A Personal Note From Matthew Scott Pillado

A Personal Note From Matthew Scott Pillado

If you’re reading this, you likely Googled my name—perhaps you’re considering me for a job or we’ve already spoken and you’re doing a deeper dive. If that’s the case, thank you for your interest, and for taking the time to hear directly from me.

You’ve likely come across disciplinary records related to my time as a criminal defense attorney in Texas. I want to offer a fuller, more human explanation—one that the internet, as it often does, flattens into misleading headlines or lacks proper context. Before making assumptions or decisions, I invite you to read what I have to say.

My Career As A Criminal Defense Attorney

For several years, I ran a small law firm and practiced criminal defense at both the state and federal level. I handled hundreds of cases, many involving the most serious allegations imaginable—sexual assault, child exploitation, domestic violence, organized crime, drugs. I did this work because I believe deeply in the Constitution and the principle that every person, no matter how unpopular, deserves a defense. And not just any defense—a committed, competent one.

When you fight hard, especially on behalf of society’s most marginalized people, you make people uncomfortable. I had contentious relationships with prosecutors, AUSAs, law enforcement, and even some judges. I was outspoken. I was aggressive. I didn’t back down. That comes with consequences.

It also means that when a client doesn’t win their case, they often look for someone to blame. And in criminal defense, that someone is usually the lawyer. Grievances against defense attorneys are common, especially when clients face decades or lifetimes behind bars. In my case, a few clients filed grievances.

Why I Resigned My Law License

At the time I chose to resign my law license, I was dealing with serious health issues. Resigning was not an admission of guilt. It was a personal decision I made for my well-being, knowing that I had the right to contest the grievances if I wished. But like anyone facing a major health challenge, I prioritized recovery over a drawn-out process. Because I resigned while grievances were pending, the official record states “Resignation in Lieu of Discipline”—a procedural label that sounds far worse than it truly is. It’s an automatic label, not a finding of wrongdoing.

I was advised to keep fighting. But after years in an adversarial profession, I was tired. And I knew that I no longer wanted to practice law. I was ready for something else, something rooted in education, writing, and service, which is where my focus is now.

 A Closer Look At The Grievances

If you’re interested, I’ll briefly explain the two pending matters at the time of my resignation:

Grievance One

I was hired to represent a Spanish-speaking client charged with federal drug trafficking. He specifically asked me not to involve his wife due to shame and fear. I honored that. I was retained, paid, and began work, including traveling to Mexico to meet with potential witnesses. Later, under external pressure, the client switched lawyers. His wife, who was not my client, filed a grievance demanding a refund. I could not ethically share case details with her, then or later, even in defense of myself.

An investigator for the State Bar, a former police officer with a troubling past, pursued the matter with open hostility. He sent English-language waiver forms to a non-English-speaking client in prison. That client, desperate to help his wife financially, signed the waiver, not fully understanding what it meant. This initiated a formal referral to the State Bar’s attorney. I spoke with her a few times and informed her of my intention to resign my license. She drafted the paperwork that appears in public records today.

Grievance Two

This involved another federal client who, after sentencing, began filing a flurry of motions written by a “jailhouse lawyer.” I neither wrote nor endorsed these filings, and I made that clear to the appellate court. Because I could not amend or defend filings I neither authored nor endorsed, I was suspended from practicing in that specific appellate court—not the entire system. The federal trial courts where I practiced reviewed the matter and allowed me to continue.

Why I’m Sharing This

Transparency matters. I’ve lost job opportunities because of what turns up on a Google search. I can’t control that, but I can share the truth here.

I didn’t lose my license for misconduct. I made a decision—under difficult personal circumstances—not to fight a long, expensive process when I knew my heart was no longer in legal practice. I’ve since recovered, grown, and moved forward. I remain proud of my legal career, and equally proud to have moved on.

If you’d like to talk more about this, I welcome the opportunity. I’m always happy to answer questions and clarify.

I now focus my energy on education, writing, and mentorship—areas where I continue to advocate for fairness, critical thinking, and second chances.

Thank you for reading and for considering the full story behind the headlines.

-MSP