HB 4098

Abstract

Amends the Supreme Court Act. Provides that the Supreme Court shall establish rules requiring that immediately upon the assignment of a matter to a judge, an attorney in the matter must disclose to the court and parties to the matter any campaign contribution made to that judge by the attorney or the attorney's law firm. Provides that the rules shall provide that in the event that the aggregate of any campaign contributions in excess of $500 was made in the past 5 years to the judge's campaign by the attorney or the attorney's law firm, the judge shall disqualify himself or herself upon timely application made by a party to the matter who has not made any contribution to the judge's campaign. Provides that the rules shall not preclude disqualification due to any other rule or with respect to contributions under $500 or made more than 5 years before the assignment of the matter to the judge. Provides that the rules shall apply to contributions to a person who becomes a judge and who received contributions to the person's campaign for a nomination for election to any judicial office, an election of a judicial candidate, and a judicial retention election. Effective immediately.