Court Rules
Judge

Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Northern District of Illinois

Limits & Logistics

Document Limits

Joint Status Report
5 pgs
Filters:AllMandatoryImportantJuryMemorandaExhibitsCourtesy CopiesElectronicsEvidence/Witnesses

Page & Word Limits2 rules

Page LimitsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

The parties are directed to file a joint status report not exceeding 5 pages, containing the following information:

Summary: Joint status report limited to 5 pages.

Joint Status Report

5 pages

Applies to: Attorney

Page LimitsCivil cases

Machine summary. Not checked yet.Mandatory?

The parties are directed to file a joint status report at least 3 business days prior to the initial status hearing, not to exceed 5 pages, containing the following information:

Summary: Joint status report required 3 business days before initial status hearing, max 5 pages.

Joint Status Report

5 pages

Applies to: Attorney

Document Filing Requirements9 rules

Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

In civil jury trials before Judge Coleman, the parties must jointly prepare and submit a Final Pretrial Order by the court-set date, at least two weeks before trial.

In all civil jury trials scheduled before Judge Coleman, the parties must jointly prepare and submit a Final Pretrial Order. In each case, the Court will set the date in advance of the trial (a minimum of two weeks before trial) on which the parties must file the Final Pretrial Order.

Document Type

Final Pretrial Order

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER IN CIVIL TRIAL CASES · p. 1
|SecFINAL PRETRIAL ORDER IN CIVIL TRIAL CASES
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

The Final Pretrial Order, including its courtesy copy, must include the specified jurisdiction statement, attorney list, agreed case statement, categorized witness lists, detailed exhibit lists, and itemization of damages and other relief.

The Final Pretrial Order (including the Court’s courtesy copy) must include the following items: 1. Jurisdiction A statement of the basis for the Court’s jurisdiction. 2. Trial Attorneys A list of the attorneys trying the case, including business addresses and telephone numbers. 3. Case Statement A concise agreed statement of the case, including: the nature of the case; the claims, counterclaims and cross-claims; and the defenses raised to those claims. The Court will read this statement to the jury during voir dire. 4. Witness Lists Separate lists for plaintiff and defendant providing the names of witnesses, including expert witnesses, divided into the following three categories: (a) witnesses who will be called to testify at trial; (b) witnesses who may be called to testify at trial; and (c) witnesses whose testimony a party will present by deposition or other prior testimony, indicating whether the presentation will be by transcript or video. The Court will read these lists to the jury during voir dire. 5. Exhibit Lists A list by each side of all trial exhibits (including demonstratives, summaries or other specially prepared exhibits), which includes the following: (a) the exhibit number for each document; (b) the date of the document; (c) a brief description of the document; (d) whether there is an objection to admission of the document and, if so, a concise statement of the basis for the objections (e.g., Rule 402-relevance; Rule 403-undue prejudice or confusion); and (e) a concise statement of the asserted basis of admissibility. 6. Itemization of Damages An itemization of damages and other relief sought.

Document Type

Final Pretrial Order

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
FINAL PRETRIAL ORDER IN CIVIL TRIAL CASES · p. 1
|SecJurisdiction; Trial Attorneys; Case Statement; Witness Lists; Exhibit Lists; Itemization of Damages
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

The parties must attempt to agree on jury instructions and submit agreed and proposed instructions with the Final Pretrial Order, identifying each instruction’s proponent, status, supporting authority, and, for disputed instructions, the required objection and response pages.

The parties are instructed to meet and attempt to agree on jury instructions. The parties must submit all agreed and proposed instructions with the Final Pretrial Order. Each proposed instruction must indicate the proponent of the instruction and whether the instruction is agreed or disputed. The bottom of each instruction must identify the legal authority supporting that instruction. If an instruction is disputed, the grounds for the objection and any proposed modification or alternate instruction must be concisely stated on the page immediately following the disputed instruction; on the next immediate page, the party proposing the instruction may state concisely the reasons supporting the instruction as proposed.

Document Type

Jury Instructions

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Mandatory

The parties must file a joint document containing each party’s proposed voir dire questions and any objections to other parties’ proposed questions.

The parties must file a joint document that includes: (a) each party’s proposed voir dire questions; and (b) each party’s objections, if any, to the voir dire questions proposed by other parties.

Document Type

Proposed Voir Dire

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026Important

Trial briefs are not required in jury trials, and a party wishing to file one must seek leave of court.

The Court does not require trial briefs in jury trials. Any party who wishes to file a trial brief must seek leave of the Court to do so.

Document Type

Trial Brief

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

If a plaintiff has proposed a bond or security amount, that plaintiff must include in its briefing an explanation as to why the amount is proper based on the costs and damages that may be sustained by any party found to have been wrongfully enjoined or restrained. Fed. R. Civ. P. 62(c).

Summary: Briefing that proposes a bond or security amount must include an explanation of why the amount is proper based on potential costs and damages to any wrongfully enjoined party.

Document Type

Brief

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

Before or in conjunction with moving for entry of default, a plaintiff in a "Schedule A" case must file an affidavit, declaration, or other document (e.g., spreadsheet, chart) describing with specificity the following for each defendant and each allegedly infringing product:

Summary: Before or when moving for entry of default, a Schedule A plaintiff must file an affidavit, declaration, or similar document detailing with specificity twelve categories of sales and account information for each defendant and each allegedly infringing product.

Document Type

Affidavit Or Declaration

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Standing Order Re Schedule A Counterfeit Product Cases · p. 2
|SecIII. Notice to Third Parties Before Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

If a plaintiff cannot or will not be able to show that such joinder is proper, plaintiff—without needing to seek leave of court—should amend the Schedule A to reflect only defendants it can demonstrate are properly joined.

