Rule 218.Pretrial Procedure.
Article II. Rules on Civil Proceedings in the Trial Court · Part E. Discovery, Requests for Admission, and Pretrial Procedure · Last amended 2023 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 218 requires an early case management conference to shape how much discovery a case needs, and sets a 60-day buffer between the discovery cutoff and trial.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 218
(a) Initial Case Management Conference. Except as provided by local circuit court rule,
which on petition of the chief judge of the circuit has been approved by the Supreme Court, the court shall hold a case management conference within 35 days after the parties are at issue and in no event more than 182 days following the filing of the complaint. At the conference counsel familiar with the case and authorized to act shall appear in person or remotely, including by telephone or video conference, and the following shall be considered:
(1) the nature, issues, and complexity of the case;
(2) the simplification of the issues;
(3) amendments to the pleadings;
(4) the possibility of obtaining admissions of fact and of documents which will avoid unnecessary proof;
(5) limitations on discovery including:
(i) the number, duration, and means by which depositions may be taken;
(ii) the area of expertise and the number of expert witnesses who may be called; and (iii) deadlines for the disclosure of witnesses and the completion of written discovery and depositions;
(6) the possibility of settlement and scheduling of a settlement conference;
(7) the advisability of alternative dispute resolution;
(8) the date on which the case should be ready for trial;
(9) the advisability of holding subsequent case management conferences; and
(10) any other matters which may aid in the disposition of the action including but not limited to issues involving electronically stored information and preservation.
(b) Subsequent Case Management Conferences. At the initial and any subsequent case management conference, the court shall set a date for a subsequent management conference or a trial date and state whether parties shall appear in person or remotely, including by telephone or video conference.
(c) Order. At the case management conference, the court shall make an order which recites any action taken by the court, the agreements made by the parties as to any of the matters considered, and which specifies as the issues for trial those not disposed of at the conference. The order controls the subsequent course of the action unless modified. All dates set for the disclosure of witnesses, including rebuttal witnesses, and the completion of discovery shall be chosen to ensure that discovery will be completed not later than 60 days before the date on which the trial court reasonably anticipates that trial will commence, unless otherwise agreed by the parties. This rule is to be liberally construed to do substantial justice between and among the parties.
(d) Calendar. The court shall establish a pretrial calendar on which actions shall be placed for consideration, as above provided, either by the court on its own motion or on the motion of any party.
End
Plain-English Summary
Within 35 days after the case is at issue, and no later than 182 days after the complaint is filed, the court must hold a case management conference with counsel who know the case and can make decisions. The conference covers the case's complexity, possible admissions, discovery limits — including how many depositions and how many expert witnesses — settlement prospects, alternative dispute resolution, and a target trial-ready date.
The court sets follow-up conferences or a trial date and puts its decisions into a written order that controls the rest of the case unless later modified. Discovery deadlines have to leave at least 60 days between the close of discovery and the anticipated trial date, unless the parties agree otherwise.
The point is to size the discovery to the case — simple claims with limited damages get lighter limits, while complex, multi-party litigation gets more room — rather than applying the same discovery template to every case regardless of its size.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after a case is at issue must a case management conference happen?
Within 35 days, and no later than 182 days after the complaint was filed.
What gets decided at a Rule 218 conference?
Case complexity, discovery limits like the number of depositions and expert witnesses, settlement and ADR prospects, and a target trial date.
How close to trial can discovery run?
Discovery deadlines must leave at least 60 days before the anticipated trial date, unless the parties agree otherwise.
Does the case management order bind the parties going forward?
Yes — it controls the subsequent course of the case unless later modified.
Why does Rule 218 tailor discovery limits case by case?
Simple, low-value cases need less discovery than complex, multi-party litigation, and the conference is meant to match the scope of discovery to what the case requires.
Committee Comments and Commentary
(Revised May 29, 2014)
Paragraph (a) Paragraph (a), subparagraph (10) is intended to encourage parties to use the case management conference to resolve issues concerning electronically stored information early in the case.
(October 4, 2002)
The rule is amended to clarify that case management orders will set dates for disclosure of rebuttal witnesses, if any, and that parties may agree to waive or modify the 60-day rule without altering the trial date.
(May 31, 2002)
This rule is amended to conform to the changes in terminology made in Supreme Court Rule 213.
