On Thursday, December 12, 2024, the Hearing Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission recommended the disbarment of Attorney Margaret Jean Lowery following serious allegations of misconduct. The charges against Lowery included making false statements that impugned the integrity of a circuit judge, a retired Illinois Supreme Court justice, and the Illinois Supreme Court itself.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Margaret Jean Lowery,” with case no. 2023PR00060.
The case arose from multiple counts filed against Lowery, accusing her of making false or reckless assertions in both court documents and social media. The Hearing Board concluded that the Administrator had provided clear and convincing evidence of violations of several professional conduct rules, specifically Rules 3.3(a)(1), 8.2(a), and 8.4(c).
During the proceedings held on May 2, 2024, it was noted that Lowery failed to attend the hearing and was not represented by legal counsel. The Administrator presented evidence that Lowery had made defamatory statements regarding Judge Andrew Gleeson, alleging he threatened her with homelessness. This claim was found to be entirely false, as Gleeson testified that he had never communicated with Lowery in any capacity.
The charges included six counts of misconduct, with the Hearing Board affirming five of them. The evidence presented revealed a pattern of making false, disrespectful, and inflammatory statements, which was exacerbated by Lowery’s lack of remorse and her failure to acknowledge any wrongdoing. Additionally, her past disciplinary actions were cited as aggravating factors in the recommendation for disbarment.
The Hearing Board also highlighted Lowery’s attempts to delay the hearing through various motions citing medical issues. These requests for continuance were repeatedly denied, as the Board found insufficient medical evidence to substantiate her claims. Notably, on the day before the hearing, Lowery submitted a last-minute motion for a continuance, which was not deemed adequate to justify her absence.
The proceedings revealed that Lowery had actively participated in her case in the weeks leading up to the hearing, filing multiple motions and statements, which contradicted her claims of being unable to practice law due to health issues. Testimony from the Administrator’s witnesses indicated that Lowery had posted incendiary remarks on social media, further calling into question the integrity of the judicial process and the individuals involved in her previous disciplinary matters.
Lowery’s allegations of gender discrimination and systemic bias were also examined. While she claimed that the all-male Review Board was biased against her, the Administrator did not present sufficient evidence to support the notion that her statements were knowingly false or made with reckless disregard for the truth. The Board ultimately found that the Administrator failed to prove this particular charge.
The Hearing Board’s findings concluded that Lowery’s actions violated the rules of professional conduct by knowingly making false statements and engaging in dishonest behavior. The recommendation for disbarment reflects the severity of the misconduct and the negative impact of her actions on the legal profession’s integrity.
The recommendation states:
“For all of these reasons, we determine that disbarment is warranted in order to protect the public from Respondent’s continued use of her law license to wrongfully impugn others and undermine public trust in the legal system. Considering the egregious proven misconduct, serious aggravating factors, lack of mitigation, and relevant case law, we recommend that Respondent, Margaret Jean Lowery, be disbarred.”
According to avvo.com, Ms. Lowery is a healthcare attorney in Belleville, Illinois. She attended the University of Tulsa College of Law, graduating in 1986.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
