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Illinois Supreme Court Rules — Criminal Procedure – 2026

Articles IV and V of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, covering criminal proceedings in trial courts and traffic, conservation, and ordinance offenses.

Browse all 54 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

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Article IV: Criminal Proceedings — Trial Court | PART A. WAIVERS AND PLEAS Article IV: Criminal Proceedings — Trial Court | PART B. DISCOVERY Article IV: Criminal Proceedings — Trial Court | PART C. TRIALS Article IV: Criminal Proceedings — Trial Court | PART D. POST-CONVICTION PROCEEDINGS Article V: Traffic, Conservation, and Ordinance Offenses | PART A. GENERAL Article V: Traffic, Conservation, and Ordinance Offenses | PART C. FINES, PENALTIES AND COSTS Article V: Traffic, Conservation, and Ordinance Offenses | PART D. REQUIRED COURT APPEARANCES, FORMS AND PROCEDURES Article V: Traffic, Conservation, and Ordinance Offenses | PART E. RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR NON-TRAFFIC/NON-CONSERVATION ORDINANCE Article V: Traffic, Conservation, and Ordinance Offenses | PART F. RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR CIVIL LAW VIOLATIONS

Article IV: Criminal Proceedings — Trial Court | PART A. WAIVERS AND PLEAS

Rule 401 Waiver of Counsel Rule 402 Pleas of Guilty or Stipulations Sufficient to Convict Rule 402A Admissions or Stipulations in Proceedings to Revoke Probation, Conditional Discharge or Supervision Rule 403 Pleas and Waivers by Persons Under 18

Article IV: Criminal Proceedings — Trial Court | PART B. DISCOVERY

Rule 404 Application for Waiver of Court Assessments Rule 411 Applicability of Discovery Rules Rule 412 Disclosure to Accused Rule 413 Disclosure to Prosecution Rule 414 Evidence Depositions Rule 415 Regulation of Discovery Rule 416 Reserved

Article IV: Criminal Proceedings — Trial Court | PART C. TRIALS

Rule 417 DNA Evidence Rule 430 Trial of Incarcerated Defendant Rule 431 Voir Dire Examination Rule 432 Opening Statements Rule 433 Impeachment of Witnesses; Hostile Witnesses Rule 434 Jury Selection Rule 435 Reserved Rule 436 Separation and Sequestration of Jury in Criminal Cases; Admonition by Court Rule 451 Instructions Rule 452 Preparation of Sentencing Orders

Article IV: Criminal Proceedings — Trial Court | PART D. POST-CONVICTION PROCEEDINGS

Rule 455 Filing of Hearing and Trial Exhibits Rule 471 Transcripts for Poor Persons Bringing Post-Conviction Proceedings Rule 472 Correction of Certain Errors in Sentencing

Article V: Traffic, Conservation, and Ordinance Offenses | PART A. GENERAL

Rule 501 Definitions Rule 502 Reserved Rule 503 Reserved Rule 504 Appearance Date

Article V: Traffic, Conservation, and Ordinance Offenses | PART C. FINES, PENALTIES AND COSTS

Rule 505 Notice to Accused Rule 529 Written Pleas of Guilty in Minor Traffic Offenses Rule 530 Written Pleas of Guilty in Conservation Offenses

Article V: Traffic, Conservation, and Ordinance Offenses | PART D. REQUIRED COURT APPEARANCES, FORMS AND PROCEDURES

Rule 531 Written Pleas of Guilty in Overweight and Permit Offenses Rule 551 Traffic and Conservation Offenses for Which a Court Appearance is Required Rule 552 Uniform Tickets—Processing Rule 555 Requirements for Written Plea of Guilty Rule 556 Procedure if Defendant Fails to Appear or Satisfy Charge Rule 557 Preparation of Sentencing Orders

Article V: Traffic, Conservation, and Ordinance Offenses | PART E. RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR NON-TRAFFIC/NON-CONSERVATION ORDINANCE

Rule 558 Correction of Certain Errors in Sentencing Rule 570 Applicability Rule 571 Code of Civil Procedure to Apply Rule 572 Form of Charging Document Rule 573 Service of the Charging Document Rule 574 Opportunity to Settle Rule 575 Appearance of Defendant, Answer; Failure to Appear; Discovery and Pretrial Procedures Rule 576 Right to Counsel Rule 577 Jury Trial Rule 578 Burden of Proof

Article V: Traffic, Conservation, and Ordinance Offenses | PART F. RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR CIVIL LAW VIOLATIONS

Rule 579 Disposition and Appeal Rule 585 Applicability Rule 586 Appearance Date Rule 587 Notice to Accused Rule 588 Fines, Penalties, and Costs on Written Consents to Judgments in Civil Law Violations Rule 589 Uniform Civil Law Citations—Processing Rule 590 Procedure if Defendant Fails to Appear

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Criminal Procedure cover?
These rules govern how criminal cases are handled in Illinois trial courts, including procedures for felonies, misdemeanors, and petty offenses like traffic violations, conservation offenses, and ordinance violations. They cover Articles IV and V of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, spanning 53 rules that address everything from arraignment procedures to guilty pleas and appeals from minor offense cases.
How are these rules different from Illinois civil procedure rules or federal criminal rules?
These rules apply specifically to criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings in Illinois state courts and are separate from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules that govern civil cases. They are also distinct from the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which apply only in federal courts. If you are dealing with a state criminal charge in Illinois, these are the rules that courts and attorneys follow, not the federal counterparts.
Where in these rules can I find procedures for traffic and ordinance offense cases?
Article V of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, which is included in this rule set, addresses traffic, conservation, and ordinance offenses specifically. Those rules set out how minor violation cases move through the court system, including notice requirements and how fines or appearances are handled differently than in more serious criminal matters.