Until further notice, parties need not notice motions for presentment nor deliver courtesy copies (with the exception of motions for summary judgment and accompanying materials for which tabbed courtesy copies are required). All non-dispositive motions must indicate in the heading of the motion whether it is opposed or agreed/unopposed. On any opposed motion (except for discovery motions), the movant shall e-mail the courtroom deputy at carmen_acevedo@ilnd.uscourts.gov an agreed-upon schedule for the Court’s consideration. 

The Court will entertain requests for oral argument on contested motions, and will be favorably inclined to hear such arguments by newer lawyers.

For motions to extend time, the movant must indicate whether the motion is opposed or unopposed and specify any prior extensions granted.  If the motion is opposed, the movant must include a statement from the opposing party indicating the specific grounds for their objection.

Until further notice, parties need not notice motions for presentment nor deliver courtesy copies (with the exception of motions for summary judgment and accompanying materials for which tabbed courtesy copies are required). All non-dispositive motions must indicate in the heading of the motion whether it is opposed or agreed/unopposed. On any opposed motion (except for discovery motions), the movant shall e-mail the courtroom deputy at carmen_acevedo@ilnd.uscourts.gov an agreed-upon schedule for the Court’s consideration. 

The Court will entertain requests for oral argument on contested motions, and will be favorably inclined to hear such arguments by newer lawyers.

For motions to extend time, the movant must indicate whether the motion is opposed or unopposed and specify any prior extensions granted.  If the motion is opposed, the movant must include a statement from the opposing party indicating the specific grounds for their objection.

Courtesy copies are not required, except for motions for summary judgment and accompanying Local Rule 56.1 statements and exhibits.  Those materials shall be tabbed and bound (e.g., binder or spiral bound).

Courtesy copies are not required, except for motions for summary judgment and accompanying Local Rule 56.1 statements and exhibits.  Those materials shall be tabbed and bound (e.g., binder or spiral bound).

Parties are strongly encouraged to resolve and/or narrow discovery disputes prior to filing a discovery motion.

In any motion related to a discovery dispute, the movant shall state when and how the movant complied with Local Rule 37.2, which requires a “live” discussion in person or by telephone (video conference is another acceptable means of communication). Parties shall report the names of the participants, date, length of time, and place/manner of the required discovery conference.  Unless a difficult privilege issue is presented, the Court will ordinarily rule 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 that the Court will not sustain an objection that a particular request is "burdensome" without specific information from knowledgeable sources regarding the amount and nature of the effort required to comply with the request, and the number of documents likely to be generated by compliance.

Parties are strongly encouraged to resolve and/or narrow discovery disputes prior to filing a discovery motion.

In any motion related to a discovery dispute, the movant shall state when and how the movant complied with Local Rule 37.2, which requires a “live” discussion in person or by telephone (video conference is another acceptable means of communication). Parties shall report the names of the participants, date, length of time, and place/manner of the required discovery conference.  Unless a difficult privilege issue is presented, the Court will ordinarily rule 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 that the Court will not sustain an objection that a particular request is "burdensome" without specific information from knowledgeable sources regarding the amount and nature of the effort required to comply with the request, and the number of documents likely to be generated by compliance.

The Court will promptly schedule an initial status hearing for newly-filed cases.  At least seven days prior to the initial status hearing, the parties must file a joint Initial Status Report, not to exceed five pages in length, following the format in the link below.

Initial Status Report

The Court will promptly schedule an initial status hearing for newly-filed cases.  At least seven days prior to the initial status hearing, the parties must file a joint Initial Status Report, not to exceed five pages in length, following the format in the link below.

Initial Status Report

When preparing a proposed protective/confidentiality order, the parties should refer to Local Rules 5.7, 5.8 and 26.2. Furthermore, the court has adopted a Model Confidentiality Order to facilitate the exchange of discovery materials that are entitled to protection under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26. It can be found at:

http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/_assets/_documents/_forms/_online/26.2%20FORM.pdf .

To the extent that the provisions in a proposed protective order differ from those set forth in the Model Confidentiality Order, the party or parties seeking the entry of the proposed order should indicate, by means of a redlined document in Microsoft Word, the differences between the proposed order and the model order.  Counsel are encouraged to include comments with any such proposed changes explaining why the changes are sought.

