Conduct Constituting Threat of

Harm to Clients (a) If a grievance panel, a reviewing committee, the Statewide Grievance Committee or the disci- plinary counsel believes that a lawyer poses a substantial threat of irreparable harm to his or her clients or to prospective clients, the disciplinary counsel shall apply to the court for an order of interim suspension. The disciplinary counsel shall provide the lawyer with notice that an application for interim suspension has been filed and that a hearing will be held on such application. (b) The court, after hearing, pending final dispo- sition of the disciplinary proceeding, may, if it finds that the lawyer poses a substantial threat of irrepa- rable harm to his or her clients or to prospective clients, enter an order of interim suspension, or may order such other interim action as deemed appropriate. Thereafter, upon good cause shown, the court may, in the interest of justice, set aside or modify the interim suspension or other order entered pursuant hereto. Whenever the court enters an interim suspension order pursuant hereto, the court may appoint a trustee, pursuant to Section 2-64, to protect the clients’ and the suspended attorney’s interests. (c) No entry fee shall be required for proceed- ings hereunder. Any hearings necessitated by the proceedings may, in the discretion of the court, be held in chambers. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 28C.) (Amended June 24, 2002, to take effect July 1, 2003; May 14, 2003, effective date changed to Oct. 1, 2003; Sept. 30, 2003, effective date changed to Jan. 1, 2004; amended June 26, 2006, to take effect Jan. 1, 2007; amended June 11, 2021, to take effect Jan. 1, 2022.)