Dorothy Kinnaird, the Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division of Cook County, has issued a general order that has a direct impact upon the timing of foreclosure judgments as well as orders approving sales.

• Until the court has set and held a case management conference:
  • No foreclosure case  will be permitted to proceed to judgment 
  • No orders to approve sales will be entered in cases in which a judgment has already been found and a sale completed.
  • The only exception to this rule is if there is a finding of "good cause."   The only example of good cause and the only example provided is where the property is vacant and abandoned.
• Each foreclosure case will be assigned a case management date in the month of July or August, 2009.  No conferences have been set so far.
• The Order does not indicate what subjects or issues will be discussed at the conference.  
• No motions for entry of foreclosure judgment may be filed until the conference has been held.  That does not preclude the possibility of an additional case management conference on the matter.  
• Under the Order, Lender's counsel carries the burden to notify defendants.  This will result in a cost for the lender
• Case filed prior to January 1, 2009 may proceed to judgment or order approving sale without the requirement for a case management conference being scheduled. However, the additional backlog will likely delay this process anyway.