PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Despite calling the case a political persecution by the state and saying he is certain he’ll be vindicated, professional misconduct charges filed against Portage attorney Matthew DePerno remain a distraction as he fights for the Republican nomination to challenge for a Michigan Supreme Court seat in November.
The Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission filed a complaint against DePerno in June 2023, accusing him of three counts of professional misconduct dating back to his time as an attorney for former state Representative Todd Courser, who resigned after attempting to cover up an extramarital affair.
DePerno will face lawyer Alexandria Taylor and Branch County Circuit Court Judge Patrick O’Grady at the GOP convention August 24 in the race to serve the remainder of a term vacated by former chief justice Bridget Mary McCormack. The nominee will face Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, a Democrat appointed by Whitmer, on the November general election ballot.
In an interview with the online publication Bridge Michigan this week, DePerno said his ongoing legal cases aren’t worth considering, because he says the state has nothing on him.
“I’m very annoyed that it’s taking this long, but that’s the point of these persecutions against political enemies,” he said. “They want it to take long — that in itself is the punishment. The longer it takes, the more damage they do to people, even though they got garbage cases.”
The complaint accuses DePerno of filing a frivolous lawsuit, engaging in deceitful conduct and knowingly making false statements, among other things. DePerno unsuccessfully sought to dismiss the misconduct case last fall.
His case likely will be heard this fall. If he is disbarred, he would be ineligible to serve on the Michigan Supreme Court.
He also faces felony charges for his alleged role in a scheme to tamper with voting machines after the 2020 election in a failed attempt to prove they were rigged against former President Donald Trump. He has pleaded not guilty in that case.
DePerno lost his 2022 campaign for state attorney general and a 2023 bid to chair the Michigan Republican Party despite endorsements by Trump.
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