Summary: If proper joinder cannot be shown, the plaintiff should amend the Schedule A to include only properly joined defendants without seeking leave of court.

Document Type

Schedule A

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Filing RequirementsCivil cases

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

If a plaintiff cannot provide a response to any of the listed questions, the plaintiff must provide in written form a reason for not providing a response.

Summary: If a plaintiff cannot answer any of the required affidavit/declaration questions, it must provide a written explanation for the omission.

Document Type

Affidavit Or Declaration

Specific requirements detailed in rule text.
Standing Order Re Schedule A Counterfeit Product Cases · p. 2
|SecIII. Notice to Third Parties Before Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction.

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

A motion for a preliminary injunction must be filed at least 14 days after service on defendants of the complaint, TRO, motion for TRO, and other relevant documents.

Any motion for a preliminary injunction must be filed at least 14 days after service on the defendants of the complaint, Temporary Restraining Order, motion for a temporary restraining order, and other relevant and applicable documents.

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

Page 1 | III. Notice to Third Parties Before Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction.

Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

Motions in limine must be filed with the pretrial order or on a court-specified date, and the parties must meet and confer before filing them.

All motions in limine must be filed with the pretrial order or on the date specified by the Court. The parties are directed to meet and confer on all motions in limine before filing them.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 4, 2026 · Civil cases

Page 2 | Motions In Limine

About United States District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman

**District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman** was appointed to the Northern District of Illinois by President Barack Obama in 2010. Judge Coleman was born in 1960 in Chicago, Illinois. She served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Cook County from 1984 to 1989, then as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois from 1989 to 1993. She was Deputy State's Attorney and Chief of the Public Interest Bureau in Cook County from 1993 to 1996. She then served as a Judge on the Illinois Circuit Court in Cook County from 1996 to 2008 and on the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, from 2008 to 2010 before her federal appointment. **Education** - Washington University School of Law, J.D., 1984 - Northern Illinois University, B.A., 1981 **Career** - Judge, Illinois Appellate Court, First District (2008–2010) - Judge, Illinois Circuit Court, Cook County (1996–2008) - Deputy State's Attorney/Chief of Public Interest Bureau, Cook County (1993–1996) - Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois (1989–1993) - Assistant State's Attorney, Cook County (1984–1989)

**Courthouse:** Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604 **Chambers:** Room 1260 **Phone:** (312) 435-6885 **Fax:** (312) 554-8078 **Chambers Staff** - Courtroom Deputy: Yvette Montanez, (312) 408-5159, Room 1238 - Court Reporter: Tracey McCullough, (312) 435-5570, Room 1232

Common questions about Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman's rules

Does Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman require a pre-motion conference or letter before filing a motion?

Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman's rules set a pre-motion procedure for motions in limine. Motions in limine must be filed with the pretrial order or on a court-specified date, and the parties must meet and confer before filing them.

View ruleSource: page 2, section Motions In Limine

What page or word limits apply to joint status report before Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman?

Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman's rule states these limits: attorney: 5 pages. Joint status report limited to 5 pages.

What must be included with brief filings before Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Briefing that proposes a bond or security amount must include an explanation of why the amount is proper based on potential costs and damages to any wrongfully enjoined party.

View ruleSource: page 1, section II. Bond.

What must be included with affidavit or declaration filings before Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman?

The rule identifies required filing content or certificates. Before or when moving for entry of default, a Schedule A plaintiff must file an affidavit, declaration, or similar document detailing with specificity twelve categories of sales and account information for each defendant and each allegedly infringing product.

View ruleSource: page 2, section III. Notice to Third Parties Before Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction.

What filing deadlines does Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman set?

A motion for a preliminary injunction must be filed at least 14 days after service on defendants of the complaint, TRO, motion for TRO, and other relevant documents.

View ruleSource: page 1, section III. Notice to Third Parties Before Issuance of a Preliminary Injunction.
Complete rules summary for Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman

Joint status report limited to 5 pages.

Joint status report required 3 business days before initial status hearing, max 5 pages.

If proper joinder cannot be shown, the plaintiff should amend the Schedule A to include only properly joined defendants without seeking leave of court.

Briefing that proposes a bond or security amount must include an explanation of why the amount is proper based on potential costs and damages to any wrongfully enjoined party.

A motion for a preliminary injunction must be filed at least 14 days after service on defendants of the complaint, TRO, motion for TRO, and other relevant documents.

Before or when moving for entry of default, a Schedule A plaintiff must file an affidavit, declaration, or similar document detailing with specificity twelve categories of sales and account information for each defendant and each allegedly infringing product.

If a plaintiff cannot answer any of the required affidavit/declaration questions, it must provide a written explanation for the omission.

In civil jury trials before Judge Coleman, the parties must jointly prepare and submit a Final Pretrial Order by the court-set date, at least two weeks before trial.

The Final Pretrial Order, including its courtesy copy, must include the specified jurisdiction statement, attorney list, agreed case statement, categorized witness lists, detailed exhibit lists, and itemization of damages and other relief.

Motions in limine must be filed with the pretrial order or on a court-specified date, and the parties must meet and confer before filing them.

The parties must file a joint document containing each party’s proposed voir dire questions and any objections to other parties’ proposed questions.

The parties must attempt to agree on jury instructions and submit agreed and proposed instructions with the Final Pretrial Order, identifying each instruction’s proponent, status, supporting authority, and, for disputed instructions, the required objection and response pages.

Trial briefs are not required in jury trials, and a party wishing to file one must seek leave of court.

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