Announcement, Press Release |
New filings and pending Chicago SNCO matters will transition to the First Municipal District beginning September 21.
CHICAGO — Beginning Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, Stalking No Contact Order (SNCO) proceedings filed within the City of Chicago will be heard in the First Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County at the Richard J. Daley Center, Chief Judge Charles S. Beach II announced.
Under a new General Administrative Order, all matters arising under the Illinois Stalking No Contact Order Act that are filed within Chicago will be assigned to the First Municipal District. The change is intended to promote the efficient administration of justice and more effective allocation of judicial resources.
“This transition allows us to provide a more consistent and coordinated process for Stalking No Contact Order matters while ensuring that individuals seeking emergency judicial relief continue to have access to the Court,” Chief Judge Beach II said. “Our priority is to make this transition as clear and seamless as possible for litigants, attorneys and our justice partners.”
As of September 21, individuals seeking to file a Stalking No Contact Order petition in Chicago should file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court at the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Street, Concourse Level, Room CL24. Stalking No Contact Order matters will no longer be accepted for filing at the courthouse located at 555 W. Harrison Street.
The Presiding Judge of the First Municipal District will establish one or more dedicated calls to hear Stalking No Contact Order matters. Judges assigned to those calls will hear emergency, interim and plenary petitions, as well as motions to modify, extend, terminate or enforce existing Stalking No Contact Orders.
Stalking No Contact Order cases pending in the Domestic Violence Division or First Municipal Criminal Branch Courts as of September 21 that have not reached final disposition will also be transferred to the First Municipal District. The Court is coordinating with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and other justice partners to facilitate the transition of those cases.
For Stalking No Contact Order cases that reached final disposition before September 21, any subsequent motions should also be filed with the Clerk’s Office at the Daley Center, Concourse Level, Room CL24.
The change applies only to proceedings under the Illinois Stalking No Contact Order Act. It does not change proceedings under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, the Civil No Contact Order Act, or criminal cases involving allegations of stalking or related offenses.
The new assignment structure takes effect September 21, 2026.
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