Illinois e-Court Initiatives | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

Illinois e-Court Initiatives

Plead and Pay Traffic / Conservation Tickets (e-Guilty)

Standards for Accepting Electronic Pleas of Guilty in the Illinois Courts Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 529 (Standards) were originally adopted by the Supreme Court on December 20, 2006 (Order M.R. 18368) The Standards were established to maintain the orderly development of practices and procedures associated with the statewide implementation of electronically accepting voluntary guilty pleas from offenders in traffic and conservation offenses which do not require a court appearance.

Updates to the Standards were released effective July 1, 2019 (Order M.R. 18368) and now encompass pleas of guilty under Supreme Court Rules 529, 530 & 531 which guide courts in the acceptance and retention of electronic pleas of guilty made to the circuit clerk.

The Chief Circuit Judge and Clerk of the Circuit Court in a county may implement an Electronic Plea of Guilty program (e-Guilty Program) upon notification to the Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. The notification shall include an affirmation that the county's e-Guilty Program is consistent with the standards and identify the anticipated date such system shall go into effect. Quarterly statistical information is required pursuant to the provisions contained Manual on Recordkeeping.

Standards for Accepting Electronic Pleas of Guilty - revised July 1, 2019

Standards and Principles for eFiling - revised September 16, 2014

E-Citation Program

Supreme Court Rule 552 directs Uniform Citation and Complaint forms and conservation complaint forms be approved by the Conference of Chief Circuit Judges (Conference). The Conference has placed seven citation forms and corresponding printing instructions (4 paper forms and 3 electronic forms) on file with the Illinois Supreme Court Clerk as required under the rule.  A file-stamped copy of each form is available below.

All local law enforcement agencies (except Cook County) and state law enforcement agencies are required to satisfy the requirements of the most recent version of the printing instructions and uniform citation forms placed on file with the Supreme Court Clerk before use.

Electronic Access for Circuit Court Records

On September 19, 2002, the Supreme Court entered an Order implementing the Electronic Access Policy for Circuit Court Records of the Illinois Courts (EAP), effective January 1, 2003.  The Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts was authorized to amend the EAP where deemed necessary and appropriate through the Supreme Court's Order entered March 29, 2004.  Subsequently, the EAP was revised effective April 1, 2004 adding the restriction to prohibit documents from being displayed over the Internet. – This policy was superseded by the Supreme Court of Illinois Remote Access Policy by Supreme Court Order M.R. 18368 filed 12/19/2019, effective 01/01/2020. However, that policy was revised, and the most current Remote Access Policy dated 06/01/2021

Electronic Case Transfer Standards for Illinois Circuit Courts - effective November, 2018

Standards and Principles for an Electronic Record

Manuals on Recordkeeping

 

Electronic Transfer of Appellate Record

On January 22, 2016 the Illinois Supreme Court filed Order M.R. 18368 which announced mandatory electronic filing (e-filing) in civil cases for the Illinois Supreme, Appellate and Circuit Courts. In addition, effective July 1, 2017, all trial courts are to transmit the record on appeal through the central electronic filing manager (EFM) to their respective reviewing court.

Standards and Requirements for Electronic Filing the Record on Appeal - revised 1/1/21

Standards and Principles for an Electronic Record

 

Electronic Signature Standards

 On December 8, 2017 the Illinois Supreme Court filed Order M.R. 18368 which approved the Electronic Signature Standards to ensure that courts in Illinois seeking to
utilize electronic signatures in their jurisdiction do so according to these standards.

Electronic Signature Standards

 

Electronic Filing in Civil and Criminal Cases and Remote Access Systems

On January 31, 2019 the Illinois Supreme Court filed Order M.R. 18368 for Electronic Filing in Civil and Criminal Cases and Remote Access Systems