On Tuesday, June 6, 2023, the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission filed a complaint against attorney Javaron Darnell Buckley for criminal conduct related to providing alcohol to a minor and renting a hotel room for the minor to drink alcohol.

The case is entitled “In the matter of Javaron Darnell Buckley” with case no. 2023PR00037.

The charges cited Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(b) which states:

Committing a criminal act that reflects adversely on Respondent’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.

The Rules of Professional Conduct can be found here.

According to the complaint, in December 2019, Buckley met 17-year-old M.W. at the McHenry County Courthouse and gave her his business card. About two weeks later, M.W. contacted Buckley and they began communicating by phone and text message.

On January 17, 2020, after M.W. had turned 18, Buckley arranged for her to be picked up and brought to the courthouse. After his court appearances, Buckley took M.W. to a hotel in Woodstock where he rented a room. Buckley then went to a convenience store and purchased a bottle of Hennessy, Coke, and condoms. In the hotel room, M.W. began drinking alcohol until she lost consciousness.

Hotel staff later observed M.W. incoherent and unable to walk without assistance. Video shows Buckley dragging M.W. through her home and struggling to get her up the stairs. M.W. told police she consumed alcohol until she blacked out and does not recall what happened. During her time with Buckley, M.W. suffered a broken ankle but does not know how it occurred.

In June 2021, Buckley was charged with providing liquor to a minor, battery, and renting a hotel room for liquor consumption by a minor. In July 2022, Buckley pled guilty to providing alcohol to a minor and renting a hotel room for a minor to drink alcohol.

In August 2022, Buckley was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge, 30 days in jail, a no-contact order with the victim, and a $500 fine.

The disciplinary complaint alleges Buckley engaged in criminal conduct that reflects adversely on his fitness as a lawyer by committing and being convicted of providing alcohol to a minor and renting a hotel room for a minor to drink alcohol.

The Administrator asked that a hearing be held and the panel recommend appropriate discipline against Buckley for his misconduct.

The Disposition states:

“WHEREFORE, the Administrator requests that this case be assigned to a panel of the Hearing Board, that a hearing be held pursuant to Rule 761 (d), and that the panel makes findings of fact, conclusions of fact and law, and a recommendation for such discipline as is warranted.”

Mr. Buckley practices in Lincolnshire, Illinois. He is licensed in Illinois with license no. 6326645. His info can be found on martindale.com.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.