Flirty Old Lawyer Banned From Will Co. Courthouse Cafeteria: Report

JOLIET, IL ? The American Bar Association Journal reported that Skokie lawyer Robert Lewin is prohibited from visiting the Will County Courthouse cafeteria and the courthouse library in connection with allegations raised in an ethics complaint accusing him of inappropriate behavior toward women at the courthouse.

Lewin has been licensed to practice law in Illinois since October 31, 1974, according to documents.

?I never sexually harassed anybody in my life, never mistreated a girl in my life,? Lewin was quoted as saying to the American Bar Association Journal. Lewin also told the ABA Journal that his problems were due to a generation gap in what is considered appropriate.

According to the Illinois attorney disciplinary complaint, which is posted online:

• Lewin is the sole practitioner at the Law Office of Robert E. Lewin, a law firm he owns and manages in Skokie. His practice is primarily focused on criminal defense, and most of his clients are people charged with crimes in Will County.
• On March 30, 2021, the Will County Courthouse?s Trial Court Administrator Roger Holland, and Deputy Trial Court Administrator, Thaddeus Zito, received a complaint from an employee at the Will County Courthouse which detailed allegations of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior by Lewin toward women employees of the Courthouse dating back to 2016.
• This included, among other things, Lewin telling women who worked at the courthouse that they ?smell really good,? ?look good enough to eat,? as well as asking employees out on dates and offering to show women employees ?a good time.?
• In 2020 and 2021, Lewin frequently spent time in the Will County Courthouse?s law library, he would speak to the employees of the law library, often in a social manner and asking them for assistance in matters such as e-filing of documents. With one employee, in addition to seeking her assistance with technological matters, Lewin would speak to her about his personal life and would leave candy at her workstation.
• On one occasion, in March 2021, Lewin came up behind her and patted her head and place his hand in her hair. When a sheriff's deputy saw Lewin touch her, he immediately told Lewin, ?Don?t ever let me see you do anything like that again!? That's when Lewin then walked away.
• During a meeting with Lewin on April 26, 2021, Holland and Zito discussed the issue of sexual harassment and Lewin's understanding of the term. The Skokie lawyer stated that sexual harassment included offensive conduct or engaging in acts of a sexual nature with another person. Lewin also stated that if someone ever told him to stop doing something, he would not do it again.
• During that same meeting, Holland and Zito asked if he had ever told female opposing counsel something similar to, ?Will I get a better deal for my client if I argue or flirt with you?? Lewin replied that he sometimes asked female opposing counsel, ?Will begging or flirting be more effective??
• Lewin was asked if he had ever told female staff or attorneys at the Will County Courthouse, ?Nice dress, but it would look better on my floor.? Lewin replied, ?I?ve told them they have a nice dress, but it would better if it was off.
• By Nov. 9, 2021, Lewin approached an employee in the clerk's office of the Will County Courthouse and began talking to her about his personal life. He asked her if she would have dinner with him. She told him she would not.
• On June 22, 2022, Lewin was in the Will County Courthouse law library and approached a female law student who was serving as a judicial extern at the Will County Courthouse. Lewin spoke to her while she and other law students were working in an office connected to the law library. He asked where she attended law school and she informed him she went to Loyola University Chicago School of Law. During the conversation, Lewin offered to pay her to do research for him.
• Later that afternoon, Lewin returned to the office and spoke to the four other judicial externs who were present and asked about ?the Loyola Law Student,? and if they would pass her his business card. Lewin then made a comment to the four judicial externs to the effect of: ?If I were 55 years younger, I would get with her.?
• One of the externs who was present at the time Lewin made this remark reported the matter to the Office of the Chief Judge.
• In July 2022, as a result of Lewin's continued harassing and inappropriate conduct towards the staff of the Will County Courthouse, the Chief Judge ordered that Lewin's presence in the Will County Courthouse be limited to the courtrooms where he was appearing on behalf of his clients and to the Circuit Clerk?s Office to make payments and file documents on behalf of his clients.
• As of the date of this complaint, he is not permitted to enter the law library, cafeteria, or other areas of the Will County Courthouse.

On June 23, the Illinois Attorney Registration and Discipline Commission filed its formal complaint against Lewin accusing him of "Conduct Prejudicial to the Administration of Justice - Harassment of Will County Courthouse Staff."