General Orders of the Cook County Circuit Court

The Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall have general administrative supervision of the Domestic Relations Division including the marriage and family counseling service.

[Dated October 24, 1986.]

The personnel of Family Mediation Services shall perform non-judicial duties assigned to them by the presiding judge of the Domestic Relations Division.

[Dated April 28, 2014.]

Each case filed in the Domestic Relations Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be assigned by the Clerk of the Circuit Court to a calendar by random electronic process as hereinafter provided.

a. The Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division shall assign each judge of the Division to a team and to a calendar within each team.

(i) Each Preliminary Judge shall be assigned to a lettered calendar.

(ii) Each Trial Judge shall be assigned to a numbered calendar.

b. No judge shall be reassigned except by written order of the Presiding Judge memorializing the reasons therefor.

a. When the complaint or other paper commencing an action in the Domestic Relations Division is presented for filing, the Clerk of the Court shall proceed in the below specified sequence:

(i) Immediately date and time stamp the documents;

(ii) Affix the next sequential case number to the papers as provided in General Order 6.2(a) of the Circuit Court of Cook County;

(iii) Accept and record the filing fee;

(iv) Enter the names of the parties and the case number into the electronic data processing equipment and by random electronic process, draw the letter of the calendar to which the case is assigned from the appropriate preliminary calendar data bank;

(v) The letter or number of the calendar to which the case is assigned, the names of the parties and the case number shall appear on the cathode ray tube at the assignment counter and shall be printed on a three-part form;

(vi) Separate the three-part, printed form provided by the equipment, place the top sheet in the file, give the second sheet to the attorney and retain the third sheet for delivery to the judge assigned to hear the case; and

(vii) Place upon the prenumbered file jacket and the first pleading filed the electronically assigned calendar letter or number.

b. The case number, names of parties, and calendar assignment shall be retained in the data memory banks of the electronic data processing equipment.

c. Corrections in data entries.

(i) Corrections in data entries may be made by the person assigned by the Clerk to operate Domestic Relations Division assignment terminal only after the following procedures have been complied with:

(a) the operator shall fill out the printed form giving the incorrect and proposed correct entry,

(b) the operator shall sign the form,

(c) the supervisor of the Domestic Relations Division section of the clerk's office shall certify that the incorrect and proposed correct information is proper.

(ii) The corrected entry may then be made.

(iii) All completed correction forms shall be delivered to the Presiding Judge.

(iv) All information regarding a correction including the incorrect and correct entries shall be retained in the data memory banks of the electronic data processing equipment.

a. Whenever a preliminary judge assigned to the Domestic Relations Division, either on his own motion or upon motion of the parties, grants a change of venue, the case shall be reassigned to the Presiding Judge of the Division, or his designate, who shall order the Clerk to draw by random electronic process from the appropriate preliminary bank a new calendar letter.

(i) The electronic data processing equipment shall automatically exclude the calendar number or letter of any judge to whom the case has previously been assigned.

(ii) The excluded calendar or calendars shall appear on the three-part printed form in addition to the information provided in 3.2 a (v) above.

[Dated, effective July 1, 1988.]

a. The Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division shall designate another judge of the Division to hear matters in the absence of the regularly assigned judge.

[Dated October 24, 1986.]

a. A motion to consolidate cases pending in the Domestic Relations Division shall be heard by the Presiding Judge of the Division or his designate.

(i) Cases consolidated pursuant to subparagraph (a) above shall be assigned to the calendar to which the case with the lowest docket number was assigned.

b. A motion to consolidate a case pending in the Domestic Relations Division with a case pending in any other Division or District of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall be heard pursuant to General Order 12 of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

[Dated, effective July 1, 1988.]

a. When an action is transferred to the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division pursuant to General Order 1-3 of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Presiding Judge, or his designate, shall order the Clerk to draw from the appropriate category bank a letter of a calendar to which the transferred case shall be electronically assigned.

[Dated, effective July 1, 1988.]

a. At any time when the electronic data processing equipment operated by the Clerk is not in operation, emergency matters shall be heard by a judge selected by the Presiding Judge, or his designate, to hear those matters.

[Dated, effective October 24, 1986.]

b. Cases heard by any judge designated to hear emergency matters shall be electronically assigned to a calendar the next business day as provided in Section 3.2 above.

[Dated, effective July 1, 1988.]

a. Judges assigned suburban Domestic Relations calendars are designated Individual Calendar Judges and shall hear all aspects of cases assigned to them, including pre-judgment, trial, and post-judgment matters. Court support services authorized by Circuit Court Rule, including, but not limited to psychiatric evaluations, mediation and parenting education, shall be provided as directed by the judge.

b. Domestic Relations Divisions actions may be filed in and transferred to suburban municipal district court locations as designated by the Chief Judge as follows:

(i) Original Domestic Relations cases may be filed at the designated suburban municipal district court locations if at least one of the parties resides within the geographical boundaries of the respective suburban district. Cases so filed shall receive a suburban "D" case number designating the courthouse location by the municipal district number.

(ii) Default prove-ups pending on calendars in the Richard J. Daley Center in which at least one of the parties resides within the geographical boundaries of the suburban district, may be transferred to such suburban municipal district court location for hearing upon motion by the petitioner.

(iii) Uncontested causes pending on calendars in the Richard J. Daley Center in which at least one of the parties resides with the geographical boundaries of the suburban district, may be transferred to such suburban municipal district court location for hearing upon agreement of both parties.

(iv) Contested pre-judgment matters pending on calendars in the Richard J. Daley Center in which both parties reside within the geographical boundaries of the suburban municipal district, may be transferred to such suburban municipal district court location upon agreement of both parties and a finding of good cause by the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division.

(v) Where judgment in a case is entered in the Richard J. Daley Center, post-judgment matters may be transferred to the suburban municipal district court location in which both parties reside, upon agreement by the parties and a finding of good cause by the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division.

c. Domestic Relations Division actions may be transferred from suburban municipal district court locations to the Richard J. Daley Center location as follows:

(i) Pre-judgment matters: Removal of a pre-judgment case filed within a suburban municipal district shall occur when the Respondent files his/her first appearance together with a District Transfer Form, pursuant to Domestic Relations General Order 98-D-2. Cases removed from the suburban municipal district pursuant to this paragraph shall be transferred to the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division for assignment within the Domestic Relations Division in the Richard J. Daley Center. Such a transfer shall not be deemed an exercise of statutory rights for "Substitution of Judge." The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to independent petitions for civil orders of protection arising under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act. If a petition for an order of protection is filed in conjunction with another Domestic Relations proceeding, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply unless the District Transfer Form, objecting to location, is filed more than 48 hours prior to the date set for hearing and the petitioner or petitioner's attorney is notified thereof, consistent with existing court rules.