(Revised June 1, 1995)
This rule is former Rule 22. Rule 218 has been substantially modified to implement the objective of early and ongoing differential case management. The former rule contemplated a single pretrial conference which could be held at the discretion of the court. The new rule mandates an initial case management conference which must be held within 35 days after the parties are at issue or in any event not later than 182 days after the complaint is filed. The principal goal of the initial case management conference is to tailor the future course of the litigation to reflect the singular characteristics of the case.
The new rule recognizes that each case is a composite of variable factors including the nature, number and complexity of the substantive and procedural issues which are involved, the number of parties and potential witnesses as well as the type and economic value of the relief sought. Less complex cases with limited damages and fewer parties require less discovery and involve less time to prepare than do cases with multiple complex issues involving numerous parties and damages or other remedies of extraordinary economic consequence. By focusing upon each case within six months after it is filed, the court and the parties are able to formulate a case management plan which avoids both the potential abuses and injustices that are inherent in the previous “cookie cutter” approach.
At the initial case management conference the court and counsel will consider the specific matters which are enumerated in subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(10). Chief among these are those which require early recognition of the complexity of the claim in order to regulate the type of discovery which will follow and the amount of time which the court and counsel believe will be required before the case can be tried. In less complex cases, subparagraphs (a)(5)(i) and (a)(5)(ii) contemplate limitations on the number and duration of depositions and restriction upon the type and number of opinion witnesses which each side may employ. This type of management eliminates discovery abuse in smaller cases without inflexibly inhibiting the type of preparation which is required in more complex litigation.
The new rule also recognizes a number of the uncertainties and problems which existed under the prior scheduling provision of former Rule 220. It attempts to eliminate those difficulties by requiring the court, at the initial management conference, to set deadlines for the disclosure of opinion witnesses as well as for the completion of written discovery and depositions. Amendments to Supreme Court Rules 213 and 214 impose a continuing obligation to supplement discovery responses, including the identification of witnesses who will testify at trial and the subject matter of their testimony. Consequently, the trial of cases should not be delayed by the late identification of witnesses, including opinion witnesses, or by virtue of surprise because the nature of their testimony and opinions is unknown. In this regard, paragraph (c) provides that deadlines established by the court must take into account the completion of discovery not later than 60 days before it is anticipated that trial will commence. For example, opinion witnesses should be disclosed, and their opinions set forth pursuant to interrogatory answer, at such time or times as will permit their depositions to be taken more than 60 days before trial.
Paragraph (a) also enumerates the other matters which the court and counsel are to consider, including the elimination of nonmeritorious issues and defenses and the potential for settlement or alternative dispute resolution. Except in instances where the case is sufficiently simple to permit trial to proceed without further management, the rule contemplates that subsequent case management conferences will be held. The Committee believes that useless or unnecessary depositions should not take place during the discovery process and that no deposition should be longer than three hours unless good cause is shown. Circuits which adopt a local circuit court rule should accomplish the purpose and goals of this proposal. Any local circuit court rule first must be approved by the Supreme Court.
Paragraph (b) reflects the belief that case management is an ongoing process in which the court and counsel will periodically review the matters specified in subparagraphs (a)(1) through (a)(10). As additional parties are added, or amendments are made to the complaint or defenses, it may be necessary to increase or further limit the type of discovery which is required. Consequently, paragraph (c) provides that at the conclusion of each case management conference, the court shall enter an order which reflects the action which was taken. That order will control the course of litigation unless and until it is modified by a subsequent case management order. A separate road map will chart the course of each case from a point within six months from the date on which the complaint is filed until it is tried. By regulating discovery on a case-specific basis, the trial court will keep control of the litigation and thereby prevent the potential for discovery abuse and delay which might otherwise result.
Paragraph (c) controls the subsequent course of action of the litigation unless modified and should ensure that the disclosure of opinion witnesses and discovery will be completed no later than 60 days before the date on which the matter is set for trial.
Amendment History
Amended June 1, 1995, effective January 1, 1996; amended May 31, 2002, effective July 1, 2002; amended October 4, 2002, effective immediately; amended May 29, 2014, eff. July 1, 2014; amended Sept. 29, 2021, eff. Oct. 1, 2021; amended Feb. 2, 2023, eff. immediately.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: case management conferencepretrial conferencediscovery cutoffscheduling order