Parties seeking entry of a proposed protective (confidentiality) order also must file a motion with the Court seeking that relief unless otherwise directed by the Court.  The motion should attach as exhibits both a redlined proposed order and a clean proposed order so that if the proposed changes are acceptable and appropriate, the Court can enter the clean proposed order. Those exhibits should also be emailed to Proposed_Order_Maldonado@ilnd.uscourts.gov in Microsoft Word format so that the Court may make any necessary edits.  The subject line of the e-mail must include the case number and name.  The Court will determine the appropriateness of any proposed order on a case-by-case basis.

When preparing a proposed protective/confidentiality order, the parties should refer to Local Rules 5.7, 5.8 and 26.2. Furthermore, the court has adopted a Model Confidentiality Order to facilitate the exchange of discovery materials that are entitled to protection under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26. It can be found at:

http://www.ilnd.uscourts.gov/_assets/_documents/_forms/_online/26.2%20FORM.pdf .

To the extent that the provisions in a proposed protective order differ from those set forth in the Model Confidentiality Order, the party or parties seeking the entry of the proposed order should indicate, by means of a redlined document in Microsoft Word, the differences between the proposed order and the model order.  Counsel are encouraged to include comments with any such proposed changes explaining why the changes are sought.

Parties seeking entry of a proposed protective (confidentiality) order also must file a motion with the Court seeking that relief unless otherwise directed by the Court.  The motion should attach as exhibits both a redlined proposed order and a clean proposed order so that if the proposed changes are acceptable and appropriate, the Court can enter the clean proposed order. Those exhibits should also be emailed to Proposed_Order_Maldonado@ilnd.uscourts.gov in Microsoft Word format so that the Court may make any necessary edits.  The subject line of the e-mail must include the case number and name.  The Court will determine the appropriateness of any proposed order on a case-by-case basis.

Meet and Confer Requirement  

With respect to any motions for summary judgment, the Court requires the moving party to advise the opposing party in a short letter (e.g., 2-3 pages) of the basis for the motion (including relevant legal authority). Do not file the letter with the Court. The Court requires the moving party and the opposing party to then meet and confer via telephone, video, or in-person conference, during which time the opposing party should advise the moving party of the specific factual matter(s) or legal authority that it believes would defeat the motion. After this consultation, which is intended to promote efficiency, if the movant still wishes to file the motion, the movant should do so and the Court will rule on the motion. Any motion must state with specificity what the parties did to comply with the meet and confer requirement.

If the non-moving party is a pro se litigant, the moving party must provide the pro se litigant with the notice provided in Local Rule 56.2 at the time it provides the non-moving party with its letter outlining the basis for the summary judgment motion. 

Motions for Summary Judgment

Motions for summary judgment and responses must strictly comply with Local Rules 56.1, as well as the requirements outlined herein.

Summary Judgment Deposition Testimony Evidence

Parties submitting deposition testimony in support of or in opposition to summary judgment motions are to provide a cover sheet to the deposition stating the name of the witness, the date of the deposition, and the deponent’s title and/or role in, or relationship to, the pending litigation (e.g., "John Doe, plaintiff's human resources manager" or "Jane Doe, plaintiff's union representative"). Also, parties should not just provide excerpts of deposition testimony, but should provide the Court with the complete deposition transcript for any deposition cited, preferably in the condensed transcript format.

Courtesy copies

Within a week of filing, parties shall deliver to the Court copies of their summary judgment memoranda, Local Rule 56.1 statements, and supporting exhibits organized in binders (three ring or bound) with labeled tabs for the Court’s ease of reference.

Meet and Confer Requirement  

With respect to any motions for summary judgment, the Court requires the moving party to advise the opposing party in a short letter (e.g., 2-3 pages) of the basis for the motion (including relevant legal authority). Do not file the letter with the Court. The Court requires the moving party and the opposing party to then meet and confer via telephone, video, or in-person conference, during which time the opposing party should advise the moving party of the specific factual matter(s) or legal authority that it believes would defeat the motion. After this consultation, which is intended to promote efficiency, if the movant still wishes to file the motion, the movant should do so and the Court will rule on the motion. Any motion must state with specificity what the parties did to comply with the meet and confer requirement.

