The Illinois Courts Commission today censured Cook County Circuit Judge Beatriz Santiago for conduct surrounding mortgage applications that indicated she lived outside the judicial subcircuit in which she declared residency and ran for office.

A censure is an expression of disapproval by the courts commission that acknowledges a form of misconduct without interrupting a judge’s work.

After Santiago appeared before the commission in February to concede her failure to read mortgage documents for a lower-interest home loan before signing them was careless on her part, the commission found she violated Rules 61 and 62 of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

Rule 61 states that judges should participate in and observe high standards of conduct to maintain judiciary integrity. Rule 62 provides that judges should comply with the law and conduct themselves in a way that always promotes public confidence in the judiciary.

In February, Santiago acknowledged that information she provided on loan applications for a house incorrectly stated that the property — located on North Spaulding Avenue in the 7th Judicial Subcircuit — was her primary residence.

Before purchasing the home, Santiago lived with her parents at a home two blocks away in the neighboring 6th Subcircuit. She testified during the February hearing that although she owned the Spaulding property, and although the mortgage documents indicated that was her primary home, she still mainly resided with her parents.

She also rejected the Judicial Inquiry Board’s allegation that the process was a scam to pay less on the house.

Considering that Santiago “essentially does not contest” the board’s allegations of violations, the commission wrote in its nine-page ruling that its primary question regarded the appropriate sanction.

It agreed with the argument from George B. Collins, a partner at Collins, Bargione & Vuckovich who represented Santiago, that the judge should be reprimanded.

The sanction falls in line with one delivered on the case In re Sklodowski in which former circuit judge Robert L. Sklowdowski was charged with willful misconduct after he filed misleading paperwork in Florida to begin the process of purchasing a home.

The inquiry board argued Santiago’s case was dissimilar from the Sklodowski case but did not recommend a specific sanction.

The commission reasoned that while Santiago did acknowledge her wrongdoing, several mitigating factors were worth considering — such as the fact that her actions were not related to her official duties and that there was no indication that her conduct caused any prejudicial impact to any litigant appearing before her.

“By contrast, in In re Drazewski … Judge [Scott D.] Drazewski’s actions had an impact on a litigant and attorney appearing before him in a civil case,” the commission wrote.

The commission held a censure was appropriate because Santiago’s case falls somewhere between Sklodowski and Drazewski.

“Respondent’s actions are of greater weight than the situation in Sklodowski, in particular concerning the effect that Sklodowski’s actions had upon his judicial career,” the commission held. “Respondent’s actions, however, do not rise to the level of those taken by Judge Drazewski as noted above.”

Collins said Santiago is sorry the incident happened, but she accepts the censure.

Adrian M. Vuckovich, a partner at Collins’ firm, also represented Santiago.

John N. Gallo, a partner at Sidley, Austin LLP who represented the inquiry board, said the board accepts and respects the commission’s decision.

Santiago was elected to serve in the 6th Subcircuit in November 2012, filling the vacancy created by former judge David Delgado’s retirement.

She was admitted to the bar in 1996.

The case is In re Beatriz Santiago, 15-CC-1.