On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, the Supreme Court of Illinois ruled on charges for attorney discipline against Bettendorf attorney Stephen W. Newport alleging Sexual Assault. The ruling suspended Newport, who has been disciplined in the State of Iowa, from the practice of law in the State of Illinois for one year until he is reinstated to the practice of law in Iowa.

The case is titled “In the Matter of Stephen W. Newport,” and was brought by the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Board. Case #31337.

The charges cited rules of professional conduct 8.4(d) (which prohibits a lawyer from engaging in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice) which states:

Engage in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. 

The rules of Professional conduct can be found here. 

The following are as alleged and summarized from the filing:

In October 2019, the Respondent was the subject of an Iowa disciplinary complaint, charging him with committing criminal acts, specifically indecent exposure, and sexual assault, against a client, and engaging in sexual harassment of that client and a second client. Three of the five commission members also found that Respondent had engaged in criminal conduct. The majority of the commission members recommended that the Respondent be suspended from the practice of law for two years.

The filing states:

‘Jane Doe #1, whom Respondent had previously represented in two matters, hired him again in 2015 to represent her in a personal injury case. Respondent arranged to settle the case and had Jane Doe #1 come to his office on January 19, 2018. Jane Doe #1 stated that Respondent initiated sexual talk with her during the meeting, dropped his pants and underwear, placed her hand on his scrotum, and remarked on his red pubic hair. She also stated that Respondent showed her, and talked about, a medical device that was protruding from his abdomen that a doctor had implanted, and that caused him to have erection issues. Jane Doe #1 also stated that later in the afternoon, Respondent told her during a phone call, “Deal’s done, drop your clothes off, and you can give me a blow job.’

The filing continues:

‘Respondent represented Jane Doe #2 in a custody matter between 2012 and 2014. She testified that, on two occasions, Respondent insinuated that she could pay for his legal services with sexual favors, and on one occasion he asked her whether she wanted to see the hernia in his groin.’

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 763 provides that if an attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois and another jurisdiction is disciplined in the other jurisdiction, the attorney may be subjected to the same or comparable discipline in Illinois upon proof of the order of the other jurisdiction imposing the discipline. Thus, the suspension from the Supreme Court of Illinois,

The Disposition states that: 

“Respondent Stephen W. Newport, who has been disciplined in the State of Iowa, is suspended from the practice of law in the State of Illinois for one (1) year until he is reinstated to the practice of law in the State of Iowa.”

As of today, Mr. NewPort is listed on the website of the law firm Newport & Newport, P.L.C. as a practicing attorney. He attended Drake University Law School, graduating in 1977. Newport practices in Bettendorf, Iowa. He has been licensed in Iowa and Illinois. His info can be found on Linkedin. 

A copy of the original filing can be found here.