Michelle Obama was licensed to practice law in 1989 by the State of Illinois Supreme Court. In 1993, she became voluntarily inactive.
Illinois Registration Status: Voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law – Last Registered Year: 1993
There were no disciplinary proceedings against her license of any kind:
Public Record of Discipline and Pending Proceedings: None
In 1999, there was a procedural change not relevant to someone having already been voluntarily inactive since 1993:
CHANGING FROM RULE 770 INACTIVE STATUS
Prior to November 1, 1999, former Supreme Court Rule 770 provided for a proceeding in the Court for any voluntary transfer to inactive status, whether because of some incapacitating condition or solely as a matter of the lawyer’s preference because the lawyer would not be practicing law.
The current registration rules provide a procedure for lawyers on Court-ordered inactive status under former Supreme Court Rule 770 who might wish to register. Whatever registration status the lawyer wishes to assume (active, inactive, or retired), the lawyer must first file a motion with the Supreme Court for restoration to active status under Rule 759. The motion process is necessary to screen for those who transferred due to circumstances that require some review of present fitness, and the motions will be contested only in such cases. In all other cases, the ARDC will consent to the transfer, and when a consent is submitted, the Supreme Court typically allows the motion within a few weeks of when it is filed.
Filed under: False!, Michelle Obama
