In Rod He Trusted

The Illinois Review Board has recommended a three year suspension of a former aide to disgraced former Governor Rob Blagojevich:

This matter arises out of Respondent’s guilty plea  and federal criminal conviction on one count of conspiracy to commit  solicitation. The criminal charges against Respondent stemmed from his conduct  while serving as chief of staff to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. As  part of his guilty plea, Respondent admitted participating in a conspiracy with  the former governor to solicit and demand things of value for Blagojevich in  connection with the appointment of a United States Senator to fill the seat  vacated by Barack Obama upon his election as President in 2008. In addition to  pleading guilty, Respondent cooperated extensively with the government in the  criminal matter and testified against the former governor at both of his  criminal trials. Respondent received a reduced sentence of ten days in prison,  two years of supervised release, and a $1,000 fine. Based upon his criminal  conviction, Respondent was suspended on an interim basis by the Illinois Supreme  Court on April 6, 2010.

After a hearing, the Hearing Board found Respondent  committed a criminal act that reflects adversely on his honesty and fitness as a  lawyer, engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or  misrepresentation, assisted another lawyer in committing ethical violations, and  engaged in conduct which tends to defeat the administration of justice or bring  the courts or legal profession into disrepute. The Hearing Board recommended  that Respondent be suspended for three years. The Hearing Board rejected the  Respondent’s request that the suspension be imposed retroactively to the date of  his interim suspension.

Upon review, the Administrator asked that the  Review Board recommend that Respondent be disbarred. After taking into account  Respondent’s extensive cooperation in the criminal matter as well as additional  evidence in mitigation, the Review Board recommended that Respondent be  suspended for three years. The Review Board also rejected Respondent’s request  that the suspension be imposed retroactively to the date of his interim  suspension.

(Mike Frisch)