Ronald L. Hanna
How Judge Hanna rules, drawn from 16 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Hanna
Ronald L. Hanna was appointed a United States magistrate judge for the Central District of Illinois on April 23, 2025. He previously practiced law in Peoria and served for more than ten years as an assistant United States attorney. His judicial assignments include matters in the Peoria and Rock Island Divisions.
Judge Hanna's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Hanna, as published on the court's website (checked October 9, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Motions
For a same-day or emergency motion, email an alert to Judge Hanna’s chambers and all opposing counsel after filing.
“Upon filing such motion, counsel must email an alert that the motion has been filed to both [email protected] and counsel for all parties in the case.”
Discovery
Request and attend a court conference before filing a discovery motion.
“A discovery motion may not be filed without first requesting and participating in a pre-motion conference with the Court.”
Discovery
Request a discovery conference by emailing chambers and copying opposing counsel; give a neutral summary of no more than 150 words.
“The movant must e-mail chambers at [email protected], copying opposing counsel, and include: (1) a short, neutral statement of no more than 150 words summarizing the dispute;”
Conferences
File the discovery plan at least three calendar days before Judge Hanna’s Rule 16 scheduling conference.
“The discovery plan must be filed with the Court at least three calendar days before the Rule 16 scheduling conference.”
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 9, 2026).
How Judge Hanna decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Oxford House’s discovery dispute, Hanna held that a common litigation interest alone did not establish privilege for the withheld communications.
“the common-interest doctrine cannot supply an independent justification to withhold them.”
In Eberlin’s amendment dispute, Hanna allowed amendment while leaving contested futility arguments for later motion practice.
“futility arguments made in opposition to the filing of an amended [complaint] are often better suited for consideration in the context of a motion to dismiss.”
Procedural preferences
In Rusk’s discovery dispute, Hanna applied the required meet-and-confer and informal dispute-resolution process before allowing a motion to compel.
“the undersigned’s standing order requires that parties undergo an informal dispute resolution process before filing any motion to compel.”
In Pacheco’s jail-medical-care suit, Hanna declined to strike allegations about another lawsuit because the possible evidentiary use and prejudice could be addressed later.
“Evidence related to the allegation in paragraph 117 may thus be admissible under Fed. R. Evid. 408(b), and any issues arising therefrom are properly resolved at later stages in this litigation.”
Cautions
In Carter’s reconsideration motion, Hanna required an extraordinary reason to reopen a civil judgment and rejected a renewed unsupported legal theory.
“Judgments in civil cases fix the rights of parties and entitle them to go about their lives. They may be reopened only for extraordinary reasons.”
In Alto Ingredients’ discovery dispute, Hanna declined to reach a privilege argument that the moving party had not raised in its motion.
“Nor does the Court reach the EEOC’s privilege defense, because Alto never objected to it.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment (doc. 51) is GRANTED. The Clerk is DIRECTED to enter Judgment in favor of Defendant Illinois Department of Corrections.”
“Joshua's Motion for Summary Judgment, (Doc. 9 ) is DENIED. The Commissioner's decision is AFFIRMED. The Clerk is DIRECTED to enter judgment and close the case.”
“Rusk’s Motion to Compel, (Doc. 21), is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.”
“Rusk’s Motion to Strike and Motion to Compel, (Doc. 32), is DENIED with leave to renew.”
“Rusk’s Motion for Leave to File a Reply, (Doc. 34), is therefore MOOT.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the City’s Motion to Compel, (Doc. 44), is GRANTED.”
“Jefferson’s Motion to Amend, (Doc. 21), is GRANTED.”
“Jefferson’s Motion for an Extension of Time to Complete Discovery, (Doc. 22), is DENIED with leave to renew after the defendants have been served.”
“The Commissioner’s decision is AFFIRMED.”
“Benjamin’s Motion to Alter or Amend Judgment, (Doc. 28), is DENIED.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Eberlin’s Motion for Leave to Amend, (Doc. 17), is GRANTED.”
“the EEOC’s Motion to Compel, (Doc. 20), is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.”
“IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Alto’s Motion to Compel, (Doc. 30), is DENIED.”
Hanna entered a sentence-four remand on the parties’ stipulation for further administrative proceedings.
“The Court therefore awards Plaintiff attorney’s fees in the amount of $9,750.00.”
Caseload & timing
From public federal docket records for this judge.
Median motion-to-ruling time: 17 days (N = 25).
The eleven reviewed matters include employment and civil-rights disputes, Social Security appeals, a fair-housing dispute, discovery-intensive litigation, and a criminal-duty matter. Several civil cases were reassigned after substantial litigation, so case durations are omitted and the sample is not treated as a caseload tendency.
Pending matters in the official report
Reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts under the Civil Justice Reform Act, as of March 31, 2026.
| Motions pending more than six months | 0 |
| Bench trials submitted more than six months | 0 |
| Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Social Security appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Civil cases pending more than three years | 2 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 0 | 2 |
| Sep 2025 | 0 | 1 |
A snapshot on that date: matters listed may since have been decided or reassigned. A motion referred to a magistrate judge is counted for both judges. Motions in multidistrict litigation, section 2255 cases and Social Security appeals are not counted, and a very large three-year count is generally a multidistrict docket. Source: Appendix A of the report (PDF); about the report.
How long civil cases take in this court
For the whole of United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, not for Judge Hanna: median time from filing to disposition of the civil cases the court closed in the 12 months ending September 30, 2025, as reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
| Cases | Median time | |
|---|---|---|
| All civil cases closed | 760 | 7.3 months |
| Closed with no court action | 315 | 6.2 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 438 | 8.4 months |
| Closed during trial | 7 | not reported |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 760 | 7.3 months |
| Sep 2024 | 704 | 8 months |
| Sep 2023 | 625 | 10.8 months |
| Sep 2022 | 637 | 11.7 months |
| Sep 2021 | 684 | 9.9 months |
| Sep 2020 | 629 | 10.4 months |
| Sep 2019 | 653 | 10.1 months |
The table leaves out prisoner petitions, land condemnations, deportation reviews, recovery of overpayments and enforcement of judgments, and reports no median for fewer than 10 cases. A district that closed a large multidistrict litigation in the period shows very large counts and long medians for that year. Source: Table C-5, U.S. District Courts (spreadsheet).
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