December 30, 2021
Coming January 2022: The Supreme Court has done it again!
I am sure that you have heard—the Supreme Court of Illinois has brought us MORE changes!! Every time we think we will get a break they give us something new. Our Illinois Access to Justice Team (which includes our own Judge Ortiz) has worked hard to create a more uniform court system throughout the state. Although this helps us get closer to a homogeneous judicial district and circuit clerk processes, it is clear from discussions with the circuit clerks throughout the state that there will still be some inconsistencies between the counties. No matter what, we will be here to provide all of you with the assistance you need to navigate through the changes.
On January 1, 2022*, the case types go through a revamp; some modified, some eliminated, some divided into separate categories, and some new! It is important when completing your first filing in 2022 that you are aware of how it will look after it is entered into our system. This article provides an overview of the changes that will affect you.
The Circuit Clerks’ Offices throughout the State of Illinois follow guidelines as set forth by the Supreme Court in the Manual on Recordkeeping. It was created and is frequently modified by the Illinois Supreme Court. Below are a series of tables that show what case types are new, remain the same, are divided up, or disappear.
The list of the retired case types and the new case types that will be in its place are as follows:
 New Case Types were established to distinguish certain allegations. The new case types are as follows:
 Case Types not being changed:
 The second change: there will be one case number per filing/event, and each case number will have multiple counts for each allegation. The most significant allegation will establish the case number, and counts will be included on the remaining allegations. The hierarchy will be as follows:
1. Civil
a. Chancery
b. Miscellaneous Remedy
c. Foreclosure
d. Eviction
e. Law
f. Law Magistrate/ Arbitration
g. Small Claims
h. Eminent Domain
i. Mental Health
j. Probate
k. Tax
l. Guardianship
m. Civil Law
2. Criminal and Traffic
a. Criminal Felony
b. Domestic Violence
c. Driving Under the Influence
d. Criminal Misdemeanor
e. Major Traffic
f. Traffic
g. Conservation Violations
h. Quasi Criminal
i. Ordinance Violation
3. These files are not included in a hierarchy:
a. Orders of Protection
b. Contempt of Court
c. Civil Law Violation
d. Miscellaneous Criminal
The third change, which will come with the new case management system in Lake County, is the inclusion of the full four-digit year at the beginning of the case number.
After I wrote this article, I became aware that Tyler Technologies, the company supporting the E-Filing system, cannot complete the changes for the “civil” filings (only in Lake County) until February 1, 2022. The other counties should be up to date on January 1st. The civil case types will start out as you are accustomed; however, on February 1st, any new case filings filed into a new case category, the numbering will start over, for example, 22DC0001 et al. Criminal, juvenile, and traffic case types will begin with the new case categories as planned on January 1, 2022.
We welcome these changes, as we welcome all of our legislative and Supreme Court rule amendments. We are here if you have questions…we will be right there with you!!! Happy Holidays….from our Illinois Supreme Court and me!
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