Ezel / Ethics Opinions / JUDICIAL-IL

Could an Illinois judge convene or join a broad-based family violence coordinating council?

Short answer Yes. The Committee permitted participation where the council studied systems and procedures without advocating for particular litigants or appearing as a party or witness.
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JUDICIAL-IL
Issued
April 8, 1998

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This page answers the general question as of 1998. Ask about yours and see what the current rules of professional conduct in your state say for your facts, with citations.

Disclaimer: Advisory only. Not binding precedent.
About this page: The plain-English summary, reader guidance, and Q&A below were written by Ezel based on the official ethics opinion. The original opinion (linked on this page) is the authoritative source for any reliance.

Plain-English summary

Judges were asked to convene or join a multidisciplinary council studying domestic violence and recommending justice-system procedures. Members included law enforcement, defense lawyers, prosecutors, health workers, clergy, and educators.

The Committee found the work compatible with former Rules 64 and 65 because it addressed broad system improvement without taking sides in a particular case. The council did not appear in court or provide testimony for litigants.

It distinguished a sexual-assault task force that supported prosecutions and supplied witnesses, where judicial participation had raised impartiality concerns.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1998 under the 1993 Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct. The Committee’s page says that Code was superseded on January 1, 2023, and does not assess the effect of the 2023 Code. Treat this page as historical context and verify the current Code before relying on its analysis.

Common questions

Q: Could a judge join the council?

A: Yes, for the broad systems work described.

Q: Did the council advocate for individual litigants?

A: No. The opinion said it did not intervene for a particular person or testify in cases.

Background and rules framework

The Committee applied former Illinois Supreme Court Rules 64A, 64C, and 65B, contrasting IJEC Opinions 96-21 and 97-3 on other committee roles.

Citations and references

  • Illinois Supreme Court Rules 64A, 64C, 65B, and 65B(1).
  • IJEC Opinions 96-21 and 97-3.

See also

Source

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