Missouri Supreme Court Disbars Columbia Attorney Matthew Alexander Perry

The Missouri Supreme Court disbarred Columbia attorney Matthew Alexander Perry on Oct. 20 following disciplinary proceedings involving missed court appearances, client communication failures and alleged misrepresentations to courts.

The Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel sought disbarment, while Perry sought a suspension, according to reporting by ABC 17 News. The station reported that the misconduct allegations covered professional duties including competence, diligence, communication and compliance with court orders.

An April 2025 filing by disciplinary counsel listed 55 missed appearances in Missouri state courts between March 2023 and April 2025. The cases included criminal proceedings and juvenile matters in which Perry represented children.

The filing described hearings that were postponed because Perry was absent, as well as proceedings that went forward without him. In two criminal cases, disciplinary counsel alleged that clients appeared without Perry and waived their rights to preliminary hearings.

Disciplinary counsel also cited a federal case in which Perry was removed as appointed counsel after missing a hearing concerning a client’s complaint about a lack of communication. According to the filing, the federal court found that Perry acknowledged he had not communicated with that client for six months.

Perry attributed his difficulties in that matter to the demands of a busy solo practice, problems obtaining discovery and challenges arranging a jail visit. In a response quoted in the disciplinary filing, he acknowledged those circumstances did not justify his failure to appear and said the absence was not intentional.

ABC 17 News reported that Perry was handling more than 140 cases at the time. The station said it had contacted his attorney for comment.