Blogger Suspended In Illinois

An attorney who blogged about probate court was suspended for three years and until further court order by the Illinois Supreme Court.

From the Review Board report

This case involves Respondent’s statements on a blog impugning the integrity of certain judges, guardians ad litem (“GALs”) and the lawyers involved in a case in the Probate Court of Cook County. The Hearing Board concluded that Respondent violated Rules 8.2(a) which provides that “a lawyer shall not make a statement that the lawyer knows to be false or with reckless disregard as to its truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge, adjudicatory officer or public legal officer”; 8.4(c) which prohibits lawyers from engaging in “conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation”; and 8.4(d) which prohibits “conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.”

The Administrator’s Complaint alleged that Respondent made statements in violation of the above rules when she blogged about an adult guardianship of Mary G. Sykes (“Mary”) pending in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County (“the Sykes case”). In December 2009, the probate court had disqualified Respondent from representing Gloria Sykes (“Gloria”), one of Mary’s daughters, in the case. Thereafter, Respondent published blogs related to the Sykes case. The Administrator’s Complaint set forth ten excerpts taken from Respondent’s blogs and alleged that the statements in the excerpts were made in violation of the Rules. See, Administrator’s Complaint, paragraph 9. The Hearing Board based its findings on these ten statements. See, Hearing Bd. Report, pp. 7-16, 24-31.

Respondent does not dispute that she made the ten statements in question. She contends that the Hearing Board’s findings are against the manifest weight of the evidence because the statements are true. She also contends that her statements on the blog are protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution (First Amendment). We have read Respondent’s brief and have the benefit of the parties’ oral argument before this Board…we affirm the Hearing Board’s findings of misconduct and conclude that her false statements are not protected by the First Amendment.

I posted my view that this suspension is far too severe when the Review Board filed its report. (Mike Frisch)