Illinois Supreme Court Rules — Judicial Conduct – 2026

Articles X and XI of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, covering the Access to Justice Commission and the Code of Judicial Conduct of 2023.

Last updated October 09, 2026

Browse all 47 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Article X: Access to Justice Commission

Rule 10-100 Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice Rule 10-101 Standardized Court Forms

Article XI: Code of Judicial Conduct

Preamble and Scope Terminology

Article XI: Code of Judicial Conduct | CANON 1

Canon 1 Rule 1.1 Compliance with the Law Rule 1.2 Promoting Confidence in the Judiciary Rule 1.3 Avoiding Misuse of the Prestige of Judicial Office

Article XI: Code of Judicial Conduct | CANON 2

Canon 2 Rule 2.1 Giving Precedence to the Duties of Judicial Office Rule 2.2 Impartiality and Fairness Rule 2.3 Bias, Prejudice, and Harassment Rule 2.4 External Influences on Judicial Conduct Rule 2.5 Competence, Diligence, and Cooperation Rule 2.6 Ensuring the Right to Be Heard Rule 2.7 Responsibility to Decide Rule 2.8 Decorum, Demeanor, and Communication with Jurors Rule 2.9 Ex Parte Communications Rule 2.10 Judicial Statements on Pending and Impending Cases Rule 2.11 Disqualification Rule 2.12 Supervisory Duties Rule 2.13 Administrative Appointments and Hiring Rule 2.14 Disability and Impairment Rule 2.15 Responding to Judicial and Lawyer Misconduct Rule 2.16 Cooperation with Disciplinary Authorities

Article XI: Code of Judicial Conduct | CANON 3

Canon 3 Rule 3.1 Extrajudicial Activities in General Rule 3.2 Appearances Before Governmental Bodies and Consultation with Government Officials Rule 3.3 Testifying as a Character Witness Rule 3.4 Appointments to Governmental Positions Rule 3.5 Use of Nonpublic Information Rule 3.6 Affiliation with Discriminatory Organizations Rule 3.7 Participation in Educational, Religious, Charitable, Fraternal, or Civic Organizations and Activities Rule 3.8 Appointments to Fiduciary Positions Rule 3.9 Service as Arbitrator or Mediator Rule 3.10 Practice of Law Rule 3.11 Financial, Business, or Remunerative Activities Rule 3.12 Compensation for Extrajudicial Activities Rule 3.13 Acceptance of Gifts, Loans, Bequests, Favors, Benefits, or Other Things of Value Rule 3.14 Reimbursement of Expenses and Waivers of Fees or Charges Rule 3.15 Reporting Requirements

Article XI: Code of Judicial Conduct | CANON 4

Canon 4 Rule 4.1 Political and Campaign Activities in Public Elections Rule 4.2 Reserved Rule 4.3 Activities of Candidates for Appointive Judicial Office Rule 4.4 Campaign Committees Rule 4.5 Activities of Judges Who Become Candidates for Nonjudicial Office

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Judicial Conduct cover?

These 41 rules cover two main areas: the Access to Justice Commission (Article X) and the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct of 2023 (Article XI). They set out the ethical standards Illinois judges must follow, addressing topics like impartiality, conflicts of interest, outside activities, and political conduct. Anyone curious about how judges in Illinois are expected to behave on and off the bench will find the governing standards here.

How do these rules differ from other Illinois court rules?

While other Illinois Supreme Court Rules address courtroom procedures, evidence, and attorney conduct, this rule set focuses specifically on the conduct of judges rather than lawyers or litigants. The Code of Judicial Conduct is distinct from the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, which govern attorneys. These rules also have no direct federal counterpart, since federal judges operate under a separate Code of Conduct adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States.

Where in these rules can I find standards about a judge's impartiality or conflicts of interest?

Impartiality, bias, and conflict-of-interest obligations are addressed in Article XI under the Code of Judicial Conduct of 2023, particularly in the canons dealing with a judge's duties to perform judicial functions fairly and to disqualify themselves when appropriate. If you are researching whether a judge should have stepped aside in a case, those sections are the right starting point. Reviewing the specific rule text alongside the official comments can help clarify how the standards apply in practice.