The “Mandatory Initial Discovery Pilot Project” studies whether requiring parties in civil cases to respond to standard discovery requests before undertaking other discovery reduces the cost and delay of civil litigation. The Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, is participating in the pilot project as of June 1, 2017.

The pilot project is governed by General Order 17-0005 and a Standing Order issued by the court in covered cases, In re Mandatory Initial Discovery Pilot Program in the Northern District of Illinois. A Users’ Manual explains the project’s procedures and requirements. A checklist summarizes requirements in a time line.

Northern District of Illinois Standing Order

Northern District of Illinois Users’ Manual

Northern District of Illinois Checklist

Northern District of Illinois Guide to Electronic Filing Using Pilot Events

The following Eastern Division judges are participating in the pilot project:

   District Judge Jorge L. Alonso
   District Judge John Robert Blakey
   Senior District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo
   Chief District Judge Ruben Castillo
   District Judge Edmond E. Chang
   District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman
   District Judge Robert M. Dow Jr.
   District District Judge Thomas M. Durkin
   District Judge Sara L. Ellis
   District Judge Gary Feinerman
   District Judge Virginia M. Kendall
   District Judge John Z. Lee
   District Judge Manish S. Shah
   District Judge John J. Tharp Jr.
   District Judge Andrea R. Wood

   Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole
   Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox
   Magistrate Judge Sheila Finnegan
   Magistrate Judge Jeffrey T. Gilbert
   Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim
   Magistrate Judge Daniel G. Martin
   Magistrate Judge Michael T. Mason
   Magistrate Judge Mary M. Rowland
   Magistrate Judge Sidney I. Schenkier
   Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez
   Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has a website where the court posts information about the court’s pilot project.

A Federal Judicial Center website displays additional information about the Mandatory Initial Discovery Pilot Project.