summary
Introduced
05/28/2025
05/28/2025
In Committee
05/28/2025
05/28/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Creates the Supreme Court Ethics Act. Directs a Supreme Court Judge to disqualify himself or herself in any proceeding in which the Supreme Court Judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Specifies circumstances in which a Supreme Court Judge's impartiality might be reasonably questioned. Requires a Supreme Court Judge to keep informed about the Supreme Court Judge's personal and fiduciary economic interests and to make a reasonable effort to keep informed about the personal economic interests of the Supreme Court Judge's spouse or domestic partner and the Supreme Court Judge's children. Authorizes a Supreme Court Judge to disclose on the record the basis of the Supreme Court Judge's disqualification and to ask the parties and their lawyers to consider, outside the presence of the Supreme Court Judge and court personnel, whether to waive disqualification. Requires a Supreme Court Judge to disclose on the record information that the Supreme Court Judge believes the parties or their lawyers might reasonably consider relevant to a possible motion for disqualification, even if the Supreme Court Judge believes there is no basis for disqualification. Prohibits a Supreme Court Judge, a Supreme Court Judge's spouse, a Supreme Court Judge's domestic partner, or a Supreme Court Judge's children from accepting any gifts, loans, bequests, benefits, favors, or other things of value, except as specified in the Act. Requires a Supreme Court Judge to file annually with the Clerk of the Illinois Supreme Court a verified written statement of economic interests on an Illinois Judicial Statement of Economic Interests Form. Specifies the contents of the Illinois Judicial Statement of Economic Interests Form. Authorizes the Judicial Inquiry Board to investigate any alleged violation of the Act. Provides that, if after an investigation and upon determination by the Judicial Inquiry Board that there is a reasonable basis to publicly charge a Supreme Court Judge with a violation of the Act, the Judicial Inquiry Board may file and prosecute a complaint before the Illinois Courts Commission. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a comprehensive ethics framework for Illinois Supreme Court Judges, focusing on maintaining judicial integrity, impartiality, and transparency. The legislation requires Supreme Court Judges to disqualify themselves from cases where their impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including situations involving personal bias, economic interests, or prior professional connections to the case. Judges must annually file a detailed economic interests statement that discloses financial holdings, income, gifts, and potential conflicts, which will be made publicly available. The bill strictly regulates the acceptance of gifts, loans, and other benefits, allowing only minimal, low-risk items like ordinary social hospitality or items under $100 from a single source. The Judicial Inquiry Board is authorized to investigate potential ethics violations and can file a complaint with the Illinois Courts Commission if there is reasonable evidence of misconduct. Key definitions are provided to clarify terms like "economic interest," "impartiality," and "domestic partner," and the bill also addresses modern considerations like the potential impact of social media relationships on judicial impartiality. The legislation aims to maintain public confidence in the judiciary by establishing clear ethical guidelines and transparency mechanisms for Supreme Court Judges.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Rules Committee (on 05/28/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=4069&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104 |
| BillText | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/104/HB/10400HB4069.htm |
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