* Heh…
I'd like to have a word with whomever scheduled this for a week when @capitolfax.bsky.social is on hiatus…
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— MisterJayEm (@misterjayem.bsky.social) April 17, 2025 at 2:12 PM
* Tribune…
A former Republican nominee for Illinois attorney general, downstate lawyer Thomas DeVore, should have his law license suspended for 60 days for a series of infractions, including having a sexual relationship with a client whom he represented in challenging Gov. JB Pritzker’s COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, a legal disciplinary hearing board has recommended.
DeVore, who became well-known for spearheading legal fights over pandemic mandates before his unsuccessful 2022 run for attorney general, began dating a married Springfield salon owner shortly after sending letters challenging the pandemic mandates to government agencies on her behalf in May 2020, according to an Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission hearing board report issued Monday.
The two began a sexual relationship sometime that June, though the exact date was disputed in testimony before the board at a December 2024 hearing.
DeVore argued the sexual relationship with Riley Craig began after his initial work for Craig ended and before his work representing her in other legal matters began. But the hearing board found evidence showing “an unbroken continuation of his attorney-client relationship,” including DeVore preparing pleadings in Craig’s divorce case filed by a law firm associate.
* ARDC…
The Administrator charged Respondent with violating Rules 1.7(a)(2), 1.8(a), 1.8(j), 3.1, 3.4(c), 4.2, 4.4(a), and 8.4(d) by engaging in a conflict of interest and sexual relationship with a current client, entering into a prohibited business transaction with that client, copying the client on an email disparaging her, bringing frivolous chancery and order of protection proceedings against the client with no substantial purpose other than to embarrass, burden, or delay her, knowingly disobeying the automatic stay in the client’s bankruptcy case, emailing the client twice about her bankruptcy despite knowing she was represented by another attorney in that matter, and being sanctioned by the bankruptcy court for his conduct. The Hearing Board found that Respondent engaged in all of the alleged misconduct except the Rule 3.4 charges and some of the Rule 3.1 and Rule 4.4(a) charges. The Hearing Board recommended a 60-day suspension based on the proven Rule violations, substantial mitigating factors, and absence of aggravating factors.
More on that bankruptcy issue is here.
- low level - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 8:48 am:
What a guy… So much winning. This is what Illinois Republicans voted for.
- Garfield Ridge Guy - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 9:03 am:
==What a guy… So much winning. This is what Illinois Republicans voted for.==
This is not true. These allegations were unknown/disputed in 2022.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 9:20 am:
A 60-day suspension for these violations seems like a real slap on the wrist.
- Excitable Boy - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 9:21 am:
- These allegations were unknown/disputed in 2022. -
Devore has been an obvious sleazebag grifter from day one, and he was the GOP nominee. This recommendation is just one piece of what the rest of us saw all along.
- H-W - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 9:24 am:
Well said, Mr. JM. My thoughts exactly.
- Amalia - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 9:46 am:
total slap on the wrist. and another Republican with a license suspension. with memories of a Republican township official who got 30 days.
- Big Dipper - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 10:04 am:
Not sure how lying about when the improper sexual relationship started equals cooperating with the process for purposes of mitigation.
- @misterjayem - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 10:21 am:
“A 60-day suspension for these violations seems like a real slap on the wrist.”
Makes one wonder what it takes for an attorney to get disbarred in Illinois (hint: it’s messing with a client’s money)
– MrJM
- ArchPundit - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 11:09 am:
===This is not true. These allegations were unknown/disputed in 2022.
The girlfriend was certainly known. The former husband kept making it clear.
- Samantha - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 12:07 pm:
Only a 60 day suspension is a joke. Shame on the ARDC. This man abused the order of protection mechanism against a woman for the sole purpose of “getting her attention” in a business dispute which had zero to do with any legitimate fear of safety. How does a man who makes a mockery of our laws, especially a law designed mostly to protect women from abusive males, still get to practice law after only a short time out? And shame on former Illinois Republican National Committeeman Richard Porter for going to bat for his chum and hunting buddy and testifying to DeVore’s “good character” during the ARDC proceeding. Add 2 more Illinois Republican men this lifelong Republican woman will never take seriously.
- H-W - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 1:02 pm:
I checked a bit ago, and there was no reference to this “situation” on Mr. DeVore’s primary outlet - his Facebook page. Perhaps it didn’t happen? I mean, there a dozens of hate-filled posts on his page. I cannot believe he is not calling out the judge, unless this is just a conspiracy theory against him. /s
- Big Dipper - Monday, Apr 21, 25 @ 1:16 pm:
It’s funny he claimed to have respect for the ARDC when he disrespects every other governmental entity. I guess you say what you need to and it worked.