Family Court Chief Judge to Review Handling of Complaints About Reilly Tied to Drug Use and Sex

Family Court Chief Judge to Review Handling of Complaints About Reilly Tied to Drug Use and Sex

There is growing criticism of how the court and the state’s disciplinary counsel handled allegations and a plethora of evidence tying Cranston Councilman and attorney Matthew Reilly to drug abuse and having sex with clients — in some cases, clients with substance abuse problems.

On Monday, Reilly was arrested on drug charges after being found passed out in his SUV with a reported crack pipe in his hand.

Then on Wednesday, a GoLocal investigation unveiled court documents including text messages in which Reilly told a client — who he was having a sex and drug relationship with — that he was medicating his young daughters so that they would sleep and then he would leave home to go to the female client's home so that two could have sex and do drugs.

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According to multiple sources with direct knowledge, family court Judge Debra DiSegna was provided information, including text messages and statements about Reilly’s sex with clients and drug use that outlined Reilly’s unprofessional activities. Judge DiSegna had the information since the summer of 2022.

DiSegna has served in the family court since 2008 and was appointed by then-Governor Donald Carcieri.

According to court records, DiSegna had copies of those texts involving Reilly’s involvement with drugs and sex with clients and additional information about his behavior since the summer of 2022.

And according to those with firsthand knowledge, DiSegna was obligated by Supreme Court rules to notify the disciplinary counsel.

 

Rule 2.15 of the Supreme Court rules provides:

“A judge having knowledge that a lawyer has committed a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct that raises a substantial question regarding the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer in other respects shall inform the appropriate authority.”

The court goes on to state that the judge has an "obligation" to report potential violations.

After GoLocal’s report unveiling Reilly's texts regarding his “medicating” his children, numerous Cranston politicians, including State Representative Barbara-Ann Fenton Fung (R), Cranston City Council President Jessica Marino (D), the Democratic City Committee, and Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins (R) called for Reilly to resign from the Cranston City Council.

Reilly, who is a Republican, has not responded to emails, phone calls, or texts from GoLocal.

GoLocal has confirmed that two attorneys did file formal complaints against Reilly with the court's disciplinary counsel regarding concerns about his drug use and sex with clients. The court's chief disciplinary counsel Kerry Reilly Travers has refused to respond to questions. She has been in the position since 2021, succeeding David Curtin -- who always responded to media inquiries.

 

Forte to Review Court Action

In a statement to GoLocal, Presiding Family Court Judge Michael Forte reaffirmed the court’s rules and said that he is now reviewing the situation.

"Under the Rules of Judicial Conduct, judges receiving information indicating a substantial likelihood of misconduct by a lawyer are required to take appropriate action.  Appropriate action may include but is not limited to communicating directly with the lawyer or reporting the suspected violation to the appropriate authority," said Forte. "My supervisory authority as Chief Judge, requires me to assess what, if any, action by Family Court may be warranted in this matter."