bureau
LCR6.1 Chief Judge to Supervise Grand Jury
LCR6.2 Records of the Grand Juries in the Possession of the Clerk

General Rules 8

Rule Title
LR 77.1 Places of Holding Court
LR 77.2 Emergencies; Emergency Judges
LR 77.3 Clerk to Sign Certain Orders
LR 83.1 Court Facilities: Limitations on Use
LR 83.2 Oath of Master, Commissioner, etc.
LR 83.3 Publication of Advertisements
LR 83.4 Transfers of Cases Under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1404, 1406, 1412
LR 83.5 Confidentiality of Alternative Dispute Resolution Proceedings

Attorney Rules 25

Rule Title
LR 83.10 General Bar
LR 83.11 Trial Bar
LR 83.12 Appearance of Attorneys Generally
LR 83.13 Representation by Supervised Senior Law Students
LR 83.14 Appearance by Attorneys Not Members of the Bar
LR 83.15 Local Counsel: Designation for Service
LR 83.16 Appearance Forms
LR 83.17 Withdrawal, Addition, and Substitution of Counsel
LR 83.18 Transfer to Inactive Status
LR 83.25 Disciplinary Proceedings Generally
LR 83.26 Discipline of Attorneys Disciplined by Other Courts
LR 83.27 Discipline of Convicted Attorneys
LR 83.28 Discipline of Attorneys for Misconduct
LR 83.29 Discipline: Assignment of Investigation Counsel
LR 83.30 Reinstatement
LR 83.31 Duties of the Clerk
LR 83.35 Pro Bono Program
LR 83.36 Assignment Procedures
LR 83.37 Duties & Responsibilities of Assigned Counsel
LR 83.38 Relief from Assignment
LR 83.39 Discharge of Assigned Counsel on Request of Party
LR 83.40 Expenses
LR 83.41 Attorney's Fees
LR 83.50 Rules of Professional Conduct
LR 83.58.5 Jurisdiction

Patent Rules 1

Rule Title
LR 3.4 Notice of Claims Involving Patents or Trademarks

View all local rules →

Other Courts in the 7th Circuit

Central District of Illinois Springfield, Illinois Eastern District of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin Northern District of Indiana South Bend, Indiana Southern District of Illinois East St. Louis, Illinois Southern District of Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana Western District of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin