Court Rules
Judge

Judge Georgia N. Alexakis

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Northern District of Illinois
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantFormattingTOC/TOAJuryTRO/Injunction

Document Format Requirements1 rule

FormattingCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Note?

8. Originals: A legible photocopy of a document may be used as the "original" for all purposes in this action.

Summary: A legible photocopy of a document may be used as the original for all purposes in this action.

LPR Appendix B · p. 9
|Sec8. Originals

Document Filing Requirements8 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

A person designates information in a document or thing as Confidential or Highly Confidential by clearly and prominently marking it on its face as "CONFIDENTIAL" or "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL."

Summary: Documents or things are designated Confidential or Highly Confidential by clearly and prominently marking them on their face as 'CONFIDENTIAL' or 'HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL.'

Document Type

Discovery Document

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
LPR Appendix B · p. 3
|Sec3. Designation of information as Confidential or Highly Confidential
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

A party may not disclose Confidential or Highly Confidential information to an expert or consultant pursuant to paragraph 4(b) or 4(d) of this order until after the expert or consultant has signed an undertaking in the form of Appendix 1 to this Order.

Summary: Confidential or Highly Confidential information may not be disclosed to an expert or consultant until the expert or consultant has signed the undertaking in the form of Appendix 1 to the order.

Document Type

Expert Undertaking

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
LPR Appendix B · p. 6
|Sec4. Use and disclosure of Confidential [or Highly Confidential] information
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

Pursuant to Local Rule 5.8, any document filed under seal must be accompanied by a cover sheet disclosing (i) the caption of the case, including the case number; (ii) the title "Restricted Document Pursuant to Local Rule 26.2;" (iii) a statement that the document is filed as restricted in accordance with a court order and the date of the order; and (iv) the signature of the attorney of record filing the document.

Summary: Any document filed under seal must include a cover sheet with the case caption and number, the title 'Restricted Document Pursuant to Local Rule 26.2,' a statement of the restricting court order and its date, and the filing attorney's signature.

Document Type

Sealed Document

Content & Formatting
Caption
Case Number
LPR Appendix B · p. 8
|Sec6. Filing with the Court
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

The actual "original," in whatever form the producing party has it, must be made available to any other party within ten days after a written request.

Summary: The producing party must make the actual original document available to any other party within ten days after a written request.

Document Type

Original Document

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
LPR Appendix B · p. 9
|Sec8. Originals
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

UNDERTAKING OF [Insert name] I, [insert person's name], state the following under penalties of perjury as provided by I have been retained by [insert party's name] as an expert or consultant in connection with this case. I will be receiving Confidential [and Highly Confidential] information that is covered by the Court's protective order dated ffi/I in date]. I have read the Court's protective order and understand that the Confidential [and Highly Confidential] information is provided pursuant to the terms and conditions in that order. I agree to be bound by the Court's protective order. I agree to use the Confidential [and Highly Confidential] information solely for purposes of this case. I understand that neither the Confidential [and Highly Confidential] information nor any notes concerning that information may be disclosed to anyone that is not bound by the Court's protective order. I agree to return the Confidential [and Highly Confidential] information and any notes concerning that

Summary: Experts or consultants retained by a party who will receive Confidential or Highly Confidential information must sign an Undertaking under penalties of perjury agreeing to be bound by the protective order, use the information solely for this case, not disclose it or related notes to anyone not bound by the order, and return the information and notes.

Document Type

Undertaking

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

(signature) Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of , 20 . Notary Public

Summary: The protective order acknowledgment must be signed and subscribed and sworn (notarized) before a notary public.

Document Type

Protective Order Acknowledgment

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
LPR Appendix B · p. 11
|SecAcknowledgment (notary block)
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Mandatory?

I submit to the jurisdiction of the Court that issued the protective order for purposes of enforcing that order. I give up any objections I might have to that Court's jurisdiction over me or to the propriety of venue in that Court.

Summary: The protective order acknowledgment must contain language submitting to the jurisdiction of the issuing court and waiving objections to that court's jurisdiction and venue.

Document Type

Protective Order Acknowledgment

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
LPR Appendix B · p. 11
|SecAcknowledgment (protective order form)
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet.Important?

The party returning and/or destroying the producer's Confidential and Highly Confidential information must promptly certify in writing its compliance with the requirements of this paragraph.

Summary: A party that returns or destroys a producer's Confidential or Highly Confidential information must promptly certify its compliance in writing.

Document Type

Certification Of Destruction Or Return

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
LPR Appendix B · p. 8
|Sec7. Document Disposal

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

If a designation dispute is unresolved, the proposed new designation takes effect 14 days after notice of the dispute unless the producer files a motion to maintain the designation within that period, and the producer bears the burden of proving proper designation.