If the non-moving party is a pro se litigant, the moving party must provide the pro se litigant with the notice provided in Local Rule 56.2 at the time it provides the non-moving party with its letter outlining the basis for the summary judgment motion. 

Motions for Summary Judgment

Motions for summary judgment and responses must strictly comply with Local Rules 56.1, as well as the requirements outlined herein.

Summary Judgment Deposition Testimony Evidence

Parties submitting deposition testimony in support of or in opposition to summary judgment motions are to provide a cover sheet to the deposition stating the name of the witness, the date of the deposition, and the deponent’s title and/or role in, or relationship to, the pending litigation (e.g., "John Doe, plaintiff's human resources manager" or "Jane Doe, plaintiff's union representative"). Also, parties should not just provide excerpts of deposition testimony, but should provide the Court with the complete deposition transcript for any deposition cited, preferably in the condensed transcript format.

Courtesy copies

Within a week of filing, parties shall deliver to the Court copies of their summary judgment memoranda, Local Rule 56.1 statements, and supporting exhibits organized in binders (three ring or bound) with labeled tabs for the Court’s ease of reference.

The Court’s final pretrial order guidelines differ from those in Local Rule 16.1. Parties should consult Judge Maldonado’s requirements. That Standing Order may be obtained from this website or from the courtroom deputy.

Judge Maldonado’s Final Pretrial Order and Pretrial Procedures

The Court’s final pretrial order guidelines differ from those in Local Rule 16.1. Parties should consult Judge Maldonado’s requirements. That Standing Order may be obtained from this website or from the courtroom deputy.

Judge Maldonado’s Final Pretrial Order and Pretrial Procedures

Persons requesting daily copy and/or real-time feed transcripts of a trial or other evidentiary hearing that may reasonably be expected to last more than one day should contact Judge Maldonado’s court reporter, Jennifer Costales, at least five business days prior to the first day of such proceeding so that these services can be scheduled. A deposit may be required. All other transcript requests should be placed using the Court's online transcript order form, which can be found HERE. 

Persons requesting daily copy and/or real-time feed transcripts of a trial or other evidentiary hearing that may reasonably be expected to last more than one day should contact Judge Maldonado’s court reporter, Jennifer Costales, at least five business days prior to the first day of such proceeding so that these services can be scheduled. A deposit may be required. All other transcript requests should be placed using the Court's online transcript order form, which can be found HERE. 

Proposed orders on routine motions, such as motions for extensions of time, are unnecessary. Proposed orders should not be submitted for dispositive motions. Proposed Orders are technically not to be "filed." Rather, they are to be "submitted" by e-mail 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 Proposed_Order_Maldonado@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. Such proposed orders should also be served on all parties.

Proposed orders on routine motions, such as motions for extensions of time, are unnecessary. Proposed orders should not be submitted for dispositive motions. Proposed Orders are technically not to be "filed." Rather, they are to be "submitted" by e-mail 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 Proposed_Order_Maldonado@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. Such proposed orders should also be served on all parties.

Motions to strike are strongly disfavored.  See generally Custom Vehicles, Inc. v. Forest River, Inc., 464 F.3d 725, 727 (7th Cir. 2006).  They serve primarily as unauthorized vehicles for parties to expand the page limits for memoranda in support of their motions.  Motions to strike almost always would require the Court to decide significant issues (and, indeed, the underlying motion) on the merits and would multiply the briefs (because the other side should be allowed to respond).  Id. at 727. 

The Court is capable of discerning if a reply brief raises a new argument, or if a litigant has failed to comply with the requirements of Local Rule 56.1 (governing summary judgment).  Such errors do not require supplemental motion practice.  

If a party believes that the other side’s brief contains inaccurate facts or that the other side’s Local Rule 56.1 statement contains an unsupported assertion, then the complaining party should make that argument in the response or reply brief, or in the responsive 56.1 statement.  

Motions to strike that are not within the limited boundaries established by Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f) may be summarily denied.

Motions to strike are strongly disfavored.  See generally Custom Vehicles, Inc. v. Forest River, Inc., 464 F.3d 725, 727 (7th Cir. 2006).  They serve primarily as unauthorized vehicles for parties to expand the page limits for memoranda in support of their motions.  Motions to strike almost always would require the Court to decide significant issues (and, indeed, the underlying motion) on the merits and would multiply the briefs (because the other side should be allowed to respond).  Id. at 727. 

