The holding of pretrial conferences shall be in accordance with rules.
2-1004.Pretrial procedure.
Article II. Civil Practice · Part 10. Pre-trial Steps · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceSection 2-1004 defers entirely to the Supreme Court's rules for how and when pretrial conferences are held in an Illinois civil case, rather than setting out its own procedure.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/2-1004
Plain-English Summary
Section 2-1004 is one of the shortest provisions in this Part, and it says only that the holding of pretrial conferences shall be in accordance with rules. The statute does not itself set a schedule, a required agenda, or a list of topics a pretrial conference must cover.
That brevity is deliberate: it leaves pretrial conference practice to the Supreme Court's rulemaking authority rather than fixing it in the statute books. Anyone looking for the actual timing, format, or content requirements of a pretrial conference in a specific case needs to consult the applicable court rules rather than this section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Section 2-1004 say about pretrial conferences?
Only that the holding of pretrial conferences shall be in accordance with rules. It does not set out its own procedure or schedule.
Where do the actual rules for pretrial conferences appear if not in this section?
In the applicable Supreme Court rules governing pretrial conferences, which Section 2-1004 defers to rather than restates.
Why would the legislature leave pretrial procedure to court rules instead of statute?
Pretrial conference practice benefits from the flexibility of court rulemaking, which can be adjusted more readily than a statute as courts refine case management practices.
Does Section 2-1004 require a pretrial conference in every case?
The statute itself does not impose that requirement one way or the other; it directs only that whatever pretrial conferences are held must follow the applicable rules.
Is Section 2-1004 the section to check for the deadline of a specific pretrial conference?
No. Because the statute defers entirely to the rules, any specific deadline or scheduling requirement for a pretrial conference is found in the applicable Supreme Court rule, not in the text of Section 2-1004.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 82-280.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: illinois pretrial conference statutepretrial procedure illinois civil casepretrial conference rules illinois