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Judicial Inquiry Board files complaint against Fiss and Young
10/2/2007 10:27 AM
 | | Young | | |  | | Fiss | | | Young_Fiss_complaint.pdf
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The Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board filed a complaint with the Illinois Courts Commission earlier his morning against St. Clair County Circuit Judges Jan Fiss and Patrick Young for "conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice and conduct that brought the judicial office into disrepute."
The complaint states that Young drove a car while under the influence of alcohol Dec. 3, 2006, and was involved in an accident in which the driver of another car sustained injuries.
Young's arrest happened the day before he was to be sworn in as St. Clair County Circuit Judge. He and his passenger, former Chief Judge Jan Fiss who also was to be sworn into office Dec. 4, were returning from a St. Louis Rams game when the accident happened at the intersection of Frank Scott Parkway and Dutch Hollow Road in Belleville.
On March 2, Young was found guilty of DUI by a stipulated bench trial and was sentenced to court supervision for 24 months, fined $1,500 and ordered to complete an alcohol evaluation.
Fiss pled guilty to illegal transportation of alcohol on March 20, and was sentenced to 60 days of court supervision and fined $500.
John Gallo of Sidley Austin will prosecute the complaint on behalf of the JIB.
Gallo alleges that the judges violated the Code of Judicial Conduct, Illinois Supreme Court Rule 61, which states, "An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing, and should personally observe, high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved. The provisions of this Code should be construed and applied to further that objective."
The complaint also alleges that Fiss and Young's conduct violated Rule 62 which states, "A judge should respect and comply with the law and should conduct himself or herself at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary."
The complaint asks the Illinois Court Commission to make an order in accordance with Section 15 of Article VI of the Illinois Constitution.
According to the Constitution, the Commission shall have authority after notice and public hearing, (1) to remove from office, suspend without pay, censure or reprimand a Judge or Associate Judge for willful misconduct in office, persistent failure to perform his or her duties, or other conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice or that brings the judicial office into disrepute, or (2) to suspend, with or without pay, or retire a Judge or Associate Judge who is physically or mentally unable to perform his or her duties.
According to the Belleville Police Department report, Young was northbound on Frank Scott Parkway when he turned left onto Dutch Hollow Road in front of a southbound vehicle driven by Abel Muhammed of Swansea.
Muhammed, who had to be extricated from his 2006 Toyota Tundra, was treated and released from Memorial Hospital's emergency room. He suffered facial lacerations and complained of a broken leg.
Young was driving a 2005 GMC Yukon.
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