(ii) Post-judgment matters: Post-judgment matters will remain in the suburban municipal district court location in which judgment was entered unless objected to by one or both of the parties. If neither party resides in the suburban municipal district at the time of filing of the post-judgment matter, either party may have the matter removed from the suburban location upon a finding of good cause by the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division. Cases removed from suburban calendars pursuant to this paragraph shall be transferred to the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division for reassignment within the Domestic Relations Division in the Richard J. Daley Center. Such a transfer shall not be deemed an exercise of statutory rights for "Substitution of Judge". The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to independent petitions for civil orders of protection arising under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.

d. Initial and subsequent pleadings for cases pending in the Richard J. Daley Center may be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Court in any of the suburban municipal districts and will be transmitted by the Clerk to the Richard J. Daley Center. Initial and subsequent pleading for cases pending on a suburban district calendar shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Court in the suburban municipal district where the case is pending or in the Office of the Clerk of the Court in the Richard J. Daley Center who will transmit such pleadings to the appropriate suburban municipal district location.

e. Nothing within this order shall limit either party from the exercise of his/her rights for substitution of judge pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-1001. However, any request granted for substitution of judge from a suburban municipal district calendar judge shall result in a transfer of the case to the Presiding Judge of the Domestic Relations Division for reassignment.

f. The Presiding Judges of those municipal districts in which actions of the Domestic Relations Division are filed and heard shall be deemed supervising judges in the Domestic Relations Divisions for the purpose of facilitating case flow management.

[Effective October 1, 1998.]

The Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Justice Division or any Judge of the Juvenile Justice Division designated by the Presiding Judge shall hear and determine all motions and may enter orders permitting the prosecution of a minor thirteen (13) years of age or over, under the criminal laws in accordance with the provisions of 705 ILCS 405/5-4(3)(a) of the Juvenile Court Act.

[Amended, effective March 1, 1995.]

Notice of all motions in criminal cases shall be served upon the State's Attorney of Cook County at 2600 South California Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

[Dated July 14, 1967.]

(a) The presiding judge of the Criminal Division has general administrative powers within the Division. He requisitions and impanels all grand juries and petit juries; on arraignment he assigns cases to judges sitting in the Criminal Division.

(b) Each presiding judge of the several municipal districts of the Municipal Department has general administrative powers in his district, and assigns cases to judges and magistrates in his district.

[Dated July 14, 1967.]

The clerk shall issue and deliver to the sheriff, summons for the grand jury panel and the supplemental panel, commanding him to summon the persons certified by the Jury Commissioners and requiring them to appear before the presiding judge of the Criminal Division at the time stated in the summons, subject to further order of the presiding judge. If the grand jury panel is not complete the presiding judge shall direct the sheriff to summon additional persons to complete the panel. The sheriff shall serve the summons in the manner provided for serving the regular grand jury panel.

[Dated July 14, 1967.]

(a) A room designated as a Jurors' Assembly Room shall be reserved for the exclusive use of jurors assigned to the Criminal Division.

(b) All jurors must remain in the Jurors' Assembly Room except when assigned to a courtroom.

(c) Only a judge of the Criminal Division or a court official in the performance of his official duties is permitted to enter the Jurors' Assembly Room.

(d) The sheriff shall assign, and properly designate, one or more elevators in the Criminal Courts Building for the exclusive use of judges, jurors and bailiffs in charge of jurors.

(e) No person other than a court official in the performance of his official duties shall discuss with a juror, or in the presence of a juror, any matter relating to jurors or jury service. Every juror must report to a judge any violation of this rule.

(f) The violation of any provision of this rule will be deemed contempt of court.

(g) The sheriff shall display in a conspicuous place in the Jurors' Assembly Room the provisions of this rule.

[Dated July 14, 1967.]

(a) The Chief Judge shall designate a supervisor of jurors.

(b) The supervisor of jurors shall be in charge of summoned jurors. He shall regulate assignments of jurors to the judges and supervise and keep records of their service.

(c) No person summoned to serve as juror may be excused except by the presiding judge.

(d) The Jury Commissioners shall furnish the supervisor of jurors with the jury list and a juror's card containing the number, name and address of each prospective juror. If a prospective juror is excused by the presiding judge, the supervisor of jurors shall stamp or write the word "Excused" on the jury list opposite the name of the juror.

(e) The name of a juror summoned, but not found, is marked "Not Found" opposite his name on the jury list.

(f) If a juror is "Excused" by the presiding judge or "Not Found" his card is returned to the Jury Commissioners.

(g) Each juror shall wear a juror's badge bearing his service number.

(h) All juror's cards shall remain in the custody of the supervisor of jurors. When a juror is assigned the card shall be sent to the trial judge in whose custody it shall remain until the juror returns to the Jurors' Assembly Room. The card shall be returned immediately to the supervisor of jurors.

(i) A judge desiring a jury shall send a bailiff with his request to the supervisor of jurors. The supervisor of jurors shall use a revolvable hopper in which he shall deposit pellets numbered to correspond with the jury service numbers on the cards, and shall draw from the hopper as many pellets as the number of jurors requested. The cards corresponding to the numbers on the pellets drawn shall be given to the bailiff, who shall call the jurors named on the cards. The jurors shall then accompany the bailiff to the courtroom.

(j) Jurors shall be called into the jury box in numerical order beginning with the lowest numbered on odd-numbered days of the month and beginning with the highest number on even-numbered days of the month. After the jury is selected, the judge shall direct the remaining jurors to return to the Jurors' Assembly Room and their cards shall be returned immediately to the supervisor of jurors.

(k) Immediately upon the termination of each day of service of any juror before a trial judge, the minute clerk shall require the juror to sign his name on the card on a line for each day served before that particular judge. The minute clerk signs his own name and stamps the trial judge's name on lines provided therefor on the same card; each juror remaining in the Jurors' Assembly Room any day without assignment to a trial court, shall, before being discharged for the day, sign his name on his card and the supervisor of jurors shall subscribe his name in the space provided therefor.

(l) The supervisor of jurors shall keep uniform records of all assignments of jurors including the judges to whom they were assigned, the date and hour of the assignment and the date and hour that the jurors and cards are returned from the trial judge. Similar records shall be kept by the deputy sheriff assigned to the jury room.

(m) At the conclusion of the service of each juror, the supervisor of jurors shall compute the number of days served and the mileage fee to be paid and shall certify upon the jurors' card the amount due to the juror from the County, and shall prepare a payroll sheet. The juror shall sign his name to the certificate printed upon the card and a voucher showing the amount due for his service.

(n) The supervisor of jurors shall forward the vouchers and payroll sheets to the county comptroller for payment.

(o) The cards of the jurors who have served shall be delivered to the clerk of the Criminal Division and shall be retained as a permanent record regardless of the length of the juror's service.

[Dated July 14, 1967.]

(a) At the direction of the presiding judge, the official court reporters in the Criminal Division shall elect three of their members as a committee. One member of the committee shall be selected as chairman.

(b) At the request of the presiding judge, the chairman shall detail the activities of each reporter.

(c) The committee shall assign reporters to individual court rooms and shall be responsible for adequate court reporting in each court room. The committee shall provide each judge in the Criminal Division with a reporter unless the assigned reporter is excused by the judge.

(d) All shorthand notebooks, stenotapes and other recording devices used by the reporters shall be delivered to the clerk within thirty (30) days after completion of the proceedings, for safekeeping, and shall remain in a vault in the clerk's office. The clerk shall issue a receipt for the notebooks and other records and shall retain a copy of the receipt.

