Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee Updates Its FAQs for Judicial Candidates
The below information is being sent to you on behalf of Steve Pflaum, Chair of the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee & Partner at Neal, Geber & Eisenberg LLP
I am writing as Chair of the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee (IJEC), a joint committee of the Illinois Judges Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and Chicago Bar Association established in 1992 to help Illinois judges comply with the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct. In addition to providing confidential ethics advice to judges and judicial candidates and publishing formal ethics opinions, the IJEC developed an update to the Illinois ethics rules that the Illinois Supreme Court ultimately promulgated as the 2023 Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct.
The IJEC has recently revised its Judicial Election/Campaign FAQs in light of the new Code. The FAQs provide guidance on applying the Illinois Code to real-world scenarios that judicial candidates often encounter. A copy of the FAQs is attached. It is also posted on the IJA website.
The IJEC believes that members of your association who are aspiring judges or incumbents running for election or retention would find it helpful to learn about the FAQs. (Canon 4 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, regulating political activity, applies to non-judges seeking judicial office as well as to sitting judges. See also Ill. Rule of Prof. Cond. 8.2(b) (“A lawyer who is a candidate for judicial office shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct”).) Accordingly, we ask that you consider publicizing and disseminating a copy of the FAQs to your association’s members in whatever fashion you believe would be most effective and appropriate.
Thank you for considering this information and request.
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Sincerely,
Steve Pflaum
Chair, Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee
Steve Pflaum
Partner
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP
p: 312.269.8038 | f: 312.980.0818 | e: spflaum@nge.com
Pronouns: he/him