Gavin Howe
There have been claims that former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama surrendered their law licenses to escape disciplinary action. However, these claims are false. Both Barack and Michelle Obama are not currently authorized to practice law in Illinois, but that is because they elected to change their status to retired and inactive, respectively. There is no record of any disciplinary actions or proceedings against either of them, and they could return to active status if they desired.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Barack Obama's law license status | Voluntarily retired, not authorized to practice law |
| Michelle Obama's law license status | Voluntarily inactive, not authorized to practice law |
| Reason for Barack Obama's status change | No longer needed a law license after becoming president |
| Reason for Michelle Obama's status change | Unclear; possibly due to change in registration requirements or a personal choice to focus on community work |
| Disciplinary actions or charges against the Obamas | None |
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What You'll Learn
Barack Obama's law license status
Obama chose to have his law license placed on "voluntarily inactive" status in February 2007, after announcing his candidacy for the presidency. He then opted to change his status to "voluntarily retired" after becoming president in early 2009.
There have been false claims that Obama surrendered his license to escape charges of lying on his bar application. However, there is no record of any disciplinary actions or proceedings against him. James Grogan, deputy administrator and chief counsel for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois, confirmed that the Obamas were "never the subject of any public disciplinary proceedings".
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Michelle Obama's law license status
Michelle Obama graduated from Harvard Law School in 1988 and was admitted as a lawyer by the Supreme Court of Illinois on May 12, 1989. Following her graduation, she joined Sidley Austin, a corporate law firm in Chicago. However, in 1993, she voluntarily surrendered her law license, and in 1994, she had her license placed on "inactive" status.
There have been claims that Michelle Obama surrendered her law license to avoid disciplinary action or criminal prosecution. However, these claims are false and have been fact-checked by organizations such as Snopes, FactCheck.org, and PolitiFact. There is no record of any disciplinary actions or pending proceedings against Michelle Obama. The Illinois State Bar Association continues to list her as an honorary member.
Michelle Obama's decision to change her license status may have contributed to the rumor that she surrendered her license. Prior to 1999, active lawyers in Illinois were required to petition the court to change their status. As a result, the online registration record previously listed her as "on court-ordered inactive status."
Michelle Obama's current license status is "voluntarily inactive," and she is not authorized to practice law in Illinois. However, she could return to active status and practice law if she desired.
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The Obamas' reasons for surrendering their licenses
There are several reasons why Barack and Michelle Obama surrendered their law licenses. Firstly, Barack Obama chose to have his law license placed on "voluntarily inactive" status after announcing his candidacy for president in 2007. He then changed it to "voluntarily retired" after becoming president in 2009. This decision was likely due to the demands and responsibilities of the presidency, which left little time for legal practice.
Michelle Obama also had her own reasons for surrendering her license. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1988, she joined a corporate law firm in Chicago. However, a few years later, in 1993 or 1994, she decided to pursue a different career path and dedicated herself to community service work. As a result, she voluntarily chose to place her license on inactive status.
It is important to note that contrary to some claims, neither Barack nor Michelle Obama surrendered their law licenses to escape disciplinary action or avoid criminal charges. There is no record of any disciplinary proceedings or pending charges against either of them. The decision to change the status of their licenses was a personal choice, and both remain in good standing with the Illinois Bar Association, listed as honorary members.
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The Illinois ARDC on the Obamas' licenses
Barack and Michelle Obama are no longer practising lawyers. They surrendered their licenses in 2008 and 1993, respectively. However, there is no evidence that they did so to avoid disciplinary action or criminal charges. The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) lists Barack Obama as "retired" and not authorised to practise law. Michelle Obama is listed as "voluntarily inactive" and not authorised to practise law.
According to the ARDC's website, there are no records of any disciplinary actions or pending proceedings against the Obamas. James Grogan, deputy administrator and chief counsel for the ARDC, confirmed that the Obamas were "never the subject of any public disciplinary proceedings." The Illinois State Bar Association continues to list them as honorary members.
The Obamas likely chose to change the status of their licenses because they no longer needed active law licenses for their work. Michelle Obama, for example, worked for the Public Allies project in Chicago, where she did not need an active law license. It is also worth noting that being an active status lawyer costs more money and requires Continuing Legal Education classes, unless one is in certain jobs for which the requirements are waived.
In conclusion, while the Obamas have surrendered their law licenses, the Illinois ARDC confirms that this was not due to any disciplinary or ethical charges. The Obamas remain in good standing with the Illinois Bar Association.
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The Obamas' honorary membership with the Illinois State Bar Association
The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) was formed in 1877 by 88 lawyers from 37 counties who met in the Sangamon County Courthouse in Springfield. The ISBA's constitution outlines its purpose as:
> [T]o cultivate the science of jurisprudence, to promote reform in the law, to facilitate the administration of justice, to elevate the standard of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession, to encourage a thorough and liberal education, and to cherish a spirit of brotherhood among the members thereof.
ISBA membership is voluntary and the association is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, with another office in Chicago.
The ISBA has a history of granting honorary memberships. In 1879, the ISBA made Myra Bradwell and Ada Kepley honorary members, despite both being denied law licenses because they were women.
The Obamas are honorary members of the ISBA. Neither Barack nor Michelle Obama has an active license to practice law. Barack Obama is listed as "voluntarily retired and not authorized to practice law," while Michelle Obama is listed as "voluntarily inactive and not [authorized to practice law]." Both Obamas changed their registration status voluntarily and there is no evidence that they were forced to give up their law licenses to avoid disciplinary proceedings.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Obamas did not lose their licenses to practice law due to disciplinary reasons. Both Barack and Michelle Obama chose to have their licenses placed on "voluntarily inactive" status. Barack Obama changed his status to "voluntarily retired" after becoming president.
The Obamas haven't publicly stated the reasons behind their decision to change the status of their licenses. However, it's important to note that neither of them was facing disciplinary actions or criminal charges at the time.
Yes, despite their inactive and retired statuses, the Illinois State Bar Association continues to list both Barack and Michelle Obama as honorary members.