(e) All stenographic notebooks, stenotapes and other records delivered to the clerk shall be retained by him unless otherwise ordered by a judge of the Criminal Division. Notebooks taken from the possession of the clerk shall be returned within thirty (30) days unless otherwise ordered by the judge.

[Dated July 14, 1967.]

(a) All petitions to expunge records of arrest from the official records of the arresting authority shall be in writing and shall be brought before the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division if the case arises in the City of Chicago. If the case arises in any of the five Suburban Districts the petition should be brought before the Presiding Judge of the respective district. If the subject matter of the case is a delinquency petition, the petition to expunge records of arrest should be brought before the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Division.

(b) Notice of the petition shall be served upon the prosecuting authority charged with the duty of prosecuting the case arising out of the incident of arrest.

(c) The petition shall be accompanied by a waiver, in a manner satisfactory to the court, waiving any and all claims the petitioner may have against the arresting officer or officers in the case arising out of the incident of arrest.

(d) The Presiding Judge before whom the record to expunge is brought may, in his discretion, enter an order expunging the record of arrest.

[Amended, effective November 18, 1974.]

In every instance where a defendant is charged with a felony, if it appears at the conclusion of the preliminary hearing that there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed by the defendant, the Judge or Magistrate shall enter an order in substantially the following form:

Finding of probable cause. Defendant held to Grand Jury. Transfer to Presiding Judge, Criminal Division. Defendant to appear in Room 400, 2600 South California Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, at 9:30 a.m., on ______19___ (insert date).

[Dated December 1, 1970.]

The Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division shall preside over the progress of appeals in all felony cases arising from orders or judgments entered in the Criminal Division, the Domestic Violence Division, and all Municipal Districts where the appeal is initiated any time after the filing of the information or indictment;

Whenever a timely notice of appeal from an order or judgment entered in the Criminal Division is filed in open court, the trial judge shall thereafter transfer the case to the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division to a date and time designated by the Presiding Judge for the hearing of "appeal check" cases within forty-nine (49) days of the filing of the notice of appeal;

Whenever a timely notice of appeal from an order or judgement entered in any Municipal District or in the Domestic Violence Division is filed in open court the trial judge shall set the case for hearing on a date and time designated by the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division for the hearing of "appeal check" cases within forty-nine (49) days of the filing of the notice of appeal and shall transfer the case to his Presiding Judge for the purpose of transferring the action to the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division;

Whenever a timely notice of appeal is filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, but not in open court, the Clerk shall set the case for a hearing on a date and time designated by the Presiding Judge for the Criminal Division for the hearing of "appeal check" cases within forty-nine (49) days of the filing of the notice of appeal and shall forthwith bring the case to the Presiding Judge of the District in which the matter was tried for transfer to the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division.

It is further ordered that all pending "appeal check" cases still not docketed in the reviewing court shall be transferred by the trial judge, in the manner as hereinbefore provided, as these "appeal check" cases appear on the court call of the trial judge, to the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division; pending "appeal check" cases transferred to the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division shall be set for a date and time designated for the hearing of "appeal check" cases.

It is further ordered that the second and fourth Friday of each calendar month at 11:00 a.m. are the dates and time the Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division has designated for the hearing of "appeal check" cases.

These procedures do not apply to cases where a defendant seeks only pre-trial or post-trial review of orders regarding bail or the other extraordinary remedy proceedings. However, these procedures do apply to appeals from Chapter 110, Sec. 72, Illinois Revised Statutes [735 ILCS 5/2-1401], post-conviction, and habeas corpus proceedings initiated in the trial courts.

The purpose of these procedures is to centralize and coordinate the progress of all appeals in felony cases after the filing of the information or indictment.

[Amended, effective April 19, 2010.]

A. Municipal District One

When 100 or more persons, including juveniles, are arrested in one incident within the territorial limits of Municipal District One of the Circuit Court of Cook County for acts which constitute violations of the law, such action shall be considered a "multiple arrest" upon the declaration of the Chief Judge or the Chief Judge's designee.

B. Municipal Districts Two through Six

When 100 or more persons, including juveniles, are arrested in one incident within the territorial limits of Municipal Districts Two through Six of the Circuit Court of Cook County for acts which constitute violations of the law, such action shall be considered a "multiple arrest" upon the declaration of the Chief Judge or the Chief Judges's designee.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

A. Municipal District One

Upon declaration of the Chief Judge or the Chief Judge's designee of a multiple arrest within the corporate limits of the City of Chicago, court facilities of Municipal District One shall be made available at 2600 S. California Avenue, Chicago, for the purpose of accepting the filings of complaints and for the setting of bail.

B. Municipal Districts Two through Six

Upon declaration of the Chief Judge or the Chief Judge's designee of a multiple arrest within the territorial limits of any Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County outside the corporate limits of the City of Chicago, court facilities of the Municipal District wherein the arrest occurred shall be made available at a place designated by the Presiding Judge of that District for the purpose of accepting the filings of complaints and for the setting of bail.

C. Juvenile Justice Division

(i) Municipal District One

When juveniles are included in a multiple arrest within the territorial limits of the City of Chicago, court facilities shall be made available at the Juvenile Justice Division, 1100 S. Hamilton Avenue, Chicago, for the purpose of holding detention hearings as provided in the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 as amended.

(ii) Municipal Districts Two through Six

When juveniles are included in a multiple arrest within the territorial limits of any Municipal District outside of the corporate limits of the City of Chicago, court facilities of the Municipal District wherein the arrest occurred shall be made available to the Juvenile Justice Division at a place designated by the Presiding Judge of that Municipal District for the purpose of holding detention hearings as provided in the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 as amended.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

A. When a multiple arrest occurs in any Municipal District, it shall be the duty of the Presiding Judge of the District upon notification:

(i) To designate the courtrooms to be used for accepting the filings of complaints and for the setting of bail;

(ii) To assign judges to adequately staff the courtrooms provided;

(iii) To designate a place or places for the preparation or making of bail bonds and for the taking of security deposits on bail; and

(iv) To notify the following persons and direct them to assign sufficient deputies and assistants to adequately staff the court facilities provided:

(a) The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County,

(b) The Sheriff of Cook County,

(c) The State's Attorney of Cook County,

(d) In Municipal District One, the Corporation Counsel of the City of Chicago; In Municipal Districts Two through Six, the appropriate Municipal prosecuting attorney,

(e) The Public Defender of Cook County,

(f) The Chairman of the Chicago Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Committee,

(g) In Municipal District One, the Supervisor of the Official Court Reporters for Municipal District One; In Municipal Districts Two through Six, the Supervisor of the Official Court Reporters for the District,

(h) The Chief Adult Probation Officer of Cook County, and

(i) The Circuit Court of Cook County Interpreter's Office.

B. When juveniles are included in a multiple arrest in any Municipal District, it shall be the duty of the Presiding Judge of the District, in addition to the foregoing, upon notification:

(i) To designate the courtrooms to be used for the holding of detention hearings as provided in the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 as amended; and

(ii) To notify the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Justice Division who will assign sufficient judges and other personnel to adequately staff the court facilities provided.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

A. Upon arriving at the designated court facility, the judge shall report to the Presiding Judge of the District or the Presiding Judge's designee and receive a court assignment. The judge shall then proceed to the assigned courtroom and commence hearing cases until relieved or otherwise discharged from the assignment.

