Article I. General Rules · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 71 states that a judge who violates the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct can be disciplined by the Illinois Courts Commission.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 71
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A judge who violates the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct of 2023 may be subject to discipline
by the Illinois Courts Commission.
Effective March 15, 1970; amended effective October 1, 1971; amended June 24, 1976, effective July 15, 1976; amended December 2, 1986, effective January 1, 1987; amended July 1, 2022, eff. Jan. 1, 2023.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 71 is short, but it does important work: it connects the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct to actual consequences. If a judge breaks the rules of that code, the Illinois Courts Commission has the authority to impose discipline.
The rule doesn't list the possible penalties or describe the conduct that counts as a violation. It defers to the Code of Judicial Conduct of 2023 for the substantive standards, and to the Courts Commission's own procedures for how a case gets investigated, charged, and decided.
Frequently Asked Questions
What body disciplines a judge for an ethics violation in Illinois?
The Illinois Courts Commission handles discipline for violations of the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct.
Does Rule 71 describe what counts as judicial misconduct?
No. It relies on the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct of 2023 to define the standards; Rule 71 just supplies the enforcement mechanism.
Is a Rule 56 reassignment the same as Rule 71 discipline?
No. Rule 56 lets a chief judge temporarily change a judge's duties while an issue is investigated; Rule 71 discipline comes from the Courts Commission after a finding of a Code violation.
Has Rule 71 changed over the years?
Yes. It has been amended several times since taking effect in 1970, most recently to reference the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct of 2023.
Can a judge be removed from office under Rule 71?
The Courts Commission has authority over judicial discipline, which can include penalties up to removal, depending on the severity of the violation found.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:judicial code of conduct violationjudge discipline IllinoisIllinois Courts Commissionjudicial ethics complaintjudge misconduct rulejudicial inquiry board