Vincent Illuzzi
Encyclopedia
Vincent Illuzzi is an American politician and a Republican
member of the Vermont State Senate
, representing the Essex-Orleans senate district
.
Illuzzi was first elected to the Vermont Senate in 1980. At 27, he was the youngest person ever elected to the Vermont Senate. He has continued to serve there since that time.
, on September 17, 1953. An attorney, he received his A.B.
degree from St. Michael's College
in 1975 and a J.D.
degree from Vermont Law School
in 1978.
Illuzzi is married to Eileen Maher. The couple live in Derby
and have one son.
In the Senate, he has served since as Republican leader. He had previously been assistant Republican leader twice (1991–1992 and 1997–2004) and assistant minority leader
(1985–1988).
State's attorney
, to which he was first elected in 1998.
He also serves on the Governor's Committee on Children and Youth and the Governor's Commission on the Administration of Justice.
The Vermont Supreme Court
, over the years, has attempted to close some of the more rural courthouses. Essex County has always been on the list. In 1992, responding to appeals from Essex County assistant judges and litigants that Judge David Suntag was hearing Essex County family court cases as far away as Chelsea
, over 100 miles (160.9 km) away, Senator Illuzzi inserted a provision in that year’s Capital Construction Bill that read included the sentence: "No Essex Family Court cases shall be heard at any other location, except Guildhall
."
Judge Suntag subsequently scheduled cases elsewhere. Senator Illuzzi, on his Senate letterhead, then filed complaints against Suntag with the Judicial Conduct Board. The leading complaints related to Suntag's continued refusal to hold Family Court hearings in the Essex County at the court house in Guildhall. Senator Illuzzi was not involved in those cases as an attorney.
The Judicial Conduct Board of the Vermont Supreme Court dismissed the complaints against Suntag and filed a complaint against Illuzzi for filing them. Since Illuzzi was a lawyer, the Supreme Court had jurisdiction over his law license.
The Professional Conduct Board, which is appointed by the Supreme Court, investigated the Court's complaint and recommended Attorney Illuzzi be disbarred for filing the complaint in his capacity as a state senator against Suntag. Judge Suntag's wife, the Bar Counsel, prosecuted Illuzzi. The charges were that Senator Illuzzi violated the Vermont Bar's Disciplinary Rule DR 8-101(A)(2) (lawyer who holds public office shall not use position to influence tribunal to act in favor of himself or client); DR 1-102(A)(5) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct prejudicial to administration of justice); and DR 1 -102(A)(7)(lawyer shall not engage in conduct that adversely reflects on fitness to practice law). Illuzzi stipulated to an 18 month suspension with the expectation that his stipulations would mitigate the Supreme Court's complaint, but the Professional Conduct Board recommended disbarment.
Illuzzi appealed the Board’s recommendation to the Vermont Supreme Court and he asked that Justices Gibson, Dooley, Johnson and Morse recuse themselves because they filed the complaint and would be sitting in judgment of the resolution of the complaint, and other reasons. When Dooley, Johnson and Morse refused, he sued them in US District Court
. The presiding federal district court judge held off on ruling on the case until Dooley, Johnson and Morse recused themselves (164 VT 623). A substitute Supreme Court then agreed to a negotiated 18-month suspension of his law license (165 VT 598). In ratifying the suspension, the Supreme Court noted that Illuzzi had been guilty of five prior disciplinary offenses.
As of February 9, 1998, Attorney Illuzzi had completed all requirements for reinstatement of his license to practice law, including successful completion of an ethics course and support from other lawyers and judges. However, the Court refused to sign the two sentence reinstatement order until July 28, 1998. Three days later, the state's largest newspaper, The Burlington Free Press
, editorialized that Illuzzi was being unfairly treated by the Supreme Court. The editorial was titled "Disorder in the court: Vermont's Supreme Court behaved in far too political and personal a fashion in the case of state Sen. Vincent Illuzzi." The editorial criticized the Court for its handling of the case and commented: "The court restored Illuzzi's license to practice law this week, but that is no more remedy than a bank robber's returning the cash. Illuzzi, who never deserved to lose his license in the first place, should have had it back six months ago."