If they cannot resolve the dispute, the proposed new designation shall be applied fourteen (14) days after notice of the dispute unless within that fourteen day period the producer files a motion with the Court to maintain the producer's designation. The producer bears the burden of proving that the information is properly designated as Confidential or Highly Confidential.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 4 | 3. Designation of information as Confidential or Highly Confidential

Service and Proof of Service Rules

Deposition testimony is designated Confidential or Highly Confidential by stating so on the record at the deposition or by written notice to the opposing party, stenographer, and videographer within 14 days after receipt of the transcript.

A person designates information in deposition testimony as Confidential or Highly Confidential by stating on the record at the deposition that the information is Confidential or Highly Confidential or by advising the opposing party and the stenographer and videographer in writing, within fourteen days after receipt of the deposition transcript, that the information is Confidential or Highly Confidential.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 4 | 3. Designation of information as Confidential or Highly Confidential

The party obtaining the expert's signed undertaking must serve it on all other parties within ten days after execution.

The party obtaining the undertaking must serve it on all other parties within ten days after its execution.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 6 | 4. Use and disclosure of Confidential [or Highly Confidential] information

At least ten days before first disclosing Confidential or Highly Confidential information to an expert or consultant, the proposing party must serve the producer with a written identification of the expert and a copy of the expert's curriculum vitae.

At least ten days before the first disclosure of Confidential or Highly Confidential information to an expert or consultant (or member of their staff), the party proposing to make the disclosure must serve the producer with a written identification of the expert or consultant and a copy of his or her curriculum vitae.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 6 | 4. Use and disclosure of Confidential [or Highly Confidential] information

A producer with good cause to object (other than challenging the expert's qualifications) must serve a written objection on the disclosing party within ten days after service of the expert identification.

If the producer has good cause to object to the disclosure (which does not include challenging the qualifications of the expert or consultant), it must serve the party proposing to make the disclosure with a written objection within ten days after service of the identification.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 6 | 4. Use and disclosure of Confidential [or Highly Confidential] information

A Confidential or Highly Confidential designation may be withdrawn by written notification to all parties in the case.

A person who has designated information as Confidential or Highly Confidential may withdraw the designation by written notification to all parties in the case.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 4 | 3. Designation of information as Confidential or Highly Confidential

Sealing & Redaction Procedures

No document may be filed under seal without prior leave of court; a party must move for permission, consistent with Local Rule 26.2(b), before the document's due date.

This protective order does not, by itself, authorize the filing of any document under seal. No document may be filed under seal without prior leave of court. A party wishing to file under seal a document containing Confidential or Highly Confidential information must move the Court, consistent with Local Rule 26.2(b) and prior to the due date for the document, for permission to file the document under seal.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 7 | 6. Filing with the Court

A party must notify the producer at least five business days before publicly filing a document the producer designated as Confidential or Highly Confidential so the producer can move to seal it.

If a party wishes to file in the public record a document that another producer has designated as Confidential or Highly Confidential, the party must advise the producer of the document no later than five business days before the document is due to be filed, so that the producer may move the Court to require the document to be filed under seal.

The quote is in the court's document. The summary is not checked yet. · Civil cases

Page 8 | 6. Filing with the Court

Highly Confidential information covers Rule 26(c)(1)(G) trade secrets and plans whose disclosure would significantly harm competitive position or contravene a confidentiality obligation to a third person or the Court.

"Highly Confidential" information is information within the scope of Rule 26(c)(1)(G) that is current or future business or technical trade secrets and plans more sensitive or strategic than Confidential information, the disclosure of which is likely to significantly harm that person's competitive position, or the disclosure of which would contravene an obligation of confidentiality to a third person or to a Court.

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Page 3 | 2. Definitions

Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

A party disputing a Confidential/Highly Confidential designation must give written notice identifying the disputed materials and proposing a new designation, and the parties must meet and confer before involving the Court.

If a party disputes a producer's designation of information as Confidential or Highly Confidential, the party shall notify the producer in writing of the basis for the dispute, identifying the specific document[s] or thing[s] as to which the designation is disputed and proposing a new designation for such materials. The party and the producer shall then meet and confer to attempt to resolve the dispute without involvement of the Court.

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Page 4 | 3. Designation of information as Confidential or Highly Confidential

About United States District Judge Georgia N. Alexakis

**District Judge Georgia N. Alexakis** was appointed to the Northern District of Illinois by President Joseph R. Biden in 2024. Judge Alexakis was born in Chicago, Illinois. Before joining the federal bench, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of Appeals for the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois from 2022 to 2024. Prior to that, she was a partner at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP in Chicago (2021–2022) and an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois from 2013 to 2021. Earlier in her career, she was an associate and partner at Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP in Chicago (2008–2012), and clerked for Judge Marsha S. Berzon on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2006–2007) and Judge Milton I. Shadur on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2007–2008). **Education** - Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2006 - Harvard University, A.B., magna cum laude, 2000 **Career** - Chief of Appeals, Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois (2022–2024) - Partner, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP (2021–2022) - Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois (2013–2021) - Partner, Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP (2008–2012) - Law Clerk, Hon. Milton I. Shadur, U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois (2007–2008) - Law Clerk, Hon. Marsha S. Berzon, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (2006–2007) - Associate/Consultant, Boston Consulting Group, Chicago (2000–2003)

**Courthouse:** Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604 **Chambers:** Room 1778 **Phone:** (312) 435-5360 **Fax:** (312) 554-8522 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Carmen Acevedo, (312) 435-6062, Room 1720 - Court Reporter: Jennifer Costales, (312) 435-5895, Room 1714

Common questions about Judge Georgia N. Alexakis's rules

Does Judge Georgia N. Alexakis require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Georgia N. Alexakis's rules set a pre-motion procedure for other. A party disputing a Confidential/Highly Confidential designation must give written notice identifying the disputed materials and proposing a new designation, and the parties must meet and confer before involving the Court.