B. Each judge shall designate a special area in the courtroom for the seating of attorneys and shall specify an appropriate area to be used as a place for conferences between attorneys and their clients.

C. It shall be the duty of each judge to maintain order and decorum in and about the courtroom and to enforce the provisions against prohibited behavior.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

(See Rule 0.5 of the Circuit Court of Cook County)

A. The solicitation of business relating to the furnishing of security deposits for bail or the employment of any attorneys is prohibited;

B. Loitering in or about the rooms or corridors of the courthouses is prohibited. Unapproved group congregating or the causing of a disturbance or nuisance in or near any courthouse or place of holding court in multiple arrest cases is prohibited. Picketing or parading outside of a building housing a court hearing multiple arrest cases is prohibited when such picketing or parading obstructs or impedes the orderly administration of justice;

C. The State's Attorney of Cook County may require any person who violates this order to appear forthwith before any judge of this Court to answer to a charge of contempt;

D. The Sheriff of Cook County and his or her deputies, the Custodian of the courthouse and any peace officer shall enforce this order either by ejecting violators from the courthouse or by causing them to appear before one of the judges of this Court for a hearing and for the imposition of such punishment as the Court may deem proper.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

Persons designated by the Presiding Judge of the District shall be allowed to interview the defendants to obtain sufficient information to advise interested persons of the defendants' arrest and detention.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

Persons designated by the Presiding Judge of the District shall be admitted to all court facilities to observe the proceedings therein.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

In multiple arrest cases, the following procedures should be used whenever practicable:

A. The prosecuting attorney shall file a separate complaint, together with one copy, for each offense with which the defendant is being charged;

B. The Court shall inform the defendant of the charge or charges placed against him or her and shall furnish the defendant a copy of the complaint;

C. When the hearing is resumed, the court shall determine probable cause for further detention pursuant to Gerstein v. Pugh, 420 U.S. 103 (1974);

D. The Court shall advise the defendant of his or her right to counsel;

E. If the defendant is without counsel, the Court shall appoint the Public Defender of Cook County to defend the defendant;

F. If the defendant requests counsel other than the Public Defender of Cook County, the Court shall appoint a member of the Chicago Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Committee to represent the defendant;

G. All attorneys appearing on behalf of a defendant shall file their written appearances with the Court. Appointed counsel other than the Public Defender of Cook County may file a special appearance for the sole purpose of representing the defendant in the setting of bail;

H. The defendant shall have a reasonable opportunity to confer with an attorney before the bail hearing shall commence;

I. For the purpose of setting bail, the court shall consider the facts surrounding the defendant's arrest and the defendant's past criminal acts and conduct, if known;

J. The defendant or the defendant's attorney shall have ample opportunity to advise the Court of all mitigating circumstances and other facts tending to show that the defendant will comply with the conditions of the bail bond;

K. After a full hearing, the Court shall set bail in pursuant to 725 ILCS 5/110-5;

L. When the defendant is charged with an offense punishable by fine only, the amount of bail set by the Court shall not exceed double the amount of maximum penalty;

M. The use of recognizance bonds is encouraged in appropriate cases. The Court may impose reasonable conditions and restrictions to assure the defendant's appearance in Court;

N. After setting bail, the Court shall continue the cause to a date certain returnable to the branch of the Court to which the case would normally be returnable pursuant to the key date of the arresting officer.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

This order is intended to ensure no defendant is held in custody prior to trial solely because the defendant cannot afford to post bail, to ensure fairness and the elimination of unjustifiable  delay in the administration of justice, to facilitate the just determination of every criminal proceeding, and to preserve the public welfare and secure the fundamental human rights of individuals with interests in criminal court cases,

This order is effective as provided below:
1.  This order applies to all rulings on bail pursuant to Article 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 725 ILCS 5/110-1, et seq.,  (Art. 110) including rulings on review of prior bail decisions, on the following schedule:

a. effective September 18, 2017, in all felony cases;

b. effective January 1, 2018, in all cases.

2.  Prior to the initial bail hearing and at such other times as the court may direct, Pretrial Services shall request information  from the defendant regarding the defendant's ability, within 48 hours, to post monetary bail. All information gathered by  Pretrial Services from the defendant regarding the ability to pay monetary bail shall be provided to the court .

3. For all bailable defendants , Pretrial Services shall use a risk-assessment tool approved by the chief judge to assist the court  in establishing reasonable bail for a defendant by assessing the defendant's likelihood of appearing at future court  proceedings or determining if the defendant poses a real and present threat to the physical safety of any person or persons .  Public disclosure of information used with the assessment tool by Pretrial Services to assist the court shall be governed by  the Pretrial Services Act, 725 ILCS 185/0.01, et seq.

4. If the court determines that release on bail is not appropriate, the court shall, in substance, make one or more of the  following findings and state the finding(s), together with sufficient supporting facts, on the record in open court:

a. the defendant will not appear as required , and no condition or combination of conditions of release can reasonably  assure the defendant 's appearance in court ; or

b. the defendant poses a real and present threat to any person or persons , as defined in 725 ILCS 5/ 110-l(d).

Where applicable, the court shall also make a finding that the proof is evident or the presumption great that the defendant  has committed the offense charged.

5. When setting bail, there shall be a presumption that any conditions of release imposed shall be non-monetary in nature, and  the court shall impose the least restrictive conditions or combination of conditions necessary to reasonably assure the  appearance of the defendant for further court proceedings.  Said conditions shall include conditions necessary to ensure the  defendant does not pose a real and present threat to the physical safety of any person. The court shall consider the  defendant's social and economic circumstances when setting conditions of release.

6. Prior to setting or modifying a condition of release that includes monetary bail, the court shall conduct an inquiry into the  defendant's ability to pay monetary bail. Such inquiry shall allow the prosecutor, defense counsel, and the defendant the  opportunity to provide the court with information pertinent to the defendant's ability to pay monetary bail. This information may be provided by proffer, and may include statements by the defendant 's relatives or other persons who are present at  the hearing and have information about the defendant's ability to pay monetary bail. All information shall be admissible if it  is relevant and reliable, regardless of whether it would be admissible under the rules of evidence applicable at criminal trials.

7. When the court determines that monetary bail is a necessary condition of release, the court shall, in substance , make the  following findings and state them, together with sufficient supporting facts, on the record in open court:

a. no other conditions of release, without monetary bail, will reasonably assure the defendant 's appearance in court;

b. the amount of bail is not oppressive, is considerate of the financial ability of the defendant, and the defendant has  the present ability to pay the amount necessary to secure his or her release on bail; and

c. the defendant will comply with the other conditions of release.

8. The procedures required in paragraphs 6 and 7 of this order are not required when the court imposes non-monetary  conditions of release or an obligated amount of cash is a condition of release on recognizance (1-bond).

9. If the court is presented with insufficient information to make a finding regarding the defendant's ability to pay the ordered  amount, it shall so state on the record in open court.

10. Nothing in this order shall limit a court's authority to revoke bail, in accordance with present law, where the defendant has  violated conditions of his or her release on bail.