No action was ever brought against Judge Suntag for violating the specific requirement of Act 256 of 1992. However, the General Assembly came close to not reelecting Suntag for another six year term of office. Vermont judges are reelected by the General Assembly every six years.
Illuzzi was profiled in a Boston Globe article by Jon Margolis shortly after he was reinstated to practice. In 2007, he was mentioned by then State Senator Peter Shumlin (D-Windham) as a potential Independent candidate for governor.
, Illuzzi is also a member of the Assembly of Overseers of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Vermont State Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
, representing the Essex-Orleans senate district
Essex-Orleans Vermont Senate District, 2002-2012
The Essex-Orleans Senate District is one of 13 Vermont Senate districts included in the redistricting and reapportionment plan developed by the Vermont General Assembly following the 2000 U.S. Census. The plan applies to legislatures elected in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010. A new plan will be...
.
Illuzzi was first elected to the Vermont Senate in 1980. At 27, he was the youngest person ever elected to the Vermont Senate. He has continued to serve there since that time.
Biography
Vincent Illuzzi was born in Montpelier, VermontMontpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
, on September 17, 1953. An attorney, he received his A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from St. Michael's College
St. Michael's College
St. Michael's College may refer to:* Saint Michael's College, a private liberal arts college located in Colchester, Vermont, USA* St Michael's College, Adelaide, Australia, a private Roman Catholic primary and secondary school founded by the Lasallian Brothers* St...
in 1975 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School is a private, American Bar Association accredited law school located in South Royalton, Vermont . The Law School has one of the United States' leading programs in environmental law, and the Law School is currently ranked #1 in Environmental Law by U.S...
in 1978.
Illuzzi is married to Eileen Maher. The couple live in Derby
Derby, Vermont
Derby is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,604 at the 2000 census. The town contains four unincorporated villages: Beebe Plain, Clyde Pond, Lake Salem and North Derby; and two incorporated villages: Derby Center and Derby Line...
and have one son.
Senate
Illuzzi was first elected to the Senate in 1980 and has been re-elected every two years ever since.In the Senate, he has served since as Republican leader. He had previously been assistant Republican leader twice (1991–1992 and 1997–2004) and assistant minority leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
(1985–1988).
Other government service
As well as serving as a senator, Illuzzi holds the office of Essex CountyEssex County, Vermont
Essex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,306, making it the least-populous county in both Vermont and New England...
State's attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
, to which he was first elected in 1998.
He also serves on the Governor's Committee on Children and Youth and the Governor's Commission on the Administration of Justice.
Controversy
In 1993, Illuzzi received an 18 month suspension of his law license for filing three complaints to the Judicial Conduct Board against Vermont Judge David Suntag. The complaints related to Judge Suntag's scheduling Essex County cases in other courtrooms.The Vermont Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
, over the years, has attempted to close some of the more rural courthouses. Essex County has always been on the list. In 1992, responding to appeals from Essex County assistant judges and litigants that Judge David Suntag was hearing Essex County family court cases as far away as Chelsea
Chelsea, Vermont
-External links:*...
, over 100 miles (160.9 km) away, Senator Illuzzi inserted a provision in that year’s Capital Construction Bill that read included the sentence: "No Essex Family Court cases shall be heard at any other location, except Guildhall
Guildhall, Vermont
-External links:* http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/sets/72157624844998996/with/4943890976/...
."
Judge Suntag subsequently scheduled cases elsewhere. Senator Illuzzi, on his Senate letterhead, then filed complaints against Suntag with the Judicial Conduct Board. The leading complaints related to Suntag's continued refusal to hold Family Court hearings in the Essex County at the court house in Guildhall. Senator Illuzzi was not involved in those cases as an attorney.
The Judicial Conduct Board of the Vermont Supreme Court dismissed the complaints against Suntag and filed a complaint against Illuzzi for filing them. Since Illuzzi was a lawyer, the Supreme Court had jurisdiction over his law license.
