Article I. General Rules · Last amended 2021 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 88 requires at least 60 days' written notice of an arbitration hearing and expects the hearing to happen within a year of filing unless the court allows more time.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 88
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The procedure for fixing the date, time and place of a hearing before a panel of arbitrators shall
be prescribed by circuit rule provided that not less than 60 days’ notice in writing shall be given to the parties or their attorneys of record. The hearing shall be held on the scheduled date and within one year of the date of filing of the action, unless continued by the court upon good cause shown. The hearing shall be held at a location provided or authorized by the court or remotely, including by telephone or video conference.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 88 leaves the details of scheduling to each circuit's local rules, but it sets two firm outer limits. Parties must get at least 60 days' written notice of the hearing date, time, and place, and the hearing itself should take place within one year of when the case was filed, unless the court grants a continuance for good cause.
The rule also recognizes that hearings don't have to happen in a courthouse conference room. They can be held wherever the court authorizes, including remotely by telephone or video conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice do parties get before an arbitration hearing?
At least 60 days' written notice of the date, time, and place.
How soon after filing must an arbitration hearing happen?
Within one year of the filing date, unless the court continues it for good cause shown.
Can an arbitration hearing happen by video conference?
Yes. Rule 88 allows hearings to be held remotely, including by telephone or video conference.
Who sets the exact scheduling procedure for arbitration hearings?
Each circuit court adopts its own local rule for fixing the date, time, and place of hearings.
What happens if a hearing can't happen within a year?
The court can continue it beyond the one-year mark if there is good cause shown.
Committee Comments
Each circuit engaged in a mandatory arbitration program is best suited to determine the scheduling of hearings to accommodate its case-flow needs and the availability of arbitrator personnel. The Philadelphia program is eminently successful in achieving an efficient program-at the time it is filed, a case in the arbitration track is assigned a hearing date eight months from the date of filing. Philadelphia has a central facility styled “Arbitration Center,” in an office building in the city center, a short distance from most other court facilities. The eight-month period has proved to be sufficient to enable the parties to complete their discovery and preparation for hearing. Most matters scheduled for arbitration are settled prior to hearing. The time within which matters in arbitration should be heard is not intended to be a period of limitations but rather a reasonable expectation. Every jurisdiction studied, many with higher monetary limits for arbitrability, have reported that these cases can be heard within the period of one year without prejudice to the parties. Experience dictates that the use of courthouse facilities provides a desirable quasi-judicial atmosphere and a ready access to the court for timely rulings. A centralized operation of the program provides greater efficiency in the use of arbitrator’s and attorney’s time. A central facility also results in better monitoring of the progress of a case diverted to arbitration.
Amendment History
Adopted May 20, 1987, effective June 1, 1987; amended Sept. 29, 2021, eff. Oct. 1, 2021.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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