11. In addition to any other relief available under the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, 725 ILCS 5/ 100-1, et seq. , a person  in custody due to an inability to post monetary bail shall be brought before the court at  the next available court date or 7  calendar days from the date bail was set, whichever is earlier, for a review of the conditions of release pending further court  proceedings.

12. Beginning no later than December  1, 2017, Pretrial Services shall provide reminders to all defendants released on bail in  felony cases of their upcoming court dates, unless the  defendant informs Pretrial Services that he or she does not want to  receive reminders.   Said reminders shall be communicated to the defendant by telephone, Short Message Service (text  messaging), or similar technology.    The defendant may choose to receive or decline to receive reminders, and may inform  Pretrial Services of this choice at either an in-person interview with Pretrial Services or online via Cook County's Web site.  Nothing in this order shall be interpreted to prevent Pretrial Services from reminding defendants of their court  dates by other  means, including, but not limited to, conventional mail, email, and personal contact.  Nothing in this order shall be  interpreted to prevent Pretrial Services from reminding defendants in misdemeanor cases of their court dates by any  appropriate and reliable means.

13. This order shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purpose of relying upon contempt of court proceedings or criminal  sanctions instead of financial loss to assure the appearance of the defendant, that the defendant does not pose a danger to  any person or the community , and that the defendant will comply with all conditions of bond.

14. This order shall be interpreted to supplement Art. 110, and nothing in this order shall be construed to supersede or limit its  provisions.

15. This order shall supersede all conflicting provisions in existing general orders and general administrative orders of the court.  Application of existing orders with conflicting provisions shall be reconciled so as to fully implement the provisions of this  order.

Except as otherwise ordered herein, this order is effective September 18, 2017.

Dated this 17th day of July, 2017.

                                                                     ENTER:

                                                                                     _______________________________________________

                                                                                                            Timothy C. Evans

                                                                                                                  Chief Judge

Comments 

These comments accompany Gen. Ord. Cook Co. Cir. Ct. 18.8A (eff. Sept. 18, 2017) (“order”).  They are not part of the order, but are provided only as a guide to understanding it.

1.  The two effective dates specify that, on January 1, 2018, applicability of the order will no longer be limited to felony cases and will be extended to include cases in which the most serious charge is a misdemeanor.  The order supplements rather than supplants Article 110 (Bail) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

4.  This section recognizes similar provisions of Art. 110, including, but not limited to 725 ILCS 5/110-4, 110/6.1.  The record of the proceeding will provide a readily accessible and objective basis for review of the decision in the circuit court and appeals courts.

5.  This language incorporates and combines similar, though differently worded, provisions of section 2 (eff. Aug. 18, 1995) and a new 5(a-5) (P.A. 100-1, eff. Jan. 1, 2018) of Art. 110, which express the legislature’s preferred standards for setting bail.  These standards are also expressed by the Supreme Court of the United States in Bearden v. Georgia, 461 U.S. 660 (1983).  The effective dates of the order apply to the language in new section 5(a-5).

7.  These provisions are to be read in conjunction with ¶ 4, so that the amount of monetary bail is unrelated to any danger to persons or the community presented by the defendant.  The record of the proceeding will provide a readily accessible and objective basis for review of the decision in the circuit court and appeals courts.

Subsection 7(a) incorporates a standard provided in 725 ILCS 5/110-2.

Subsection 7(b) incorporates standards provided in 725 ILCS 5/110-5(b)(2, 3) and in the new 110(a-5) provided in the Act.  It also includes similar standards endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies, the National Association of Counties, the American Jail Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the American Probation and Parole Association, the Conference of State Court Administrators, and the Conference of Chief Justices.  It is consistent with the decisions in Leonard C. Arnold, Ltd. v. Northern Trust Co., 116 Ill. 2d 157 (1987), and Onewest Bank, FSB v. Markowicz, 2012 IL App (1st) 111187.

8.  If the defendant is to be released based on the recommendation by PTS and other information, and monetary bail will not be a condition of release, the court need not make the inquiry, findings, or record required by ¶¶ 4, 6, and 7.  The “obligated amount of cash” refers to a condition of release requiring the defendant to pay a specified amount of cash only if and when the court finds the defendant to have violated the terms and conditions of release and orders the defendant to pay the specified amount.

9.  The court may also state the nature or a specific description of any further information on which a modified decision as to the defendant’s ability to pay the ordered amount would be based.

It is important to note that the order is not intended to abrogate or supersede the Constitution of the State of Illinois, any current statute, or any court decision. The court sought to avoid, in all instances, conflicting with or affecting the validity of any existing statute promulgated by the Illinois legislature, including the parts of Illinois Public Act 100-1 scheduled to take effect January 1, 2018.  Similarly, the order is not intended, in any way, to limit or infringe the inherent authority of the judiciary, as it relates to bail, set forth in People ex rel. Hemingway v. Elrod, 60 Ill. 2d 74 (1975).

The order is not intended to preclude the Illinois legislature from acting in the future with respect to the law of bail in a manner that will not conflict with the Constitutions of the State of Illinois or of the United States. 

July 17, 2017

The court having received insufficient funding from the county to provide sufficient staff to effectively and fairly implement the court's General Order No. 18.8A(1)(b), enforcement of sections 2, 3, and 12 of said order, to the extent those provisions apply to misdemeanors, is hereby suspended until further order of the court. Nothing in this order shall be interpreted to prevent Pretrial Services from reminding defendants in misdemeanor cases of their court dates by any appropriate and reliable means.

Dated this 29th day of December, 2017.

                                                            ENTER:

                                                                              _______________________________________________

                                                                                                               Timothy C. Evans

                                                                                                                 Chief Judge

A. If the defendant is to be admitted to bail on the defendant's own recognizance or if the defendant is able to give the required security deposit on bail and the defendant indicates that he or she will comply with the conditions set forth in the bail bond, the defendant shall be brought without undue delay to the nearest place for the preparation or making of bail bonds and for the taking of security deposits on bail;

B. If the defendant is unable to give the required bail security deposit, the defendant shall be remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Cook County until the defendant gives bail as required or until the defendant's next Court appearance;

C. Persons other than those specifically prohibited by statute from furnishing bail security shall be granted access to a place designated for the preparation or making of bail bonds and for the taking of security deposits on bail and shall be permitted to deposit the required security deposit on bail on behalf of the defendant.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

In multiple arrest cases, the following procedures should be used whenever practicable:

A. The Court shall summon the juvenile to the bar and place the juvenile under oath;

B. The State's Attorney of Cook County shall file a petition, together with one copy thereof, alleging that the juvenile is delinquent, otherwise in need of supervision, neglected or dependent;

C. The Court shall inform the juvenile of the allegations contained in the petition and shall furnish the juvenile a copy of the petition;

D. The Court shall advise the juvenile of the juvenile's right to counsel;

E. If the juvenile is without counsel, the Court shall appoint the Public Defender of Cook County to represent the juvenile;

F. If the juvenile requests counsel other than the Public Defender of Cook County, the Court shall appoint a member of the Chicago Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Committee to represent the juvenile;

