When may an Illinois party oppose a certified-question application?

Establish the later qualifying order or certification event.

Independently establish the application’s actual due date.

Identify opposition grounds and any additional necessary record material.

1. Establish the later qualifying order or certification event.
2. Exclude the independently established triggering day and count intermediate calendar days under 5 ILCS 70/1.11. A filing, entry, effective service or previously established due date must come from its actual record. Do not substitute one event for another.
3. Check statutory holidays and the proper court’s actual calendar.
4. Complete the particular act in the proper court.

Section 1.11 excludes a final Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday and consecutive excluded days. Section 17(a) of the Promissory Note and Bank Holiday Act includes Pulaski Day, Good Friday and the general election for members of the House of Representatives. Check proclamations, the proper court’s actual calendar and clerk access separately. The bundled Illinois calendar covers 2026 and 2027.

Fictitious example

Fictitious facts. The Rule 308 application has an independently established due date. The established event is August 2, 2027. No additional closure or different actual order applies.

Fictitious facts. The appeal classification and triggering event are independently established. No additional closure, court order or unmodeled restart is assumed.

Opposition is optional

Rule 308(c) permits, rather than requires, the adverse party’s answer in opposition with additional supporting material.

Applications ordinarily proceed without oral argument

Rule 308(c) submits the application and answer without oral argument unless otherwise ordered.

The court’s decision window is conditional

Rule 308(d) addresses the Appellate Court’s decision after required filings and expiry of answer time, except for good cause. It is not another party filing period or guaranteed decision date.

An application or grant does not automatically stay the trial case

Rule 308(f) requires an actual stay order from the trial court, Appellate Court or a judge. Neither seeking nor obtaining permission alone stops proceedings.

• The calculator does not decide appealability, disputed facts, sufficiency of a filing or whether the court grants relief.
• Check the governing edition and actual orders. A current rule does not establish every historical appeal’s timetable.

• Establish the later qualifying order or certification event.
• Independently establish the application’s actual due date.
• Identify opposition grounds and any additional necessary record material.
• Rule 308(c) permits, rather than requires, the adverse party’s answer in opposition with additional supporting material.
• Rule 308(c) submits the application and answer without oral argument unless otherwise ordered.
• Rule 308(d) addresses the Appellate Court’s decision after required filings and expiry of answer time, except for good cause. It is not another party filing period or guaranteed decision date.
• Rule 308(f) requires an actual stay order from the trial court, Appellate Court or a judge. Neither seeking nor obtaining permission alone stops proceedings.
• If opposing, file the answer with the Appellate Court and any original supplementary supporting record containing additional material for consideration. Complete applicable service and proof. Preserve the established application due date and filing receipts. Use the proper clerk and required filing format. Rule 9 ordinarily requires electronic filing in civil cases, subject to its exceptions and exemptions. Rule 9(f) ordinarily uses submission before midnight in the court time zone, unless a statute, rule or order sets a particular time. A submission when the clerk is closed is ordinarily stamped on the next open day. Current Rule 9(f) provides separate five-court-day motions for a rejected filing or qualifying technical failure; establish the actual notice, failure, corrected document and required proof. Rule 373 ordinarily uses actual receipt, with its mail or carrier exception limited to filings excepted or exempt from electronic filing. Its carrier branch requires delivery for receipt within three business days and Rule 12(b) proof. Filing and service remain separate acts. Use Rule 11’s applicable service method and file Rule 12 proof. Rule 12(c) makes electronic or personal delivery service effective on its stated day, mail service complete four days after mailing, and third-party carrier service complete on the third court day after delivery to the carrier. Establish effective service before using a service-triggered calculator. A rule requiring personal or email service cannot be replaced with ordinary mail.