Former Judge who resigned over hot mic incident now facing ARDC complaint

A former Cook County judge who resigned after a hot mic incident caught his pejorative comments about a prominent defense attorney is now facing a complaint by the state’s regulatory commission for attorneys.

The complaint against former Associate Judge William Raines was filed in August by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, which accused him of violating its code of conduct.

Raines resigned as a judge in 2022, nearly 10 months after he was charged with similar ethics violations by a state agency tasked with investigating judicial misconduct. At issue are comments he made in January of that year after a hearing that was livestreamed on YouTube.

Defense attorney Jennifer Bonjean appeared for the Zoom hearing on behalf of a client, Roosevelt Myles, in a wrongful conviction case that was being heard by Raines.

After Bonjean left the Zoom hearing, Raines began talking to others in the virtual courtroom, describing Bonjean’s demeanor during the proceedings as “entertaining.”

“Did you see her going nuts? Glasses off, fingers through her hair, the phone’s going all over the place. It’s insane,” Raines said, according to the commission’s complaint filing.

“Can you imagine waking up next to her every day? Oh, my God!,” Raines continued.

Raines didn’t realize the discussion was streaming online.

“Ohh, wait ... Media streaming live on YouTube? What’s up with this?,” the former judge allegedly said before the stream was ended, according to a transcript of the hearing Bonjean included in a motion to preserve the recording.

Bonjean said she was alerted to the conversation by a “good Samaritan” and said she found the exchange “sexist and offensive.”

The case was moved before another judge.

Later that month, Chief Judge Timothy Evans placed Raines on limited duties, commonly referred to as “judge jail” among courthouse personnel, after the state’s Judicial Inquiry Board charged Raines with “conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.”

The inquiry board, tasked with investigating allegations of misconduct by state judges, largely operates in secret and only acknowledges investigations if it files charges with the Illinois Court Commission, which can lead to discipline, including a judge’s removal from the bench.

The board loses jurisdiction if a judge retires, effectively allowing judges accused of misconduct to avoid a penalty. Several Cook County judges have resigned in recent years while facing investigations or charges.

Former Judge Mauricio Araujo resigned in 2020 after he was charged by the board with making unwanted sexual advances toward a court reporter while alone with her in an elevator at the county’s Domestic Violence Courthouse in Chicago. More recently, Judge William Hooks resigned earlier this year after the circuit court referred allegations that he made racist comments and engaged in ex parte communications to the board.

Like the Judicial Inquiry Board, the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission now accuses Raines of “conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.” An investigation by the commission can lead to discipline up to disbarment.

In an answer filed by Raines’ attorney on Monday with the commission, the former judge admitted to the facts and statements outlined in the complaint, but he denied violating ethics rules.

Raines has been a registered attorney in the state since 1993. He was elected as a judge in 2014.

It was not clear if he was practicing law.

A LinkedIn page for Raines listed his occupation as a retired Cook County judge and self-employed.

Raines' attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.