Anaya Nolan
There have been many claims on social media that Michelle Obama surrendered her law license in 1993 to avoid disciplinary action or criminal prosecution. However, this is false. 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. In 1994, she requested that her license be placed on inactive status, which means that she still holds a valid law license but is not currently engaged in any professional activities that require it to be active.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Michelle Obama gave up her law license | 1993 |
| Reason | To avoid standing trial for insurance fraud |
| Status | Voluntarily inactive |
| Possibility to return to active status | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Michelle Obama's law license status
There have been many claims that Michelle Obama surrendered her law license to avoid disciplinary action, specifically, insurance fraud charges. However, these claims are false. 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. A few years later, in 1994, she requested that her license be placed on ""inactive" status. This means that she still holds a valid law license but is not currently engaged in any professional activities that require it to be active.
Michelle Obama is not currently authorized to practice law in Illinois, but she could return to active status if she desired. She would have to file a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court requesting to be transferred back to active status. This is because she changed her status under old Supreme Court Rule 770, which required active lawyers to petition the court if they wanted to change their status.
There is no evidence that Michelle Obama was ever subject to any disciplinary proceedings or criminal charges. The Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois reports that there have never been any disciplinary actions against her.
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Reasons for surrendering her law license
Michelle Obama "voluntarily surrendered" her law license in 1993. However, she did not lose her license to practice law for disciplinary reasons or criminal charges. Instead, she requested that her license be placed on "inactive" status, which means she still holds a valid law license but is not currently engaged in any professional activities that require it to be active.
There have been no disciplinary actions or criminal charges against Michelle Obama, according to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois. The online public registration records of the ARDC also show that neither Michelle nor Barack Obama has any public record of discipline or pending proceedings against them.
The Obamas haven’t shared exactly what prompted them to change the status of their licenses. However, according to the White House website, "After a few years, Mrs Obama decided her true calling was working with people to serve their communities and their neighbors.”
It is important to note that Michelle Obama could return to practicing law if she decides to. She would have to file a motion with the Illinois Supreme Court requesting to be transferred back to active status.
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Michelle Obama's law career
Michelle Obama, a lawyer, writer, and the wife of the 44th US President, Barack Obama, graduated from Harvard Law School in 1988. She was then admitted as a lawyer by the Supreme Court of Illinois on May 12, 1989.
Michelle Obama began her law career at the Chicago-based corporate law firm, Sidley Austin LLP (also known as Sidley & Austin), where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. He was a summer associate, and she was assigned to mentor him. After a few years at the firm, she decided to switch to public service and joined Chicago City Hall as an assistant commissioner for planning and development. She then became the founding executive director of the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program that prepares youth for public service.
In 1994, while working for Public Allies, Michelle Obama voluntarily placed her law license on "inactive" status. This means she still holds a valid law license but is not currently engaged in any professional activities that require it to be active. There is no basis for the claim that she surrendered her license to avoid ethics charges or criminal prosecution. According to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois, neither of the Obamas has any public record of discipline or pending proceedings against them.
Michelle Obama has not returned to active law practice. Instead, she has focused on supporting her husband's political career and pursuing her initiatives as First Lady. These initiatives include "Let's Move," which aims to reduce childhood obesity, "Joining Forces," which supports service members, veterans, and their families, "Reach Higher," which encourages young people to pursue higher education, and "Let Girls Learn," which promotes education for adolescent girls worldwide.
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The process of surrendering a law license
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. She "voluntarily surrendered" her law license in 1993, placing it on "inactive" status. It is important to note that a lawyer who has surrendered their license no longer holds that license, while a lawyer who has gone on inactive status still holds a valid license but is not currently practising law.
Now, let's delve into the process of surrendering a law license.
Voluntary Surrender:
The decision to voluntarily surrender a law license can arise from various reasons, such as avoiding disciplinary proceedings, changing career paths, or personal circumstances like retirement. In the case of attorneys, a voluntary surrender can help mitigate potential damage to their reputation. To initiate the process, the lawyer must notify the relevant regulatory body in writing, often using designated forms provided by the agency. These forms require detailed information about the lawyer and the reasons for surrender. After submission, the licensing authority will review the legitimacy of the surrender, ensuring compliance with procedural requirements. This review may involve cross-referencing the lawyer's history to confirm the absence of pending issues. Finalisation occurs when the authority formally accepts the surrender, typically through an official letter or certificate.
Mandatory Surrender:
Mandatory surrender, on the other hand, is an involuntary action required by an authoritative body due to legal or regulatory infractions. This occurs when an individual fails to comply with legal obligations or is found guilty of misconduct. The process typically involves the issuing authority notifying the lawyer of the requirement to surrender their license, explaining the reasons, and outlining the consequences of non-compliance. The lawyer is given a specified period to return the license, and failure to comply can result in additional penalties.
It is important to note that the process of surrendering a law license may vary depending on the jurisdiction and specific rules of the licensing authority. Additionally, reinstating or reapplying for a surrendered license can be complex and may involve addressing the issues that led to the surrender, completing educational programs, and demonstrating rehabilitation.
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The year Barack Obama gave up his law license
Several online sources claim that Barack Obama surrendered his license to practice law in 2008 to escape charges of lying on his bar application. However, this claim has been debunked by fact-checking websites like Reuters, Snopes, and FactCheck.org. These sources confirm that neither Barack nor Michelle Obama has ever been the subject of any public disciplinary proceedings or criminal charges.
Barack Obama was admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association on December 17, 1991, and his last registered year was 2008, the year he was elected President of the United States. His Illinois Registration Status is listed as "Retired - not authorized to practice law or provide pro bono services."
According to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois, lawyers who voluntarily change their registration status to inactive or retired are not authorized to practice law based on their Illinois license. However, both Barack and Michelle Obama could return to active status and practice law if they desired.
While the specific reasons for Barack Obama's decision to change his license status are not publicly known, it is important to note that he is not currently authorized to practice law in Illinois due to his retired status.
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Frequently asked questions
No. This was a false claim that circulated on Facebook. Michelle Obama requested that her license be placed on "'inactive' status" in 1993 or 1994, which means she still holds a valid law license but is not currently engaged in any professional activities that require it to be active.
No. There is no evidence that Michelle Obama was ever the subject of any disciplinary proceedings or criminal charges.
Michelle Obama has not given up her law license. She changed her registration status to inactive in 1993 or 1994, which means she still holds a valid law license.
Yes. Michelle Obama could return to practising law by requesting to be transferred back to active status with the Illinois Supreme Court.
No. Both Barack and Michelle Obama changed their registration status voluntarily and remain in good standing with the Illinois Bar Association.
