A term used in the Law Division Motion Section of the Circuit Court of Cook County (and often in other courts) referring to a motion that is ministerial in nature and seeks simple procedural relief, such as a motion for leave to appear as attorney of record.

Although other courts and other judges have their own procedures, practice in the Cook County Law Division Motion Section is typical. Law Division Motion Judges hear routine motions at 8:45 a.m., Monday through Friday. Counsel do not schedule routine motions through the circuit court clerk, nor do they typically file them. Instead, the movant:

In some cases, counsel may drop off copies of the motion papers, along with copies of a proposed order, in the judge's courtroom and pick up a signed order later. Parties do not brief routine motions and these motions usually do not require a supporting memorandum of law. The judge normally grants routine motions without a hearing unless a party objects to the motion. If a party objects, the court does not enter an order and the movant must schedule the motion on the regular motion call. A party may not bring a routine motion in a case that is more than three years old. (IL Cook County Motion Judges Rule 3.1 to IL Cook County Motion Judges Rule 3.5.)

Counsel should check with the court to determine whether the court prefers the parties to submit the documents by email.

Cook County judges outside of the Law Division Motion Section, and other circuit courts outside of Cook County, also may use the term "routine motion" to refer to simple, ministerial motions to which opposing counsel generally do not object.