Court Rules
Judge

Judge Thomas Morrissey

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Rules last changed:
Circuit Court of Cook County

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Courtesy CopyCourt-wide
20 pgs

Courtesy Copies

Courtesy copies

Court-wide

Communication

Chambers4 contacts

  • johan.townsend@cookcountyil.gov
  • (312) 603-5943
  • (312) 603-7546
  • (312) 603-7545

Clerk3 contacts

  • lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com
  • (312) 603-5025
  • (312) 603-6878

Other Contacts1 contacts

  • efiling.support@tylertech.com
Filters:AllImportantFormatting

Document Format Requirements2 rules

Formatting

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026Important

Agreed orders must be in Word format when submitted via email.

If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in Word format, to the Court via email that will be permitted.

Required Format

DOCX

Law-Calendar 5-Standing Order eff 05-2-2026 · May 2026 · p. 2
Formatting

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Important?

Agreed Orders are permitted in lieu of appearing remotely. If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in Word format, to the Court via email that will be permitted.

Summary: Agreed orders must be provided in Word format.

Required Format

DOCX

Law-Calendar 5-Standing Order eff 02-25-2026 v2 · p. 3|SecI. COURTROOM PROCEDURES

Filing & Service rules

Electronic Filing Rules

Motions should be emailed to Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com at least two court days before the order will be entered by this.

Motions should be emailed to Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com at least two court days before the order will be entered by this

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026

Page 2

Agreed orders may be submitted to the Court via email in Word format.

Agreed Orders are permitted in lieu of appearing remotely. If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in Word format, to the Court via email that will be permitted.

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026

Page 2

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Routine motions and draft orders must be submitted at least two court days before the order is entered.

Motions should be emailed to Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com at least two court days before the order will be entered by this Court.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Page 3 | II. ROUTINE MOTIONS

Service and Proof of Service Rules

Proper notice is required for routine motions per Circuit Court Rule 2.1.

Proper notice is required. (See Circuit Court Rule 2.1).

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Page 3 | II. ROUTINE MOTIONS

Chambers Communication Rules

The court clerk email is designated for proposed orders only.

Court Clerk: Shibraun Green lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com (proposed orders only)

Checked against the court's document on Sep 21, 2026

Page 1

Motions should be emailed to Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com at least two court days before the order will be entered by this Court.

Motions should be emailed to Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com at least two court days before the order will be entered by this Court.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Sep 21, 2026

Page 2

Routine motions and draft orders must be emailed to specified addresses at least two court days before order entry.

Motions should be emailed to Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com at least two court days before the order will be entered by this Court.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Page 3 | II. ROUTINE MOTIONS

The court coordinator email is designated for courtesy copies only.

Court Coordinator: Johan Townsend (312-603-5533) Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov (courtesy copies only)

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.

Page 1

Courtesy copies must be sent to the Court Coordinator's email address.

Court Coordinator: Johan Townsend (312-603-5533) Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov (courtesy copies only)

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Page 1 | Header

Proposed orders must be sent to the Court Clerk's email address.

Court Clerk: Shibraun Green (312-603-4466) lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com (proposed orders only)

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Page 1 | Header

Agreed orders may be submitted to the Court via email in Word format.

Agreed Orders are permitted in lieu of appearing remotely. If the parties wish to provide an agreed order, in Word format, to the Court via email that will be permitted.

Machine summary. Not checked yet.

Page 3 | I. COURTROOM PROCEDURES

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 118 rules apply across Circuit Court of Cook County. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Communication

All 59
  • Contact
    Email

    Questions, comments, or concerns about the eFileIL e-filing system should be directed to Tyler Technologies at efiling.support@tylertech.com.

  • Contact
    Email to chambers

    Courtesy copies for Judge Daniel R. Degnan must be submitted via email to daniel.degnan@cookcountyil.gov.

  • Contact
    Phone to chambers
    Phone
    (312) 603-5943

    Judge Daniel R. Degnan's chambers phone number is (312) 603-5943.

