The court will set a date for submission of a proposed pretrial plan approximately 60 days after filing of the complaint. The parties are expected to confer in person or by phone to complete the Report of Parties' Planning Meeting form for presentation to the court. The Report form may be downloaded from this page or obtained from the clerk’s office.

Report of Parties' Planning Meeting







Sample Planning Report

The court will set a date for submission of a proposed pretrial plan approximately 60 days after filing of the complaint. The parties are expected to confer in person or by phone to complete the Report of Parties' Planning Meeting form for presentation to the court. The Report form may be downloaded from this page or obtained from the clerk’s office.

Report of Parties' Planning Meeting







Sample Planning Report

Until further notice, courtesy copies are no longer required and motions shall not be noticed for presentment.  Parties shall propose a briefing schedule on opposed motions by email to the Courtroom Deputy, Christina Presslak.

The court will entertain requests for oral argument on contested motions, and will be favorably inclined to hear such arguments by newer lawyers.  The Court strongly encourages parties to permit less experienced lawyers to actively participate in the proceedings by presenting argument at motion hearings or examining witnesses at trial.

Until further notice, courtesy copies are no longer required and motions shall not be noticed for presentment.  Parties shall propose a briefing schedule on opposed motions by email to the Courtroom Deputy, Christina Presslak.

The court will entertain requests for oral argument on contested motions, and will be favorably inclined to hear such arguments by newer lawyers.  The Court strongly encourages parties to permit less experienced lawyers to actively participate in the proceedings by presenting argument at motion hearings or examining witnesses at trial.

Courtesy copies are no longer required, unless specifically requested in a particular case. Courtesy copies are no longer required, unless specifically requested in a particular case.

The court encourages the parties to work out discovery disputes and discourages the filing of discovery motions.

In any motion related to a discovery dispute, the movant shall state when and how the movant complied with Local Rule 37.2. Unless a difficult privilege issue is presented, the court will ordinarily rule from the bench after argument on discovery motions without entertaining briefs.

Parties are reminded that there is no "order" in which discovery must occur, and that one party's failure or inability to respond to discovery requests will not excuse any other party's prompt compliance.

Parties are advised, further, that the court will not sustain an objection that a particular request is "burdensome" without specifics regarding the effort required to comply with the request, and the number of documents likely to be generated by compliance. The court encourages the parties to work out discovery disputes and discourages the filing of discovery motions.

In any motion related to a discovery dispute, the movant shall state when and how the movant complied with Local Rule 37.2. Unless a difficult privilege issue is presented, the court will ordinarily rule from the bench after argument on discovery motions without entertaining briefs.

Parties are reminded that there is no "order" in which discovery must occur, and that one party's failure or inability to respond to discovery requests will not excuse any other party's prompt compliance.

Parties are advised, further, that the court will not sustain an objection that a particular request is "burdensome" without specifics regarding the effort required to comply with the request, and the number of documents likely to be generated by compliance.

Presumption of Public Access to Court Filings

The court will not enter protective orders that by their terms permit the parties to designate material for filing under seal. 

A party seeking to file any document under seal must show good cause in support of a motion for an order sealing that document. Any such motion shall include a brief description of each document that party seeks to file under seal. The party should be prepared to present copies of each document to the court on the day of hearing.

Counsel drafting protective orders are invited to consider adopting language such as this:

The parties agree to redact confidential information contained in any materials filed in court and will, if necessary, present unredacted copies of the confidential materials to the assigned judge for in camera review.

Presumption of Public Access to Court Filings

The court will not enter protective orders that by their terms permit the parties to designate material for filing under seal. 

A party seeking to file any document under seal must show good cause in support of a motion for an order sealing that document. Any such motion shall include a brief description of each document that party seeks to file under seal. The party should be prepared to present copies of each document to the court on the day of hearing.

Counsel drafting protective orders are invited to consider adopting language such as this:

The parties agree to redact confidential information contained in any materials filed in court and will, if necessary, present unredacted copies of the confidential materials to the assigned judge for in camera review.

Upon request of all parties, the court will participate in a settlement conference or refer the case to the designated magistrate judge for such a conference. When Judge Pallmeyer conducts a settlement conference, the parties are expected to convene in the courtroom. Individual clients (and principals of institutional clients) are expected to be present in person. Upon request of all parties, the court will participate in a settlement conference or refer the case to the designated magistrate judge for such a conference. When Judge Pallmeyer conducts a settlement conference, the parties are expected to convene in the courtroom. Individual clients (and principals of institutional clients) are expected to be present in person.

All final pretrial orders are to be filed with the Clerk’s Office with a courtesy copy to the Judge. Courtesy copy should be 3-hole punched, tabbed, and placed in a three-ring binder.

Absent prior leave of court, motions in limine are limited to a total of 15 pages per side, and responses to motions in limine are likewise limited to a total of 15 pages per side. Separate in limine requests and responses may be combined in a single filing. All final pretrial orders are to be filed with the Clerk’s Office with a courtesy copy to the Judge. Courtesy copy should be 3-hole punched, tabbed, and placed in a three-ring binder.

Absent prior leave of court, motions in limine are limited to a total of 15 pages per side, and responses to motions in limine are likewise limited to a total of 15 pages per side. Separate in limine requests and responses may be combined in a single filing.

Parties in civil cases are encouraged to review the Seventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions and use them, if appropriate: http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/home/LEGAL/Jury/index.htm Parties in civil cases are encouraged to review the Seventh Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions and use them, if appropriate: http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/home/LEGAL/Jury/index.htm

Jury Selection Process (PDF format) Jury Selection Process (PDF format)

Proposed Orders are technically not to be "filed." Rather, they are to be "submitted" to the judge to consider, to modify, if appropriate, and to enter electronically. For example, proposed orders such as stipulated protective orders require court approval before actually being given full effect. To prevent confusion, such proposed orders must be attached to an e-mail sent to the e-mail address of the assigned judge, Proposed_Order_Pallmeyer@ilnd.uscourts.gov The subject line of the e-mail must include the case number and name, the docket number of the corresponding motion, if any, and the title of the order that is proposed. All such documents must be submitted to the court in a format compatible with Microsoft Word, which is a "Save As" option in most word processing software. Such proposed orders should also be served on all parties. Proposed Orders are technically not to be "filed." Rather, they are to be "submitted" to the judge to consider, to modify, if appropriate, and to enter electronically. For example, proposed orders such as stipulated protective orders require court approval before actually being given full effect. To prevent confusion, such proposed orders must be attached to an e-mail sent to the e-mail address of the assigned judge, Proposed_Order_Pallmeyer@ilnd.uscourts.gov The subject line of the e-mail must include the case number and name, the docket number of the corresponding motion, if any, and the title of the order that is proposed. All such documents must be submitted to the court in a format compatible with Microsoft Word, which is a "Save As" option in most word processing software. Such proposed orders should also be served on all parties.