Statutes, codes, and regulations
Illinois Court Rules
Illinois Supreme Court RulesArticle XI - Illinois Code Of Judicial Conduct Of 2023
Canon 3 - A Judge Shall Conduct The Judge's Personal And Extrajudicial Activities To Minimize The Risk Of Conflict With The Obligations Of Judicial Office
Rule 3.3 - Testifying As A Character Witness

Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 3.3

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As amended through September 23, 2024
Rule 3.3 - Testifying As A Character Witness

A judge shall not testify as a character witness in a judicial, administrative, or other adjudicatory proceeding or otherwise vouch for the character of a person in a legal proceeding, except when duly summoned.

Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 3.3

Adopted July 1, 2022, eff. 1/1/2023.

COMMENTS

[1] A judge who, without being subpoenaed, testifies as a character witness abuses the prestige of judicial office to advance the interests of another. See Rule 1.3. Nothing in this Rule will affect or prohibit a judge's ability to provide a letter of recommendation on judicial letterhead for an individual based upon the judge's personal knowledge. See Rule 1.3, Comment [2].