On Wednesday, November 23, 2022, the Supreme Court of Illinois reinstated San Francisco Attorney Sarah Jane Melisande Jones.
The case, titled In Re: Sarah Jane Melisande Jones, was brought by the Administrator of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Commission No. 2020PR00057.
In 2012, Jones was disbarred on consent for failure to diligently represent clients, failure to keep clients reasonably informed, failure to refund the unearned portion of fees paid in advance, and engaging in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation. Moreover, Jones was found to have engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.
She applied for reinstatement in 2021. The Hearing Board ruled in favor of Jones’ reinstatement after finding that Jones proved that she is rehabilitated and had met the requirements for reinstatement. The Administrator appealed and asked for the Review Board to rule on the contrary.
The Review Board’s Report and Recommendation, dated August 15, 2021, agreed with the Hearing Board and recommended to the Court that Jones be reinstated to the practice of law in Illinois.
With the foregoing facts and discussions, the Court ruled in favor of Jones’s reinstatement.
The Order reads:
“Petitions by petitioner Sarah Jane Melisande Jones and the Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission for leave to file exceptions to the report and recommendation of the Review Board. Allowed. The petition of Sarah Jane Melisande Jones for reinstatement to the roll of attorneys licensed to practice law in Illinois pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 767 is allowed and petitioner Sarah Jane Melisande Jones is reinstated to the practice of law in Illinois. . .”
The conditions of Jones’s reinstatement include, among others, Jones to timely cooperate with the Administrator in providing information regarding any investigations relating to her conduct; comply with the Minimum Continuing Legal Education requirements for reinstated attorneys; submit quarterly written reports to the probation officer concerning the status of her law practice, and for Jones to placed under supervision by a licensed attorney approved by the Administrator.
The conditions shall remain in effect for the first three years following reinstatement.
Ms. Sarah Jane Melisande Jones finished her Juris Doctor degree at Washington University, graduating in 1983. She practiced in San Francisco, California. She has been licensed in Illinois, license #6211249.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
