Illinois Court Rules (2026)
We publish ten Illinois court rule sets totaling 1982 rules. The Illinois Supreme Court Rules govern civil and criminal procedure, appeals, attorney regulation, professional conduct, family law, and judicial administration. The Illinois Rules of Evidence, adopted in 2011, are modeled on the Federal Rules of Evidence. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules.
Illinois Court Rules & Rules of Practice
How this jurisdiction's courts and rules are organized, written for lawyers new to it: the court system, every ruleset a litigator touches, and how a case actually moves. Last verified October 9, 2026. For informational purposes only.
- Court System Overview
- The Ruleset Map
- Civil Litigation Mechanics
- Criminal Practice Mechanics
- Evidence
- Appellate Mechanics
- Rules of Professional Conduct
- Attorney Discipline & Enforcement
- Newcomer Orientation Notes
- Sources & Verification
Illinois Supreme Court Rules — Civil Procedure
Articles I and II of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, covering general provisions and civil proceedings in trial courts, including pleadings, motions, discovery, pretrial conferences, and judgments.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseIllinois Code of Civil Procedure
The statute that governs civil litigation in Illinois, 1,016 sections in twenty-three Articles. It is where much of what a practitioner needs actually lives, the Supreme Court Rules notwithstanding: section 2-615 is the motion attacking the pleadings, section 2-619 the motion for involuntary dismissal on the grounds it lists, section 2-619.1 the combined motion, and section 2-1401 the petition for relief from a judgment more than thirty days old. Article II is civil practice from commencement through pleading, parties, process, discovery sanctions, trial and post-trial motions; Article IX covers forcible entry and detainer, Article XII judgments and enforcement, Article XIII limitations, and Article XV mortgage foreclosure. Repealed sections are published showing the public act that repealed them, so a citation in an older opinion still resolves.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseIllinois Rules of Professional Conduct
Article VIII of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, adopting the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct of 2010, governing lawyer ethics, client relationships, conflicts of interest, and professional responsibilities.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseIllinois Supreme Court Rules — Appellate Procedure
Articles III and VI of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, covering civil and criminal appeals, including appellate jurisdiction, briefing, oral argument, and post-conviction proceedings.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseIllinois Rules of Evidence
The Illinois Rules of Evidence, adopted in 2011 and modeled on the Federal Rules of Evidence, governing the admissibility of evidence in Illinois courts, including relevance, privileges, witnesses, expert testimony, hearsay, and authentication.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseIllinois Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963
The statute that governs criminal proceedings in Illinois, 425 sections in thirty-seven Articles. Article 103 states the rights of the accused, and section 103-5 is the speedy trial term — 120 days in custody, 160 days on bail — that so much Illinois criminal practice turns on. Article 107 covers arrest, Article 108 search and seizure, Article 109 the preliminary examination, Article 111 the charge, Article 114 pretrial motions including the motion to suppress, and Article 115 trial. Article 122 is the Post-Conviction Hearing Act, the route by which a prisoner asserts a substantial denial of constitutional rights, with section 122-1 its petition and limitations. Repealed sections are published showing the public act that repealed them.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseIllinois Supreme Court Rules — Attorney Regulation
Article VII of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, covering attorney admission to the bar, registration, continuing legal education, and attorney discipline proceedings.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseIllinois Supreme Court Rules — Criminal Procedure
Articles IV and V of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, covering criminal proceedings in trial courts and traffic, conservation, and ordinance offenses.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseIllinois Supreme Court Rules — Judicial Conduct
Articles X and XI of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, covering the Access to Justice Commission and the Code of Judicial Conduct of 2023.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseIllinois Supreme Court Rules — Family Law
Article IX of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, covering allocation of parental responsibilities, relocation proceedings, and child custody matters.
Updated 2026 Edition
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