G. All attorneys appearing on behalf of a juvenile shall file their written appearances with the Court. Appointed counsel other than the Public Defender of Cook County may file a detention hearing appearance for the sole purpose of representing the juvenile in a detention hearing as provided in the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 as amended;

H. The juvenile shall have a reasonable opportunity to confer with an attorney before the detention hearing shall commence. If the juvenile or the juvenile's attorney requests additional time, the Court shall pass the case and summon the next juvenile to the bar;

I. When the hearing is resumed, the State's Attorney of Cook County shall advise the Court of the facts surrounding the juvenile being taken into custody as well as any other information concerning the juvenile relevant to the issue of detention;

J. The juvenile or the juvenile's attorney shall have ample opportunity to advise the Court of any additional information concerning the juvenile relevant to the issue of detention;

K. If the Court finds after a full hearing that it is a matter of immediate and urgent necessity for the protection of the juvenile or of the person or property of another that the juvenile be detained or that the juvenile is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the Court, the Court shall order that the juvenile be detained at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, 1100 South Hamilton, Chicago, or at any suitable place designated by the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Justice Division, until the juvenile's next Court appearance;

L. If the Court finds after a full hearing that it is not a matter of immediate and urgent necessity for the protection of the juvenile or of the person or property of another that the juvenile be detained or that the juvenile is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the Court, the Court shall order that the juvenile be released to the custody of the juvenile's parent, guardian, legal custodian or responsible relative;

M. Where no parent, guardian, legal custodian or responsible relative appears to whose custody the juvenile may be released, the Court may order that the juvenile be temporarily detained at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, 1100 South Hamilton, Chicago, or at any suitable place designated by the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Justice Division until such time as a parent, guardian, legal custodian or responsible relative shall appear to assume custody of the juvenile.

N. The Court shall set the adjudicatory hearing on the petition for a date certain returnable to an assigned calendar of the Juvenile Justice Division.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

Telephones shall be made available to assigned counsel or their assistants to notify one interested person of the arrest of the defendant, the charge or charges upon which the defendant was arrested, the amount of bail set, the amount of deposit required for posting bail, and where the defendant is being held.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

The arresting agency shall make available as soon as practicable information concerning the identity of all persons arrested in the multiple arrest. For information concerning persons detained, call the office of the Sheriff of Cook County, 2600 South California Avenue, Chicago, at 1-773-869-JAIL.

[Amended, effective January 25, 2006.]

The Sheriff of Cook County shall make available as soon as practicable information concerning the identity of all persons ordered by the Court into his custody, the amount of bail set and the locations where they are being detained.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

As soon as practicable after the incident which gave rise to the multiple arrest has ended, the Sheriff of Cook County shall deliver to the Presiding Judge of the District a list of all persons remaining in custody. Thereupon, the Court on its own motion shall call each defendant remaining in custody before the bar and shall conduct a hearing to re-examine the bail previously set.

[Amended, effective August 1, 1996.]

Cook County Cir. Ct. G. O. No. 19.1 (eff. March 9, 1989) is hereby amended as follows:

The procedures set forth in Cook County Cir. Ct. G.Os, 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, 19.5 are adopted pursuant to the Illinois Not-For-Profit Dispute Resolution Center Act,  710 ILCS 20/1, et seq.

[Dated December 30, 2022.]

Cook County Cir. Ct. G. O. No. 19.2 (eff. March 9, 1989) is hereby amended as follows:

1. The circuit clerk shall charge and collect a Dispute Resolution Fund fee of TWO DOLLARS ($2.00) in all civil cases. Such fee shall be paid by the party initiating the action at the time of filing the first pleading. Such fees shall not be charged in any proceeding commenced on behalf of a unit of local government.

2. Fees collected in a given month shall be remitted by the circuit clerk to the county treasurer by the end of the following month.

3. The circuit clerk shall establish and maintain a system of accounts verifying all Dispute Resolution Fund fees collected and remitted.

4. Upon receipt of the Dispute Resolution Fund fees from the circuit clerk each month, the county treasurer shall promptly deposit the entire amount of such fees in the Dispute Resolution Fund. The county treasurer shall maintain a system of accounts verifying all Dispute Resolution Fund fees received and disbursed.

[Dated December 30, 2022.]

In order to qualify for funding, a dispute resolution center must demonstrate that it has satisfied the following criteria:

A. Number of Cases Previously Resolved. It has resolved at least one hundred (100) disputes in each of the previous three twelve (12) month periods ending November 30 of each year. A case shall be deemed resolved when a written agreement setting forth the obligations of the disputants is signed by all such disputants. Such cases may have been referred from the courts or from other sources.

B. Training of Mediators. All of its mediators have satisfactorily completed thirty (30) or more hours of training in conflict resolution techniques as offered by the dispute resolution center or an entity recognized by them.

C. Peer Review. It has established or participated in a peer review program in which mediators must be regularly evaluated during actual mediations.

D. Mediation Scheduling. It schedules all mediations to take place within thirty (30) days of referral to the center except for good cause.

E. Explanation of Mediation to Disputants. Both its staff and a mediator advise disputants prior to mediation of the objectives of mediation, the function of the mediator and the role of the disputants in the mediation process.

F. Record keeping. It maintains records which, subject to the confidentiality provision in Section 6 of the Illinois Not-For-Profit Dispute Resolution Center Act, shall be available for inspection by the Office of the Chief Judge. Such records shall include audited financial statements and case information (including statistics on referral sources, dispute types and outcomes of mediation). Such records shall be maintained for a period of seven (7) years from the date that the records are submitted to the Chief Judge.

[Dated March 9, 1989.]

Cook County Cir. Ct. G. O. No. 19.4 (eff. March 9, 1989) is hereby amended as follows:

A.  To be eligible for funding, a dispute resolution center shall submit an application to the Chief Judge by December 31 of the calendar year for which funds are sought.

B.  An application by a dispute resolution center for funding shall consist of the following:

    i.    A statement certifying that the center qualifies for funding in accordance with the criteria set forth in General Order 19.3, including a statement that the center does not pay its mediators and will not charge disputants for services;

    ii.   A copy of the bylaws of the center;

    iiii. A letter from the Internal Revenue Service indicating the 501(c)(3) tax exempt status of the center;

    iv.  A list of the members of the center's Board of Directors and their professional affiliations;

    v.   A list of active mediators, including the dates of their training and their occupations;

    vi.  Copies of the center's audits from the three (3) previous fiscal years;

    vii.  A description of the center's mediator training program;

    viii. A copy of the center's mediator quality control mechanisms, including a copy of its peer review policy;

    ix.  The budget for the year for which funds are sought;

    x.   A description of the center's operations, including the types of cases expected to be heard and sources of case referrals;

    xi.  A statement of intent that funding will be used for the purpose of providing dispute resolution services.

[Dated December 30, 2022.]

Cases may be referred to qualified alternative dispute resolution centers, subject to agreement from the center, from such courts as the Chief Judge or the Presiding Judges of the various divisions and districts designate. Participation in mediation is at the discretion of the disputants.

[Dated March 9, 1989.]

