On Wednesday, August 6, 2025, the Hearing Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission recommended a one-year suspension for attorney Alvin Philli Portis, following a default proceeding related to multiple counts of professional misconduct.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Alvin Philli Portis,” with case no. 2023PR00063
The Administrator, who presented the case against Portis, requested the suspension based on a two-count complaint filed on September 27, 2023. The allegations were deemed admitted due to Portis’s failure to cooperate in the discovery process, including not completing his deposition. Despite being notified of the hearing and the need for his participation, Portis did not respond adequately to the Administrator’s attempts to reschedule his deposition after he canceled a previously set date.
The admitted allegations revealed that while serving as an assistant Cook County State’s Attorney, Portis engaged in several acts of misconduct in a case involving a plaintiff who claimed that the Cook County Pension Board incorrectly determined his pension contributions. These included failing to comply with court-ordered discovery, misrepresenting his authority to settle a case, and making false statements to both opposing counsel and his supervisor about the status of the case. Portis also neglected to appear for nine consecutive court status hearings and did not respond to requests for information from the Administrator.
In mitigation, the panel acknowledged that Portis had no prior disciplinary history. He expressed remorse and recognized that he should have handled the situation differently. The panel considered his ongoing health and family challenges and noted that he had recently begun seeking treatment for these issues.
However, in aggravation, the panel highlighted that Portis was an experienced attorney who demonstrated a pattern of dishonest conduct over several years, which adversely affected Cook County’s ability to manage the underlying legal proceedings. The panel emphasized the importance of Portis continuing his treatment to ensure he could practice law under professional standards.
The Hearing Board concluded that Portis must successfully petition for reinstatement before returning to practice law, in line with Supreme Court Rule 767. The panel’s recommendation will be submitted to the Supreme Court for final consideration.
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Portis is a government attorney in Chicago, Illinois. He acquired his law license in Illinois in 2007.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
