Illinois Supreme Court Makes ARDC Appointments
The Illinois Supreme Court has made several appointments to the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (A.R.D.C.), the Supreme Court agency that investigates allegations of lawyer wrongdoing in Illinois, and the A.R.D.C. Review Board, which decides appeals in attorney discipline cases.
Current Commission Vice Chairperson Timothy L. Bertschy of Dunlap was appointed to another term on the Commission, beginning on January 1, 2022, and ending on December 31, 2024, and was named Commission Chairperson for that three-year term. Mr. Bertschy takes over as Chairperson from David F. Rolewick of Wheaton, whose term expires this year. The Court also appointed attorney John H. Simpson of Chicago to the position of Commission Vice-Chairperson, effective January 1, 2022, and expiring on December 31, 2022.
Additionally, the Supreme Court appointed St. Charles attorney Kate L. McCracken to a three-year term as an A.R.D.C. Commissioner and reappointed Mt. Vernon attorney J. Nelson Wood to another term as a Commissioner. Both terms expire on December 31, 2024.
The A.R.D.C. has seven Commissioners, three of whom are non-lawyers. The Commissioners establish A.R.D.C. policies, appoint members of the A.R.D.C. Inquiry and Hearing Boards and, subject to the approval of the Supreme Court, appoint the Commission’s chief executive officer, the Administrator. Commissioners receive no compensation for their service.
In the same order, the Supreme Court also appointed Ottawa attorney Michael T. Reagan to be a member of the A.R.D.C. Review Board effective on January 1, 2022, and expiring on December 31, 2024. Mr. Reagan replaces attorney Benedict Schwarz II of West Dundee, whose Review Board term expires this year. Attorneys Leslie D. Davis of Chicago and George E. Marron III of Highland were reappointed to the Review Board with their new terms expiring on December 31, 2024. Like A.R.D.C. Commissioners, Review Board members are not compensated for their service.
More than 80 employees and over 100 lawyer and non-lawyer volunteers work for the A.R.D.C. All funds expended by the agency come from annual registration fees paid by Illinois attorneys; there are no tax dollars used to support the disciplinary system. There are two A.R.D.C. offices: 130 East Randolph Drive, Suite 1500, in Chicago, and 3161 West White Oaks Drive, Suite 301, in Springfield.