In case you missed the announcement – The Black Line Call In Cook County Law Division Got The Axe!

Judge James P. Flanner, Jr. recently announced the new Trial Setting Call system, which will take effect on April 1, 2016. Instead of the black line call, parties will now receive direct notice of when to appear in court for entry of a trial date.  The new call will remain in front of Judge Marcia Maras.

Please note that any cases currently pending are remaining in the black line system as transition cases and will appear on the Transition Trial Setting Call for trial setting.  The transition cases are all expected to be heard by July 31, 2016.

Under the new system, Category 1 cases will receive trial-setting dates approximately 15 months after the lawsuit filing date, with notice to the parties being sent 3 months before the court date.  For Category 2 cases, trial-setting dates will be sent approximately 28 months from case filing.

Details of the new system are outlined in a recent Chicago Law Bulletin article – http://www.chicagolawbulletin.com/order-3-24-16.aspx.

Photo from: FreeDigitalPhotos.net and scottchan.