The Professional Conduct Board, which is appointed by the Supreme Court, investigated the Court's complaint and recommended Attorney Illuzzi be disbarred for filing the complaint in his capacity as a state senator against Suntag. Judge Suntag's wife, the Bar Counsel, prosecuted Illuzzi. The charges were that Senator Illuzzi violated the Vermont Bar's Disciplinary Rule DR 8-101(A)(2) (lawyer who holds public office shall not use position to influence tribunal to act in favor of himself or client); DR 1-102(A)(5) (a lawyer shall not engage in conduct prejudicial to administration of justice); and DR 1 -102(A)(7)(lawyer shall not engage in conduct that adversely reflects on fitness to practice law). Illuzzi stipulated to an 18 month suspension with the expectation that his stipulations would mitigate the Supreme Court's complaint, but the Professional Conduct Board recommended disbarment.
Illuzzi appealed the Board’s recommendation to the Vermont Supreme Court and he asked that Justices Gibson, Dooley, Johnson and Morse recuse themselves because they filed the complaint and would be sitting in judgment of the resolution of the complaint, and other reasons. When Dooley, Johnson and Morse refused, he sued them in US District Court
United States District Court for the District of Vermont
The United States District Court for the District of Vermont is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the federal district of Vermont. The court has locations in Brattleboro, Burlington, and Rutland. The Court was created under the Judiciary Act of 1791 under the jurisdiction of the...
. The presiding federal district court judge held off on ruling on the case until Dooley, Johnson and Morse recused themselves (164 VT 623). A substitute Supreme Court then agreed to a negotiated 18-month suspension of his law license (165 VT 598). In ratifying the suspension, the Supreme Court noted that Illuzzi had been guilty of five prior disciplinary offenses.
As of February 9, 1998, Attorney Illuzzi had completed all requirements for reinstatement of his license to practice law, including successful completion of an ethics course and support from other lawyers and judges. However, the Court refused to sign the two sentence reinstatement order until July 28, 1998. Three days later, the state's largest newspaper, The Burlington Free Press
Burlington Free Press
The Burlington Free Press is a daily newspaper based in Burlington, Vermont, in the United States. With a circulation of about 48,042 daily and 56,295 Sundays, it is the most circulated paper in Vermont....
, editorialized that Illuzzi was being unfairly treated by the Supreme Court. The editorial was titled "Disorder in the court: Vermont's Supreme Court behaved in far too political and personal a fashion in the case of state Sen. Vincent Illuzzi." The editorial criticized the Court for its handling of the case and commented: "The court restored Illuzzi's license to practice law this week, but that is no more remedy than a bank robber's returning the cash. Illuzzi, who never deserved to lose his license in the first place, should have had it back six months ago."
No action was ever brought against Judge Suntag for violating the specific requirement of Act 256 of 1992. However, the General Assembly came close to not reelecting Suntag for another six year term of office. Vermont judges are reelected by the General Assembly every six years.
Illuzzi was profiled in a Boston Globe article by Jon Margolis shortly after he was reinstated to practice. In 2007, he was mentioned by then State Senator Peter Shumlin (D-Windham) as a potential Independent candidate for governor.
Non-governmental service
A member of the Board of Trustees of Vermont Law SchoolVermont Law School
Vermont Law School is a private, American Bar Association accredited law school located in South Royalton, Vermont . The Law School has one of the United States' leading programs in environmental law, and the Law School is currently ranked #1 in Environmental Law by U.S...
, Illuzzi is also a member of the Assembly of Overseers of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
See also
- Members of the Vermont Senate, 2005-2006 sessionMembers of the Vermont Senate, 2005-2006 sessionThe following is a list of the persons who have served in the Vermont Senate during the 2005-2006 session:-Addison:*Claire D. Ayer, Democrat*Harold W. Giard, Democrat-Bennington:*Richard W. Sears, Democrat*Mark I. Shepard, Republican-Caledonia:...
- Members of the Vermont Senate, 2007-2008 session