The Court is capable of discerning if a reply brief raises a new argument, or if a litigant has failed to comply with the requirements of Local Rule 56.1 (governing summary judgment).  Such errors do not require supplemental motion practice.  

If a party believes that the other side’s brief contains inaccurate facts or that the other side’s Local Rule 56.1 statement contains an unsupported assertion, then the complaining party should make that argument in the response or reply brief, or in the responsive 56.1 statement.  

Motions to strike that are not within the limited boundaries established by Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f) may be summarily denied.

Every case has an assigned Magistrate Judge, and in civil cases the parties may consent to have the assigned Magistrate Judge try the case. In many cases, consent to refer the entire case to the Magistrate Judge may offer significant efficiencies and greater certainty in scheduling the trial. The Court encourages parties to consider this option. All counsel in civil cases should inform their clients of this option and discuss it with opposing counsel.

Magistrate Judge Consent Form

Every case has an assigned Magistrate Judge, and in civil cases the parties may consent to have the assigned Magistrate Judge try the case. In many cases, consent to refer the entire case to the Magistrate Judge may offer significant efficiencies and greater certainty in scheduling the trial. The Court encourages parties to consider this option. All counsel in civil cases should inform their clients of this option and discuss it with opposing counsel.

Magistrate Judge Consent Form

Emergency matters must be of such a nature that a delay in hearing them would cause serious harm.  Requests to set a hearing on an emergency motion shall be made to the courtroom deputy with as much advance notice as possible.  All reasonable efforts must be made to give actual notice to opposing counsel.

Emergency matters must be of such a nature that a delay in hearing them would cause serious harm.  Requests to set a hearing on an emergency motion shall be made to the courtroom deputy with as much advance notice as possible.  All reasonable efforts must be made to give actual notice to opposing counsel.

Initial Schedule for new criminal matters:

All arraignments, bond hearings and detention hearings will be set before Judge Maldonado and will generally be scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

The Rule 16.1(a) conference must be held within 7 days of the date of arraignment. An initial status hearing will be set within 30 days after the date of arraignment, at which time the Court will set a schedule for the filing and briefing of pretrial motions.

Change of Plea:

Counsel is requested to contact the judge’s courtroom deputy at least two days in advance of a change of plea hearing if the plea is not going forward. In addition, a draft copy of the proposed plea agreement should be delivered to the Courtroom Deputy, Room 1720, at least two days in advance of the date of the hearing. 

Indicted criminal cases for which a prior detention hearing was held before a magistrate judge:

Prior to the arraignment, the Government and the Pretrial Services Office shall provide the Court with a copy of the complaint, any prior pretrial service reports, and any bond documents that have previously been entered in the matter.

Initial Schedule for new criminal matters:

All arraignments, bond hearings and detention hearings will be set before Judge Maldonado and will generally be scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

The Rule 16.1(a) conference must be held within 7 days of the date of arraignment. An initial status hearing will be set within 30 days after the date of arraignment, at which time the Court will set a schedule for the filing and briefing of pretrial motions.

Change of Plea:

Counsel is requested to contact the judge’s courtroom deputy at least two days in advance of a change of plea hearing if the plea is not going forward. In addition, a draft copy of the proposed plea agreement should be delivered to the Courtroom Deputy, Room 1720, at least two days in advance of the date of the hearing. 

Indicted criminal cases for which a prior detention hearing was held before a magistrate judge:

Prior to the arraignment, the Government and the Pretrial Services Office shall provide the Court with a copy of the complaint, any prior pretrial service reports, and any bond documents that have previously been entered in the matter.

Please click here to see this Court's Juror Questionnaire Template.

Please click here to see this Court's Juror Questionnaire Template.

Parties should consult Judge Maldonado’s pretrial requirements for criminal cases well in advance of any trial. The Standing Order may be obtained from this website or from the courtroom deputy.

Judge Maldonado’s Final Pretrial Order and Pretrial Procedures for Criminal Cases

Parties should consult Judge Maldonado’s pretrial requirements for criminal cases well in advance of any trial. The Standing Order may be obtained from this website or from the courtroom deputy.

Judge Maldonado’s Final Pretrial Order and Pretrial Procedures for Criminal Cases