Filing Timing

All 12
  • Deadline
    60 calendar days

    Attorney fee petitions for court-appointed attorneys must be filed within 60 days after final order or 6 months after service/cost, whichever is earlier.

  • Deadline
    2 business days

    Guardianship agreed order requests must be filed and submitted 2-5 business days prior to the scheduled court date.

  • Deadline
    2 business days

    Guardians must email annual reports and guardian training certificates in PDF format, one email per case, 2-5 business days prior to assigned court date.

Filing Requirements

All 11
  • Applies to
    Complaint
    Must include
    caption

    Chancery Division complaints must include specific caption designations based on the relief sought.

  • Applies to
    Motion
    Must include
    caption

    Motions to correct errors in criminal cases must be in writing, accompanied by affidavit, and notice must be served on the prosecution.

  • Applies to
    Complaint
    Must include
    caption

    All initiating papers must include the court name and department/division/district in the caption; small claims complaints must be endorsed 'Small Claims'.

E-Filing

All 9
  • Applies to
    Civil case filing

    E-filing is mandatory for all Cook County civil cases through the eFileIL system as of July 1, 2018, except Quasi-Criminal, Housing, and Wills cases.

  • Applies to
    Verified status report

    Attorneys must e-file a verified status report via Odyssey system before submitting decedent's estate agreed order requests.

  • Attorneys must maintain accurate email address in Odyssey e-filing system and be filed as attorney of record to receive entered orders via email.

More categories

View all Circuit Court of Cook County rules
About Judge Thomas Morrissey

Thomas Morrissey is a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County, the trial court serving Chicago and suburban Cook County. They serve in the district.

Practitioners will find a standing order for Law Calendar 5, effective February 25, 2026, in this judge's published procedures.

Common questions about Judge Thomas Morrissey's rules

What formatting rules apply to filings before Judge Thomas Morrissey?

Judge Thomas Morrissey's formatting rule includes file format docx. Agreed orders must be in Word format when submitted via email.

View ruleSource: page 2

How may parties contact Judge Thomas Morrissey's chambers?

The rule addresses email communications with Judge Thomas Morrissey's chambers. The rule lists email Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov. Routine motions and draft orders must be emailed to specified addresses at least two court days before order entry.

View ruleSource: page 3, section II. ROUTINE MOTIONS

Is electronic filing required before Judge Thomas Morrissey?

Electronic filing is permitted for the covered filings. Motions should be emailed to Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com at least two court days before the order will be entered by this.

View ruleSource: page 2

What filing deadlines does Judge Thomas Morrissey set?

Routine motions and draft orders must be submitted at least two court days before the order is entered.

View ruleSource: page 3, section II. ROUTINE MOTIONS

What service or proof of service rules apply before Judge Thomas Morrissey?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Proper notice is required for routine motions per Circuit Court Rule 2.1.

View ruleSource: page 3, section II. ROUTINE MOTIONS
Complete rules summary for Judge Thomas Morrissey

The court clerk email is designated for proposed orders only.

The court coordinator email is designated for courtesy copies only.

Motions should be emailed to Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com at least two court days before the order will be entered by this Court.

Motions should be emailed to Johan.Townsend@cookcountyil.gov and the draft order should be emailed to lawcal5orders@cookcountycourt.com at least two court days before the order will be entered by this.

Agreed orders may be submitted to the Court via email in Word format.

Agreed orders must be in Word format when submitted via email.

Proposed orders must be sent to the Court Clerk's email address.

Courtesy copies must be sent to the Court Coordinator's email address.

Agreed orders may be submitted to the Court via email in Word format.

Agreed orders must be provided in Word format.

Routine motions and draft orders must be emailed to specified addresses at least two court days before order entry.

Routine motions and draft orders must be submitted at least two court days before the order is entered.

Proper notice is required for routine motions per Circuit Court Rule 2.1.

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