A. Effective immediately, the administration of provisions contained in the Juvenile Court Act governing the detention of minors shall transfer from the Director of Pretrial Services to the Director of Probation and Court Services, or his designee who is then authorized to grant to the Superintendent of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center the authority to detain and keep a minor pending a judicial detention hearing pursuant to Section 5-7 of the Juvenile Court Act (705 ILCS 405/5-7). No minor may be admitted to the detention center without the written authorization of a designated detention screening officer.

B. To avoid unnecessary delay, whenever a police officer reasonably believes that there is urgent and immediate necessity to keep a minor in custody or if the minor was taken into custody under a warrant, the police officer should immediately contact by telephone the designated detention screening officer and transmit by facsimile device a copy of the arrest report, youth officer's report, juvenile arrest information summary and any other documents pertinent to the juvenile to the detention screening officer located in the Intake Department of the Detention Center. Based upon the information received from the police officer and all other information available, the detention screening officer will apply a risk assessment instrument approved by the Director of Probation and Court Services to assist in determining whether there is urgent and immediate necessity to detain the minor pending a judicial detention hearing or whether non-secure custodial alternatives are appropriate for up to 36 hours pending a judicial detention hearing.

If the detention screening officer determines there is urgent and immediate necessity to detain the minor for up to 36 hours in secure detention pending a judicial hearing, the detention screening officer will transmit to the police officer via facsimile device written authorization to detain and keep the minor in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. Upon receipt of this authorization, the police officer shall deliver the minor to the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.

If the detention screening officer determines that the minor shall be retained in custody but does not require physical restriction, the minor may be placed in non-secure detention for up to 36 hours pending a detention hearing. A minor placed in non-secure detention may be detained in the home of the minor's parent and shall be subject to the conditions identified by the detention screening officer.

If the detention screening officer determines that there is no urgent and immediate necessity to detain the minor, the officer will inform the police officer of this determination. The police officer may then take any action authorized by Section 5-8 of the Juvenile Court Act except delivery of the minor to the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. If the police officer determines that a referral to Court is necessary, then the police officer shall schedule a Preliminary Conference with Probation Department Screening Department within two (2) weeks.

If the detention screening officer determines that a minor detained in the Juvenile Temporary Detention for the 36-hour period would have qualified for non-secure custody during the initial detention screening but for the absence of a parent, responsible adult or suitable detention alternative program, and a parent, responsible adult or suitable detention alternative program is located, the detention screening officer shall submit written authorization to the Superintendent of the Detention Center causing the minor to be released under conditions of home confinement pending a judicial detention hearing.

[Amended, effective September 28, 1994.]

The following procedures shall govern the nomination by the Chief Judge of a public member of an electoral board pursuant to Section 10-9 of the Election Code (10 ILCS 5/10-9).

A. The member of the electoral board, the officer of board with whom the petitions are filed, or a party to a case before the board shall notify the Chief Judge of the need to appoint a public member. The notification shall be in writing, be signed and may be in the form of a letter. The notification may be signed by an attorney representing the electoral board, the party, or representing the officer with whom the petitions are filed. The written notification may be sent by facsimile transmission to the Chief Judge at 312-603-5366 with a courtesy copy to the Presiding Judge of the County Division at 312-603-4351 and the original must be immediately hand-delivered or mailed to the Chief Judge. All public members, by virtue of their appointment, shall be considered officers of the court.

B. The written notification shall include:

    1. The name and address of the objector(s), and the objector's attorney, if known;

    2. The name and address of the respondent candidate(s) or respondent referendum proponents, and of the respondent’s attorney, if known;

    3. The substance of the referendum or title of the office sought by the candidate, the applicable governmental district and the date of the election;

    4. A copy of the ballot of certification which was or soon will be filed with the Cook County Clerk;

    5. The names and titles of the three persons (or more in case of a seniority tie) who would normally constitute the electoral board if there were no statutory disqualifications necessitating the appointment of a public member;

    5A. When one member of the normally constituted electoral board has a disqualification on any grounds, the next senior member of the city council or board of trustees shall serve. If the next senior member is disqualified the vacancy shall be filled by a public member pursuant to this order.

    5B. Members of an electoral board must be disqualified on due process grounds if they have a personal or direct pecuniary interest in the outcome of a case or if one of the members would properly be called as a necessary witness in a case and therefore required to judge his or her own testimony. However electoral board members do not have a disqualifying interest because they may be political allies or opponents of a party in a case or merely because they are familiar with the facts of the case. Neither may a statutory member cause a vacancy to be filled by this General Order by a personal preference or convenience of that statutory member not to sit or merely because a party has requested such disqualification .

    5C. In the case of a request for the appointment of a public member for any reason other than a statutory disqualification, the applicant must fully detail the grounds of the alleged disqualifying interest in the member(s) sought to be replaced and must show that the electoral board proceedings will contain an unacceptable risk of bias.

    6. If the public members are requested to hear more than one objector's petition, the number of separate objections to be considered by each respective electoral board;

    7. The date and time scheduled in the Call for the first electoral board meeting and the place thereof, if known;

    8. The name, address, telephone and fax number of a contact person to receive the appointment by the Chief Judge.

C. The Presiding Judge of the County Division shall maintain a written list of persons willing to serve as public members of electoral boards. This list may be changed or updated as needed. The Presiding Judge shall include only those persons known to be knowledgeable in election law.

D. The Chief Judge shall immediately transmit the written notification to the Presiding Judge of the County Division. The Presiding Judge shall contact persons on the list to determine their availability to serve on a particular electoral board. The Presiding Judge shall transmit the name of the first person contacted who is available to serve on the particular board to the Chief Judge.

E. The Chief Judge shall notify the person requesting the election of a public member and send a copy of the written order of appointment to that person. The order shall be entered on the records of the court and published.

F. The governmental body for which the electoral board serves (i.e., the Board of Education, city, village, township) shall pay an hourly fee of TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00) for each hour the public member attends any electoral board meeting(s) and/or expends time preparing written decisions or dissents. Actual mileage expenses shall be reimbursed to the public member for travel to and from said meeting(s) at the rate currently set by the State Travel Control Board. As of November 18, 2004, the rate is $0.375/mile. The public member shall submit an invoice to the governmental body and the governmental body shall pay the invoice within thirty (30) days from the date of its receipt.

G. The meeting shall be held at a public building within the political subdivision and the Chief Judge shall designate the public building as a courthouse. With proper notification to and agreement of the parties and additional posted notice to the general public, the meeting may be adjourned to another convenient location, without further order of court.

H. In the absence of proposed local rules for the conduct of electoral board proceedings, the public members shall present a proposed set of rules for the electoral board and a final set of rules shall be adopted at the first meeting.

I. All persons appointed as public members shall sign an oath acknowledging that they have no interest in the proceedings in which they are appointed to serve. Public members shall be governed by Supreme Court Rule 63 C(1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct to the extent applicable.

[Amended, effective February 1, 2005.]

In order to conserve judicial resources and promote efficiency in the administration of the Circuit Court, upon motion of any party or upon the court's own motion, the Circuit Court may assign or reassign related cases to a single judge wherever it serves the convenience of interested parties and the court.

