Opinion
No. 2023-160-M.P.
05-19-2023
In the MATTER OF Matthew R. REILLY, Esq.
Kerry Reilley Travers, Esq., Chief Disciplinary Counsel for Petitioner Matthew R. Reilly, pro se
Kerry Reilley Travers, Esq., Chief Disciplinary Counsel for Petitioner
Matthew R. Reilly, pro se
ORDER
On May 19, 2023, the Court's Chief Disciplinary Counsel filed an Emergency Petition for Immediate Interim Suspension and for the Appointment of Disciplinary Counsel as Special Master pursuant to Article III, Rule 5(b)(6) of the Supreme Court Rules. The Petition avers, among other facts with supporting evidence, the following:
1. Respondent, Matthew R. Reilly, Esq., is currently an active attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Rhode Island.
2. On Monday, May 15, 2023, the media reported that Respondent was arrested by the Cranston Police Department and charged with possession of crack cocaine. That same day, a criminal complaint regarding the possession offense was filed in 3rd District Court. The possession offense is classified as a misdemeanor.
3. The criminal complaint filed against Respondent states, " ‘Matt Reilly (07/07/1981) did unlawfully possess a controlled substance classified as Crack Cocaine/Fentanyl as set fourth [sic ] in Schedule II of 21-28-2.08 of the General Laws as amended, in violation of 21-28-4.01(C)(1)A of the General Laws as amended.’ "
4. Bodycam footage of Respondent's arrest was posted to a news media website, wherein Respondent can be heard stating that he bought one hundred dollars ($100.00) worth of crack cocaine the day prior, that he had relapsed, and that he had "just gotten back into this."
5. Also on May 15, 2023, Respondent was scheduled to appear on behalf of a client in family court and failed to appear.
6. On May 17, 2023, an order entered in District Court evicting Respondent from his law office located at 63 Sockanosset Cross Road, Ste 2A, Office 1, Cranston, RI 02920.
7. Disciplinary Counsel and her staff contacted Respondent twice by email
after his arrest and attempted to contact him by phone. To date, Respondent has not responded.
8. According to Court records accessible to Disciplinary Counsel, Respondent has eighteen (18) family court appearances scheduled between May 23, 2023 and August 9, 2023.
9. Respondent has not filed a court excusal with the Court.
The Emergency Petition came before a single justice of this Court, sitting as Duty Justice. After consideration of this Emergency Petition, the following is ordered:
1. In furtherance of protecting the public and maintaining the integrity of the legal profession, it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that the Respondent, Matthew R. Reilly, Esq., is hereby temporarily suspended from the practice of law in this state on an emergency basis, effective immediately and until further order of this Court.
2. Effective immediately and until further order of this Court, Chief Disciplinary Counsel Kerry Reilley Travers is appointed temporary Special Master and is hereby authorized to take possession of the Respondent's client files to inventory same and to take whatever steps deemed necessary to protect the clients’ interests, including but not limited to returning the files to the clients or new counsel of each client's choice. Disciplinary Counsel as temporary Special Master is hereby authorized to have full access to the Respondent's former office and files in order to carry out her duties.
3. Disciplinary Counsel's Emergency Petition will be heard by the full Court at its next regularly scheduled conference.
4. If the Respondent elects to respond to the Emergency Petition, his response must be filed by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday May 23, 2023 .
Entered as an Order of this Court this Day of May 19, 2023.