Jayne R. Reardon, Executive Director

Jayne Rizzo Reardon became the second Executive Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism in July 2009. She was promoted to this post after serving for nearly three years as the Deputy Director of the Commission, where she was integrally involved in establishing the programs and procedures of the Commission. With the Commissioners and staff, Jayne develops and coordinates programs across the State of Illinois to increase the professionalism, well-being, and inclusiveness of the bench and bar and to promote the administration of justice. Under her leadership, the Commission collaborates with representatives of bar associations, law schools, legal and civic organizations regarding professionalism outreach programs and initiatives. She is responsible for the development of Commission guidelines for the content and delivery of professional responsibility educational programs and for assisting CLE providers with course development that will improve the quality of professional responsibility CLE. She oversees the activities of the Commission in substantively reviewing and approving continuing legal education in the area of professional responsibility; approximately 2,700 such applications were handled in calendar year 2008. Jayne is a frequent and motivational speaker and presenter of programs on the work and aspirational goals of the Commission.

Jayne brings to the Commission a thorough understanding of the ethical requirements and disciplinary problems of attorneys through her work as counsel to the Review Board of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. Jayne also brings to the Commission the perspective and experience formed by her extensive litigation practice at the law firms of Kelley Drye & Warren and Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon. She is a 1983 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and a 1979 graduate of the University of Notre Dame.