For the purposes of this order, cases shall be deemed related and may be assigned or reassigned if the court determines that the management of the related cases by the same judge is likely to result in a substantial saving of judicial time and effort and does not result in prejudice to any party and the cases have at least one of the following characteristics:

(a) the cases have at least one party in common;

(b) the cases involve the same property;

(c) the cases involve the same issues of fact or law;

(d) the cases involve the same transaction or occurrence; or

(e) in class actions, the cases involve one or more of the same classes.

A. The assignment judge of the Law Division, County Department, hears motions for assignment or reassignment of related cases pending in:

(a) different departments of the Circuit Court;

(b) different divisions of the County Department; and

(c) the Law Division

B. The presiding judge of Municipal District 1 of the Municipal Department hears motions for assignment or reassignment of related cases pending in different districts of the Municipal Department or within Municipal District 1.

C. The presiding judges of Municipal Districts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively, hear motions for assignment or reassignment of related cases but only when all cases alleged to be related are municipal cases pending in the same municipal district in which the presiding judge serves.

For record keeping purposes, cases transferred to a different division or district pursuant to this order shall proceed under the record keeping system of the division or district to which the cases are transferred. Notwithstanding the forgoing, a case that is transferred to a different division or district shall retain its original case number as filed.

[Dated March 16, 1999.]

A. The advanced computer application system (the "Order of Protection System") implemented January 12, 2000 in Branches 60, 61, 62 and 63 of the Domestic Violence Section of the First Municipal District is hereby implemented in the Domestic Violence Division. The Order of Protection System will expedite the preparation, printing, processing, transmission and service of complaints for domestic violence offenses, petitions for emergency orders of protection, warrants, summonses and emergency orders of protection as authorized pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, as amended (750 ILCS 60/101 et seq.), the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, as amended (725 ILCS 100-1 et seq.) and Supreme Court Rule 101(a). This System will generate paper records of such documents suitable for filing, docketing and storage by the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County (the "Clerk's Office") in the traditional manner, which records shall be fully accessible to all interested parties, attorneys and the general public.

B. Upon information provided and verified by a petitioner, the Order of Protection System will generate and print a petition for an emergency order of protection. A facsimile of the original petition signed by the petitioner will be presented to a judge assigned to hear such petitions. In the event a petition is granted based upon the specific facts set forth therein, the Order of Protection System will generate and print duplicate original emergency orders of protection each containing the granting judge's facsimile signature. Such signatures will be affixed thereto by the Order of Protection System only after the judge has entered a secure, personalized and unique judicial code maintained on said System.

C. Both of the duplicate original orders of protection will further contain a facsimile "entered" stamp of the Clerk's Office, also affixed thereto by the Order of Protection System only after the deputy clerk attending the judge granting an emergency protective order has similarly entered a secure, personalized and unique code maintained on said System. Said deputy clerk shall additionally cause the affixing of a facsimile "certification" seal of the Clerk's Office to one of the duplicate original orders of protection by use of that clerk's personal code as maintained on the Order of Protection System.

D. The duplicate original order of protection containing the facsimile judge's signature, and the facsimile "entered" stamp and "certification" seal of the Clerk's Office shall be immediately transmitted electronically through the Order of Protection System to and be printed at the Office of the Cook County Sheriff. This document shall be deemed a duplicate original consistent with the applicable provisions of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, as amended and shall constitute compliance by the Clerk's Office with Section 222(b) of said Act (750 ILCS 60/222(b)). The Office of the Cook County Sheriff shall make a copy of said document, promptly serve the printed original upon the respondent as provided under Section 222(c) thereof (750 ILCS 60/222(c)), and make a timely return of the indorsed, duplicate copy of same thereunder in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 102(d).

E. All documents generated and printed by the Order of Protection System particularly those issued in connection with petitions for and the granting of emergency orders of protection, shall be maintained by the Clerk's Office in a manner consistent with its statutory obligations and responsibilities regarding the Court's official paper and facsimile documents, as most recently summarized in the Opinion of the Illinois Attorney General No. 99-018.

[Amended, effective April 19, 2010.]

In order to facilitate the centralized management of court reporting services, the following procedures shall govern the ordering of transcripts from the Office of the Official Court Reporter. All orders for transcripts shall be made in writing and submitted to the court reporter who will acknowledge the receipt of the order. Once the transcript is prepared, the court reporter shall prepare an invoice in triplicate. This invoice shall contain the following information: date of invoice; date of order; name, address and phone number of court reporter; case name; case number; date of hearing; number of pages; price per page; amount due; amount of deposit (if any) and name, address and phone number of the party ordering the transcript. The transcript vouchers provided by the Administrative Office shall continue to be used for transcripts to be paid for by the State.

One copy of the invoice will be retained by the Administrator of the Office of the Official Court Reporter. Questions regarding invoices may be directed to the Administrator.

Remuneration for court reporting services shall be limited to the schedule of fees set by the Illinois Supreme Court as contained in the Uniform Schedule of Charges for Official Court Reporters' Transcripts. Pursuant to this Schedule, all charges for transcripts will be computed on a per page basis. The charges for regular copy delivery are $1.80 per page for the original and $.50 per page for a copy. For expedited copies (daily copy delivery), the charges are $2.10 per page for the original and $.75 per page for a copy.

A copy of this General Order shall be posted at every branch of the Office of the Official Court Reporter of the Circuit Court of Cook County in a location that is accessible to the general public.

[Dated December 7, 2000.]

Effective immediately, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall accept partial payments from defendants of the fines, fees, costs, reimbursements and other monetary penalties ordered by the court in matters involving criminal and non-traffic quasi-criminal offenses. Effective January 1, 2005, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall also accept partial payments from defendants of the fines, fees, costs, reimbursements and other monetary penalties ordered by the court in all matters involving traffic offenses. The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall continue to accept full payment from defendants in all matters involving criminal, quasi-criminal, traffic and non-traffic quasi-criminal offenses.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall accept partial payments of fines, fees, costs, reimbursements and other monetary penalties without being specifically so directed by the court.

Effective immediately, whenever in a felony, traffic, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance, or conservation case, after a finding of guilty, whether by stipulation to the facts, plea of guilty or conviction after trial, and after entry of judgment on the finding the defendant is granted court supervision or probation or is assessed a fine, there shall be assessed against the defendant two additional fees of $15.00 each, designated as a Court Automation Fee and a Document Storage Fee. These fees are over and above any other amount assessed by the Court as a fine, cost or fee in its judgment order and shall be added on and collected by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

[Amended, effective April 6, 2006.]

1.  In cases pending in any Department or Division of this court on or after the effective date of this order, all attorney fee petitions for court appointed attorneys, including petitions to pay costs of expert witnesses, court reporters, and other service providers, must be filed by the earlier of: 60 (sixty) days after entry of a final order disposing of the case or 6 (six) months after the attorney performed the service or incurred the cost.

2.  In cases pending in this court on or before the effective date of this order, all fee petitions for services rendered and costs incurred more than 6 (six) months before the effective date of this order shall be filed and set for hearing by November 30, 2012.

      This order supersedes all provisions governing the procedures for payment of the fees and costs of court appointed attorneys in previous orders of this Court, including orders of any Department or Division of this Court.

[Dated July 6, 2012.]