Judge Leonard Murray of Chicago; ambulance chasing slacker

The state of Illinois presented Leonard Murray with a law license in 1974 after he graduated from Northwestern University Law School.

Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was duped into appointing Lennie to a seat as an Associate Judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County Illinois in Chicago. Lennie didn’t get the appointment because he was the most qualified lawyer in the greater Chicago area. He got it because he had proven to be a reliable lackey for the local political hacks.

The Illinois Registration and Disciplinary Commission found Clarke guilty of the following misconduct, which took place before Lennie ascended to the bench

• Failed to act with due diligence (slacker)
• Failed to keep client informed of status of matter
• Failed to appear for a scheduled hearing to apply for a deed to the property
• Engaged in conduct bring courts/legal profession into disrepute (What’s new?)
• Failed to comply with client information requests
• Attempted to settle a claim against him by an unrepresented client or former client without first advising that person in writing that independent representation is appropriate in connection therewith
• Shared legal fees with a nonlawyer
• Engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice
• Failed to advise client case had been dismissed
• Refused to return client file to client after being discharged
• Failed to appear at scheduled status hearing on client’s behalf
• Failed to file motion for reconsideration re: granting of summary judgment v. client
• Failed to add necessary defendant as heir to lawsuit after primary defendant died
• Paid an illegal $3,000 referral fee to a nonlawyer

As a direct consequence of his misconduct, the enablers for Attorney Misfits sitting on the Illinois Supreme Court punished Lennie by gifting him with a complimentary 1-year suspension of his law license.

As we speak (March 2017), Lennie practices to sit as a Cook County Circuit Court judge in Chicago, Illinois.