Statewide Bar Counsel

(a) The chief court administrator shall appoint an attorney to act as statewide bar counsel, and such additional attorneys to act as assistant bar counsel as are necessary. In the event that a vacancy arises in any such position, the chief court administrator shall fill the vacancy. Compen- sation for these positions shall be paid by the Judicial Branch. Such individuals shall be in the legal services division of the Office of the Chief Court Administrator and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to them in that capacity. (b) In addition to any other powers and duties set forth in this chapter, the statewide bar counsel or an assistant bar counsel shall: (1) Report to the national disciplinary data bank such requested information as is officially reported to the statewide bar counsel concerning attorneys who have resigned pursuant to Section 2-52, or whose unethical conduct has resulted in disciplin- ary action by the court or by the Statewide Griev- ance Committee, or who have been placed on inactive status pursuant to Sections 2-56 through 2-62. (2) Receive and maintain information forwarded to the statewide bar counsel by the national disci- plinary data bank. (3) Receive and maintain records forwarded to the statewide bar counsel by the clerks of court pursuant to Sections 2-23 and 2-52 and by com- plainants pursuant to Section 2-32. (4) For a fee established by the chief court administrator, certify the status of individuals who are or were members of the bar of this state at the request of bar admission authorities of other jurisdictions or at the request of a member of the bar of this state with respect to such member’s status. In certifying the status of an individual, no information shall be provided to the requesting entity, other than public information, without a waiver from that individual. (5) Assist the Statewide Grievance Committee and the reviewing committees in carrying out their duties under this chapter. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 27H.) (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 22, 2009, to take effect Jan. 1, 2010; amended June 12, 2025, to take effect June 24, 2025.) HISTORY—2025: In the first sentence of subsection (a), ‘‘judges of the Superior Court’’ was deleted and replaced with ‘‘chief court administrator’’ and ‘‘, for a term of one year com- mencing July 1’’ after ‘‘necessary’’ was deleted. Prior to 2026, the second sentence of subsection (a) read: ‘‘In the event that a vacancy arises in any such position before the end of a term, the executive committee of the Superior Court shall appoint an attorney to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term.’’ COMMENTARY—2025: Number 24-108 of the 2024 Public Acts, An Act Concerning Court Operations and Administrative Proceedings, among other things, consolidated under the Chief Court Administrator the responsibility for many personnel and administrative matters that historically were acted on by the Executive Committee and/or the judges of the Superior Court but which now are consistent with the current duties and responsibilities of and properly undertaken by the Chief Court Administrator. The changes to this section conform to the provisions of that public act.