Moonlighting
The Illinois Administrator has filed a complaint alleging misconduct by an attorney in her capacity as an assistant attorney general
Prior to November 16, 2021, Respondent operated Young Law Office as a sole practitioner. Beginning in December 2017 and continuing through August 2023, she served as a part-time Sangamon County Assistant Public Defender handling juvenile abuse and neglect cases.
On November 16, 2021, Respondent began working in a full-time position as an Assistant Attorney General in the General Law Bureau in Springfield.
At all times related to this complaint, the Illinois Attorney General policy and procedures manual, section 8.1.7, stated that, “Assistant Attorneys General shall not engage in the private practice of law.” Section 4.1.10(b)(2)(D) of the Illinois Attorney General policy and procedures manual further stated that, “An employee may not engage in any paid or non-paid employment outside the office which may create an actual conflict of interest or an appearance of conflict of interest. An employee may not use office time, equipment, resources, or personnel in any outside paid or non-paid employment.”
Between November 16, 2021, and June 13, 2023, Respondent appeared on Wednesdays and Thursdays in Sangamon County for her juvenile abuse and neglect cases in her role as a Sangamon County Assistant Public Defender.
At no time when appearing in Sangamon County as a Sangamon County Assistant Public Defender between November 16, 2021, and June 13, 2023, did Respondent use benefit time or reflect on her timekeeping log that she was not engaged in work for the Illinois Attorney General.
On at least 36 occasions, Respondent submitted timekeeping records which showed she clocked in and worked on Wednesdays and Thursdays for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
Respondent’s timekeeping logs reflecting that she worked full days for the Illinois Attorney General’s office on Wednesdays and Thursdays was false, because she worked as a Sangamon County Assistant Public Defender at least part of the day on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Respondent knew at the time that she submitted the timekeeping logs to the Illinois Attorney General’s office reflecting that she was clocked in and working for the Illinois Attorney General, as described…above, that the timekeeping logs were false.
Conflict of interest allegations
As part of Respondent’s duties as an Assistant Attorney General, she represented employees of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).
In at least six separate matters between November 2021 and November 2022, Respondent represented DCFS as an agency or DCFS employees in various matters, including domestic relations matters, a probate matter, a guardianship matter, an administrative review of an indicated finding, and a civil lawsuit.
In Respondent’s juvenile abuse and neglect matters in Sangamon County, DCFS routinely served as a witness in the cases.
A separate complaint charges Respondent’s spouse with misconduct as an assistant attorney general
Between February 10, 2022, and June 8, 2023, Respondent appeared in Morgan County on behalf of his wife, attorney Salena Young (“S. Young”), in juvenile abuse and neglect matters for which S. Young had been appointed. Respondent appeared in Morgan County in S. Young’s juvenile abuse and neglect cases on at least 18 separate days.
At no time when appearing in court for S. Young in Morgan County did Respondent use benefit time or reflect on his timekeeping log that he was not engaged in work for the Illinois Attorney General.
On at least 18 occasions, Respondent submitted timekeeping records which showed he clocked in and worked for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office when he was actually appearing in Morgan County on S. Young’s matters.
Respondent’s timekeeping logs reflecting that he worked full days for the Illinois Attorney General’s office on the 18 occasions described in paragraph four through six, above, was false, because he appeared in Morgan County for at least a portion of the day.
(Mike Frisch)