‘I Never Sexually Harassed Anybody,’ Says Lawyer Facing Ethics Complaint Filled With Sexual Harassment

// Robert Edward Lewin of Skokie, Illinois, can’t use the library or the cafeteria at the local courthouse anymore. Court administrators banned Lewin after multiple allegations of sexual harassment that have spilled over into an ethics complaint. For his part, Lewin claims that he has “never sexually harassed anybody in my life, never mistreated a girl in my life.”

To the extent the allegations are true — and Lewin’s public defense to date focuses less on disputing the facts and more on a generational gap facing the nearly 50-year practitioner — then “never” would be overselling it.

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And when we say “less on disputing the facts,” well…

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Lewin was asked if he had ever told female staff or attorneys at the Will County Courthouse, “Nice dress, but it would look better on my floor.” Lewin replied, “I’ve told them they have a nice dress, but it would better if it was off.

You have to appreciate the idea that he would go out of the way to clarify that he didn’t make THAT gross sexually harassing remark, he made THIS gross sexually harassing remark. Truly veteran move to guarantee a clean record!

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I suppose the logic is that it’s not sexual harassment because his version doesn’t specify that the dress ends up on his floor! This is, of course, not how any of this works.

For example, Mr. Holland and Mr. Zito asked Respondent if he had ever told female opposing counsel something similar to, “Will I get a better deal for my client if I argue or flirt with you?” Respondent replied that he sometimes asked female opposing counsel, “Will begging or flirting be more effective?”

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Admitting to everything is certainly one strategy.

Later that afternoon, Lewin returned to the office and spoke to the four other judicial externs who were present and asked about “the Loyola Law Student,” and if they would pass her his business card. Lewin then made a comment to the four judicial externs to the effect of: “If I were 55 years younger, I would get with her.”

Putting aside that this is professionally demeaning, objectifying, and disgusting… no, you wouldn’t.

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Lewin reportedly blames the generation gap for this fracas. And while this might explain his penchant for telling women they “smell really good” — for some reason — there are a couple problems with that.

First, I’m not really sure that would cover it. This stuff wasn’t even flying on later seasons of Mad Men, and I doubt that dress line would’ve ever been appropriate. Second, this spin on a “generation gap” implies that the younger end of that gap is wrong. But there’s no justification for that reading. The “generation gap” is why someone with the benefit of a time machine could get away with this, but not a reason why someone in 2023 gets to continue with it.

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The complaint asks that the matter be referred for a hearing. In the meantime, to answer one of the questions from the complaint, this would be a good time for begging rather than flirting.

Lawyer blames generation gap for behavior that prompted courthouse-area ban and ethics complaint [ABA Journal]
Flirty Old Lawyer Banned From Will Co. Courthouse Cafeteria: Report [Patch]

Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.

Topics

Legal Ethics, Sexual Harassment, Small Law Firms