On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the Hearing Board of Illinois Registration and Disciplinary Commission submitted its report and recommendation regarding the misconduct charges against Attorney Scott Ian Jacobson.
The case is titled ‘In the Matter of Scott Ian Jacobson,’ with case no. 2022PR00038.
This disciplinary matter involves two counts of alleged misconduct of Attorney Jacobson related to dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, specifically Rule 8.4(c) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct.
The Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.
Count I of the complaint accuses Attorney Jacobson of making false statements about his trial experience in a judicial application. In his application for the position of Associate Judge, Attorney Jacobson claimed to have acted as trial counsel in a specific case, People v. Castillo, when he had not done so. The Hearing Panel found that Mr. Jacobson’s representation was false, and despite his explanation that he listed the case as a representative example of his work, the panel determined that he engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
Count II of the complaint alleges that Attorney Jacobson made false statements about his trial experience during a job interview for a first chair felony prosecutor position with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s office. The Hearing Panel concluded that Attorney Jacobson violated Rule 8.4(c) by making false representations about his trial experience during the interview and subsequent conversations. The first chair position is described as significant within the office, handling serious criminal cases and having primary responsibility in the courtroom.
The Hearing Panel found clear and convincing evidence supporting the charges of misconduct in both counts. Attorney Jacobson’s lack of candor during the proceedings and failure to take responsibility for his actions were considered aggravating factors. As a result, the panel recommended a one-year suspension for Attorney Jacobson.
The recommendation reads:
“Based on Respondent’s pattern of fabricating his work history, some of which he repeated in his testimony here, we conclude that the recommended sanction must be sufficient to impress upon Respondent the importance of complying with ethical rules and must protect the integrity of the profession. We determine that a one-year suspension will fulfill these purposes and is within the range of sanctions imposed in comparable cases. Accordingly, we recommend that respondent, Scott Ian Jacobson, be suspended for one year.”
According to Avvo, Attorney Scott Ian Jacobson was an assistant state’s attorney in McHenry County, Illinois. He acquired his license to practice in the state in 2010.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
