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People v. Peter Lederer Mattisson
In July 2023, Peter Mattisson was arrested at his home in Lafayette in connection with two separate domestic violence incidents in December 2022 and May 2023.
Later, in September 2023, Mattisson was arrested and later charged with violating the mandatory protection order in his criminal case after he admitted to texting his spouse on two occasions that month. That charge was dismissed as part of a global settlement agreement in November 2023, when Mattisson pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree assault including an act of domestic violence, a class 3 misdemeanor.
Mattisson received a 12-month deferred judgment. His sentence requires that he comply with the following conditions: attend domestic violence evaluation and treatment, write an apology letter to the victim and comply with the protective order. In addition, Mattisson is prohibited from possessing weapons and from committing new law violations, including traffic infractions of four or more points.
Though Rule 242.11(c)(1) of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure required that Mattisson report the conviction to disciplinary authorities within 14 days, Mattisson didn’t report the conviction at any time, according to the disciplinary opinion.
The presiding disciplinary judge approved the parties’ stipulation to discipline and suspended Mattisson for one year and one day, effective immediately. To be reinstated to the practice of law, Mattisson must prove by clear and convincing evidence that he has been rehabilitated, has complied with all disciplinary orders and rules and is fit to practice law.
In 2021, Matthew Greife was suspended for three years for neglecting two separate bankruptcy matters, failing to keep his clients reasonably informed, charging nonrefundable fees, failing to maintain required financial records and recklessly converting client funds.
After Greife’s law license was suspended in Colorado, he stepped away from practicing law and devoted himself to academia. As a professor, a hearing board found he has affected positive social and legal change through teaching, research, writing, presenting and serving as a pro bono expert witness. But it determined those important academic contributions do not signal his rehabilitation as a lawyer.
In his reinstatement proceeding, the board determined Greife didn’t demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that he is rehabilitated from his misconduct or that he is fit to practice law.
The board ordered that he is not entitled to be reinstated to the practice of law in Colorado at this time, and he may not petition for reinstatement for another two years.