Illinois Sanctions

From summaries of recent bar discipline matters before the Illinois Supreme Court

Mr. Buckley, who was licensed in 2017, was suspended for nine months. He met a 17-year-old girl at the McHenry County courthouse, met up with her at the courthouse again after she turned 18 years old, and took her to a hotel after purchasing condoms and a bottle of cognac. After the girl passed out in the hotel room, Mr. Buckley took her to her home and left. He was convicted of the misdemeanor offenses of providing alcoholic liquor to a person under 21 years of age and renting a hotel room with the knowledge that the room would be used for the consumption of alcoholic liquor by a person under 21 years of age. The suspension is effective on December 10, 2024.

Mr. Lewin, who was licensed in 1974, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court, with the suspension stayed after one year by a one-year term of probation with conditions. He made harassing, offensive, inappropriate, and lewd comments to court personnel and female attorneys in the Will County courthouse. The suspension is effective on December 10, 2024.

Mr. Young, who was licensed in 2003, was suspended for 90 days. While serving as an Assistant Attorney General, he submitted false timesheets on at least 18 occasions. His timesheets reflected that he worked full days for the Illinois Attorney General's Office when in reality he was instead making court appearances on behalf of his wife, who is also an attorney. The suspension is effective on December 10, 2024.

Mr. Swanson, who was licensed in 2016, was suspended for two years and until further order of the Court. While employed as an Assistant State's Attorney in Montgomery County, he possessed and used methamphetamine over a number of years, and operated motor vehicles with methamphetamine in his system. A suspension until further order of the Court is an indefinite suspension which requires the suspended lawyer to petition for reinstatement after the fixed period of suspension ends. Reinstatement is not automatic and must be allowed by the Supreme Court of Illinois following a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board.

Ms. George was licensed in Illinois in 1994 and in California in 2000. The Supreme Court of California disbarred her based on her plea of nolo contendere to the crime of felony battery in Florida. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and disbarred her.

Ms. Johnson was licensed in Louisiana in 2010, in Illinois in 2013, and in Colorado in 2021. The Supreme Court of Louisiana suspended her for one year, retroactive to October 12, 2023, and with certain conditions, for fabricating an email message, making a frivolous claim, and making false statements to a court and her opposing counsel in a civil proceeding. The Supreme Court of Colorado imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for one year, effective May 28, 2024. The Supreme Court of Illinois imposed reciprocal discipline and suspended her for one year and until she is reinstated in both Louisiana and Colorado. The suspension is effective on December 10, 2024.

(Mike Frisch)