On Friday, March 31, 2023, Sterling attorney Michael Allen Lancaster filed a motion before the Supreme Court of Illinois seeking to have his name stricken from the Master Roll of Attorneys licensed to practice law in the state.

The case is styled ‘In the Matter of Michael Allen Lancaster,’ with case no. 2023PR00012.

According to court documents, on October 10, 2019, Lancaster was charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Assault and one count of Unlawful Restraint in the Circuit Court of Whiteside County.  Thereafter, Lancaster was charged with one count of Criminal Sexual Assault against another female.

On May 5, 2022, the prosecutor dismissed all charges and filed a fourth count, alleging that Lancaster committed Battery, a misdemeanor, by knowingly making physical and sexual contact with his client, S.L.W., the victim identified in the original Information.

Had Lancaster’s conduct been the subject of a hearing, the Administrator would have introduced the evidence that would have clearly and convincingly established Lancaster’s misconduct and violation of Rules 8.4(b) and 8.4(c) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, which prohibit:

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

Conduct involving dishonesty.

The Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct can be found on the Illinois Courts website.

Lancaster contemporaneously filed his motion with the Administrator’s statement of charges and his affidavit in support of the instant motion.

The Statement of Charges states:

“On May 5, 2022, Movant pled guilty to the charge of Battery, . . . and was sentenced to a term of 18 months of conditional discharge with conditions including that Movant “not seek reinstatement of his license to practice law nor maintain a license to practice law.”

In view of the foregoing, Lancaster respectfully asked the Court to enter an order striking his name from the Illinois Master Roll of Attorneys.

Mr. Michael Allen Lancaster practices in Sterling. After graduating from Vanderbilt University Law School, Lancaster was licensed in Illinois in 1981. His info can be found on Avvo.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.