Rule 13.03 - SCHEDULING OF HEARINGS (S. Ct. Rule 88)(a) On the effective date of these Rules, and on or before the first day of each July thereafter, the Arbitration Administrator will provide the Clerk of the Circuit Court a schedule of available arbitration hearing dates for the next calendar.(b) Upon the filing of a civil action subject to Article 13, the Clerk of the Circuit Court shall set a return date for the summons not less than twenty-one (21) days nor more than forty (40) days after filing, returnable before the Supervising Judge or the judge to whom the case is assigned. The summons shall require that the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney and all defendants or their attorneys shall appear at the time and place indicated. The complaint and all summonses shall state in upper case letters on the upper right-hand corner: "THIS IS AN ARBITRATION CASE."(c) The Court shall assign an arbitration hearing date on the earliest available date, after all parties have been required to appear or answer in accordance with Supreme Court Rule 88.(d) Any party to a case may request advancement or postponement of a scheduled arbitration hearing date by filing a written motion with the Clerk of the Circuit Court requesting the change. The notice of hearing and motion shall be served upon counsel for all other parties, upon pro se parties as provided by Supreme Court Rule and Rules of the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit, and upon the Arbitration Administrator. Neither the Administrator, the Arbitration staff, nor the arbitrators may grant a continuance even if by agreement. The motion shall be set for hearing on the calendar of the Supervising Judge or the judge to whom the case is assigned or any other judge sitting in their place. The motion shall be verified, contain a concise statement of the reason for the change of hearing date, and be subject to Supreme Court Rule 137. The Supervising Judge or the judge to whom the case is assigned may grant such advancement or postponement upon good cause shown. If such advancement or postponement is granted, the party requesting the advancement or postponement shall immediately notify the Arbitration Administrator, by phone and fax, or personal service, or if time permits, mail of the new date and time.
(e) Consolidated cases shall be heard on the hearing date assigned to the latest case.(f) Upon settlement of any case scheduled for an arbitration hearing, counsel for plaintiff shall immediately notify the Arbitration Administrator of such settlement by phone and fax, or personal service, or if time permits, mail.(g) It is anticipated that the majority of cases to be heard by an arbitration panel will require a maximum of two hours for presentation and decision. Any party seeking a hearing in excess of two hours must obtain an Order of Court and tender that Order to the Arbitration Administrator at least ten days prior to the arbitration.Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Dupage Cnty. 13.03