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Fast — ~14 monthsIllinois

Madison County (Edwardsville) Venue Guide

155 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025

14mo

Avg. to Trial

~3,000

Court PI Filings

Circuit

Court Type

E-Filing

Jury Pool Characteristics

Metro East (St. Louis suburbs) working-class jury pool

Historically one of the most plaintiff-friendly venues in Illinois — and the nation

Strong labor union heritage and blue-collar demographics

Recent tort reform has moderated but not eliminated plaintiff-friendly tendencies

Filing Procedures

  1. 1

    E-filing mandatory

  2. 2

    Filing fee approximately $357

  3. 3

    Illinois 51% bar applies (effective 2023)

  4. 4

    Case management conferences after filing

Local Rules & Requirements

  • Illinois 51% bar applies — changed from prior pure comparative fault

  • Madison County has historically attracted out-of-state filings due to plaintiff-friendly reputation

  • Mandatory arbitration for smaller cases

  • Expert disclosure deadlines apply

Mandatory ADR

Mandatory arbitration; mediation available

Strategic Tips

  1. 1

    Madison County is historically one of the most plaintiff-friendly venues in the U.S.

  2. 2

    I-55, I-70, and I-270 corridor accidents are common

  3. 3

    The American Tort Reform Association has frequently listed Madison County as a 'judicial hellhole' for defendants

  4. 4

    Illinois's 2023 shift to modified comparative fault has somewhat moderated outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions — Madison County (Edwardsville)

Sources & Methodology

Disposition times: Based on state court annual reports and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) State Court Caseload Digest (2023). Estimated averages for personal injury civil cases; actual timelines vary by case complexity.

Caseload figures: Derived from state court annual reports and NCSC Court Statistics Project data where available.

Filing procedures & fees: From court websites and published local rules of court, current as of early 2026. Fees and procedures are subject to change.

Jury pool characteristics: Based on county demographic data (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2022), county-level jury verdict reporters, and published local bar association litigation guides.

Disclaimer: Court venue profiles are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Procedures, fees, and timelines change frequently. Verify all information with the court clerk's office before filing.

Filing in Edwardsville?

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