Active Trial judge
Illinois Circuit Court, Cook County
Illinois · Cook
Overview
Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile.
Before you appear
Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.
Judge-specific guidance is shown first. Broader applicable courtroom, courtwide, districtwide, and statewide guidance remains separately labeled below it.
Presentation rules
Judge Otto conducts future court dates in person unless otherwise specifically ordered.
all future court dates in all cases will be conducted in person
The requirement is stated in an official standing order naming this judge.
Judge Otto requires both electronic and physical complete courtesy-copy sets, with physical exhibits tabbed and materials double-sided.
one complete set sent electronically ... and one complete set of physical courtesy copies
The requirement is stated in an official standing order naming this judge.
Photography, broadcasting, and recording in an Illinois courtroom are permitted only under Supreme Court authority or Rule 44's stated exceptions; participants may not record a remote proceeding unless the court directs it or extended-media coverage is approved.
the taking of photographs in the courtroom during sessions of the court or recesses between proceedings and the broadcasting or televising of court proceedings are permitted only to the extent authorized by order of the Supreme Court
The requirement is stated in an official statewide source and is attached as applicable guidance, not as a personal preference.
The official record may be taken stenographically or through a Supreme Court-approved electronic recording system, including approved videoconferencing services.
The record of court proceedings may be taken by stenographic means or by an electronic recording system, including video conferencing services, approved by the Supreme Court.
The requirement is stated in an official statewide source and is attached as applicable guidance, not as a personal preference.
Circuit court participants may appear remotely without advance approval in covered proceedings; evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences, and bench or jury trials require the presiding judge's approval, subject to the rule's case-specific safeguards.
Case participants shall be permitted to attend court via the circuit court's available remote appearance technology without any advance approval, except for the following proceeding types, which shall require the approval of the judge presiding over the matter
The requirement is stated in an official statewide source and is attached as applicable guidance, not as a personal preference.
Illinois circuit courts must implement Rule 45 through published local procedures and accessible remote technology; Rule 45 and controlling case orders determine whether approval is required.
Supreme Court Rule 45 authorizes and fosters the use of remote appearances in circuit courts with a goal of achieving uniformity in remote appearance practices throughout the state.
The requirement is stated in an official statewide source and is attached as applicable guidance, not as a personal preference.
Illinois circuit courts accept extended-media requests for public proceedings, normally at least seven days in advance, but the presiding judge may deny, limit, or terminate coverage and protected proceedings remain restricted.
all Illinois judicial circuit courts shall allow requests for extended media coverage of public court proceedings in accordance with the provisions of this policy
The requirement is stated in an official statewide source and is attached as applicable guidance, not as a personal preference.
Courtroom technology
Technology availability is separate from procedural permission and evidentiary admissibility.
Published opinion footprint
This does not mean the judge has no published opinions or no caseload. KYJ will only show opinion counts after transparent, source-linked CourtListener matching is available.
Sources
Identity source · HTML · retrieved July 28, 2026
https://www.cookcountycourtil.gov/judge/otto-michael-fJudge-specific · PDF · retrieved July 28, 2026
https://ocj-web-files.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/orders/2024-02-01%20-%20Law%20-%20Calendar%20R%20-%20Otto%20-%20Standing%20Order_2.pdf?VersionId=3.f6Bsla0kROjm5L6eumUjpSY93bWSjCStatewide · PDF · retrieved July 26, 2026
https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/8db700cb-c17a-421d-8fdc-95ad22b399c9/Rule%2044.pdfStatewide · PDF · retrieved July 26, 2026
https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/24ad75b6-a0a0-4a9f-b44e-1cf4daa67820/Rule%2046.pdfStatewide · PDF · retrieved July 26, 2026
https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/f06d63ba-828e-40f2-8ae2-ef4b11c9c66b/Rule%2045.pdfStatewide · PDF · retrieved July 26, 2026
https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/e4321795-dd8b-4f0a-ae97-014b0db8182f/Policy_on_Remote_Court_Appearances.pdfStatewide · PDF · retrieved July 26, 2026
https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/7a90fdf7-c9d0-4b64-b95d-d891d518d80e/Extended%20Media%20Coverage%20Policy%20for%20the%20Circuit%20Courts.pdfChange history
Identity imported from State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts. 7 presentation-related claims migrated with source provenance.