Circuit Court of Cook County Sealing & Redaction Procedures
14 rules from official source documents
2 of 14 checked against the court's document. Each rule says how far it was checked. A value with a question mark is not in the court's wording on its card.
Procedures for filing sealed or redacted documents, including required motions and formats. This page is scoped to Circuit Court of Cook County; use the court rules overview to switch categories without leaving this court.
Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026CRITICAL
To file under seal without prior authorization, e-file a motion for leave to file under seal; the document must not accompany the motion.
A party wishing to file a document under seal without prior court authorization to do so may electronically file a motion for leave to file under seal. The document in question shall not be filed with the motion as an attachment, exhibit, or otherwise.
Checked against the court's document on Oct 3, 2026CRITICAL
Parties must obtain leave of court before filing documents or materials under seal.
Parties must seek leave of Court to file documents or other materials under seal.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
For in-person proceedings, the original medical report (CCP-211) will be filed with the Clerk of the Court under seal.
Summary: Original medical reports (CCP-211) must be filed with the Clerk of the Court under seal for in-person guardianship proceedings.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
The Court will not require filing the original medical report (CCP-211) if the following conditions are met: 1. There is no objection to the adjudication; 2. The attorney on the record affirms possession of the original and the Court is satisfied with the evidence; and 3. The attorney affirmatively acknowledges on the record that the original medical report (CCP-211) will be filed with the Clerk of the Court under seal.
Summary: For remote guardianship proceedings, original medical reports (CCP-211) need not be filed under seal if no objection exists, attorney affirms possession, and attorney acknowledges on record the original will be filed under seal.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?
When the filing of personal identity information in its entirety is required by law, ordered by the court, or otherwise necessary to effect disposition of a matter, the "Notice of Personal Identity Information Within Court Filing" must be filed conventionally pursuant to Ill. S. Ct. R. 138 (eff. July 1, 2013). Documents in which the personal identity information has been redacted may be filed electronically.
Summary: When full personal identity information must be filed, the Notice of PII is filed conventionally; redacted documents may be e-filed.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
Motions to File Under Seal & Protective Orders • Cannot be applied to all documents and/or pleadings. • Must explicitly state that the protective order will not apply to court orders. • The request must detail the privacy interests involved and justify the necessity of the protective order, supported by an affidavit. • Motions to file under seal should include the redacted version as an exhibit. • Courtesy copies of a motion to file under seal should include both redacted and unredacted versions, with the proposed redactions clearly highlighted, as indicated here.
Summary: Motions to file under seal must detail privacy interests, be supported by affidavit, include redacted version as exhibit, and cannot apply to all documents; protective orders must state they do not apply to court orders.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
Fee petitions filed under seal or for in camera review will not be accepted without prior leave of Court. (This includes In re Special States Attorney fee petitions.)
Summary: Fee petitions filed under seal or for in camera review require prior leave of court to be accepted.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Parties must seek leave of Court to file documents or other materials under seal. Please note the following when filing a motion to file under seal or a motion seeking a protective order: • The motion(s) cannot apply to all documents and/or pleadings. • The motion(s) must state in the text of the order that the order does not, by itself, authorize the filing of any document under seal, and that any party wishing to file a document designated as ‘Confidential,’ or ‘Attorney’s Eyes Only Information’ in connection to a motion, brief, or other submission to the Court must comply with court rules pertaining to filings under seal. • The motion(s) must state in the text of the order that the protective order will not apply to Court orders. • The motion(s) must recite the privacy interest involved, and why a protective order is necessary. This should be supported by affidavit. Failure to comply may lead to the motion being struck from the call and the Movant will need to re-spindle the motion to be presented on another day, denied, or other sanction.
Summary: Motions to file under seal or for protective orders require leave of court and must include specific statements and an affidavit; they cannot apply to all documents.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.CRITICAL?
Civil cases
Parties may agree to the entry of protective orders, but they may not agree that documents are to be filed under seal without presenting a motion addressing the specific documents to be filed. Such motions may be granted only in limited circumstances upon good cause shown. Before presenting such motions, parties shall seek to agree on redactions that will allow documents to be filed in the public court record. If agreement is not possible, the party wishing to file a confidential document under seal must seek leave of court.
Summary: Sealing requires a motion addressing specific documents, good cause, and prior attempt to agree on redactions.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?
Fee petitions filed under seal or for in camera review will not be accepted without prior leave of Court. (This includes In re Special States Attorney fee petitions.)
Summary: Fee petitions filed under seal or for in camera review require prior leave of Court, including special State's Attorney fee petitions.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
The motion(s) cannot apply to all documents and/or pleadings.
Summary: A motion to seal or for a protective order cannot cover all documents or pleadings.
Machine summary. Not checked yet.WARNING?
Civil cases
If any materials are submitted which a party would like to remain confidential, the materials should be marked as such; otherwise, the Court will assume it has been seen by all parties (if it is not confidential, please provide a courtesy copy to the other parties).
Summary: Settlement conference materials intended to be confidential must be marked; otherwise assumed shared; non-confidential materials should be shared with other parties.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?
Confidential memoranda shall be sent to the court via email without inclusion of opposing counsel and hard copies.
Summary: Confidential memoranda must be sent to the court via email without including opposing counsel, plus hard copies.
Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?
Civil cases
Parties are to agree whether the submissions shall be confidential.
Summary: Parties must agree whether the pretrial settlement submissions shall be confidential.
How does Circuit Court of Cook County handle sealed or redacted filings?
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings in Circuit Court of Cook County. To file under seal without prior authorization, e-file a motion for leave to file under seal; the document must not accompany the motion.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Allen P. Walker. Parties must obtain leave of court before filing documents or materials under seal.
A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Il Cook Walker Allen P. Motions to file under seal or for protective orders require leave of court and must include specific statements and an affidavit; they cannot apply to all documents. Machine summary, not yet verified; check the linked order.
11 more rules answer this question in the list above.
Related categories
Back to all rules for this courtPage & Word Limits
Maximum page counts and word limits for motions, briefs, and other filings by judge.
Courtesy Copy Requirements
When and how to deliver courtesy copies to chambers, including triggers, timing, and formatting.
Electronic Filing Rules
Electronic filing requirements, permitted filing channels, EFSP portals, and exceptions.
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Filing cutoffs, deemed-filed rules, rejection handling, cure periods, and outage procedures.