View ruleSource: page 4, section 3. Designation of information as Confidential or Highly Confidential

What must be included with original document filings before Judge Georgia N. Alexakis?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. The producing party must make the actual original document available to any other party within ten days after a written request.

View ruleSource: page 9, section 8. Originals

What must be included with discovery document filings before Judge Georgia N. Alexakis?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Documents or things are designated Confidential or Highly Confidential by clearly and prominently marking them on their face as 'CONFIDENTIAL' or 'HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL.'

View ruleSource: page 3, section 3. Designation of information as Confidential or Highly Confidential

How does Judge Georgia N. Alexakis handle sealed or redacted filings?

A motion to seal is required for covered sealed filings before Judge Georgia N. Alexakis. No document may be filed under seal without prior leave of court; a party must move for permission, consistent with Local Rule 26.2(b), before the document's due date.

View ruleSource: page 7, section 6. Filing with the Court

What filing deadlines does Judge Georgia N. Alexakis set?

If a designation dispute is unresolved, the proposed new designation takes effect 14 days after notice of the dispute unless the producer files a motion to maintain the designation within that period, and the producer bears the burden of proving proper designation.

View ruleSource: page 4, section 3. Designation of information as Confidential or Highly Confidential

What rule applies to service for deposition transcript before Judge Georgia N. Alexakis?

The rule addresses service method, recipient, or timing requirements. Details: timing: 14 calendar days. Deposition testimony is designated Confidential or Highly Confidential by stating so on the record at the deposition or by written notice to the opposing party, stenographer, and videographer within 14 days after receipt of the transcript.

View ruleSource: page 4, section 3. Designation of information as Confidential or Highly Confidential
Complete rules summary for Judge Georgia N. Alexakis

The producing party must make the actual original document available to any other party within ten days after a written request.

Highly Confidential information covers Rule 26(c)(1)(G) trade secrets and plans whose disclosure would significantly harm competitive position or contravene a confidentiality obligation to a third person or the Court.

Documents or things are designated Confidential or Highly Confidential by clearly and prominently marking them on their face as 'CONFIDENTIAL' or 'HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL.'

Deposition testimony is designated Confidential or Highly Confidential by stating so on the record at the deposition or by written notice to the opposing party, stenographer, and videographer within 14 days after receipt of the transcript.

A Confidential or Highly Confidential designation may be withdrawn by written notification to all parties in the case.

A party disputing a Confidential/Highly Confidential designation must give written notice identifying the disputed materials and proposing a new designation, and the parties must meet and confer before involving the Court.

If a designation dispute is unresolved, the proposed new designation takes effect 14 days after notice of the dispute unless the producer files a motion to maintain the designation within that period, and the producer bears the burden of proving proper designation.

Confidential or Highly Confidential information may not be disclosed to an expert or consultant until the expert or consultant has signed the undertaking in the form of Appendix 1 to the order.

The party obtaining the expert's signed undertaking must serve it on all other parties within ten days after execution.

At least ten days before first disclosing Confidential or Highly Confidential information to an expert or consultant, the proposing party must serve the producer with a written identification of the expert and a copy of the expert's curriculum vitae.

A legible photocopy of a document may be used as the original for all purposes in this action.

A producer with good cause to object (other than challenging the expert's qualifications) must serve a written objection on the disclosing party within ten days after service of the expert identification.

No document may be filed under seal without prior leave of court; a party must move for permission, consistent with Local Rule 26.2(b), before the document's due date.

A party must notify the producer at least five business days before publicly filing a document the producer designated as Confidential or Highly Confidential so the producer can move to seal it.

Any document filed under seal must include a cover sheet with the case caption and number, the title 'Restricted Document Pursuant to Local Rule 26.2,' a statement of the restricting court order and its date, and the filing attorney's signature.

A party that returns or destroys a producer's Confidential or Highly Confidential information must promptly certify its compliance in writing.

Experts or consultants retained by a party who will receive Confidential or Highly Confidential information must sign an Undertaking under penalties of perjury agreeing to be bound by the protective order, use the information solely for this case, not disclose it or related notes to anyone not bound by the order, and return the information and notes.

The protective order acknowledgment must contain language submitting to the jurisdiction of the issuing court and waiving objections to that court's jurisdiction and venue.

The protective order acknowledgment must be signed and subscribed and sworn (notarized) before a notary public.

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