Lawyer blames generation gap for behavior that prompted courthouse-area ban and ethics complaint
July 13, 2023, 2:40 pm CDT
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A lawyer banned from a courthouse law library and cafeteria in Will County, Illinois, should be disciplined for his flirtatious and inappropriate behavior with staff members, according to an ethics complaint.
The June 23 complaint says Skokie, Illinois, lawyer Robert Edward Lewin persisted in his behavior after he received a warning from court administrators. Law360 has coverage.
An administrator had investigated after an employee complained in March 2021 about alleged sexual harassment by Lewin, according to the complaint by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. The employee alleged that Lewin asked female employees out on dates, told them they “smell really good” and they “look good enough to eat.”
One allegation surfaced that Lewin spoke with a library employee about his personal life and left candy at her workstation. Lewin was also accused of coming up behind an employee, patting her on the head and putting his hand in her hair. A sheriff’s deputy who was present allegedly told Lewin, “Don’t ever let me see you do anything like that again!”
Court administrators met with Lewin in April 2021 and asked if he had ever asked female opposing counsel, “Will I get a better deal for my client if I argue or flirt with you?” Lewin allegedly replied that he sometimes asked female opposing counsel, “Will begging or flirting be more effective?”
Administrators also asked Lewin if he had ever told female staff or attorneys at the courthouse, “Nice dress, but it would look better on my floor.” Lewin allegedly replied, “I’ve told them they have a nice dress, but it would better if it was off.”
After receiving the warning letter, Lewin allegedly told an employee to “eat shit and die” when he was informed he needed to fill out additional forms to schedule a court appearance.
He also allegedly asked an employee out for dinner and made an alleged inappropriate remark about a judicial extern. The remark: “If I were 55 years younger, I would get with her.”
After the new allegations surfaced, the court’s chief judge issued an order limiting Lewin’s presence in the courthouse. He is allowed only in courtrooms to represent clients and the clerk’s office to file paperwork.
The ethics complaint seeks discipline for touching the hair of the staff member and for alleged conduct that occurred after Lewin received the written warning.
Lewin told the ABA Journal that, with the exception of one instance where he patted a staff member on the head, he doesn’t think he did anything wrong.
“I never sexually harassed anybody in my life, never mistreated a girl in my life,” Lewin said.
Lewin said he thinks his problems are due to a generation gap in what is considered appropriate.
Lewin has been licensed to practice since 1974.
Lewin told Law360 that his touching of a staff member’s hair was done in a friendly way and he never touched anybody inappropriately. He also acknowledged asking out a staff member but said he backed off when it became clear she wasn’t interested. And it should have been clear that he wasn’t serious about a relationship with the extern because of the age difference, he said.
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