Matthew A. Lopes, Jr. - Lawyer in Johnston, RI

MatthewA. Lopes Jr. isa Principal with Pannone Lopes Devereaux OGara LLC. He is a nationally-recognizedSpecial Master for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District ofCalifornia in the matter of Coleman v. Newsom,overseeing prison reform and compliance with orders of the Court concerningcare of seriously mentally ill inmates. As Special Master, Mr. Lopes heads ateam of deputy special masters, mental health clinical experts, mental healthmanagement/custodial experts, and monitors. Mr. Lopes work as Special Masterinvolves addressing complex constitutional law issues relating to the EighthAmendment to the U.S. Constitution. He assists the court and the Colemanparties in the design and implementation of mandatory mental health screening,diagnosis, and treatment of the approximately 30,000 mentally ill prisonersthroughout the 34 institutions within the California prison system. He alsoreports extensively to the Coleman court on his findings in the Californiaprisons, as well as on other issues as ordered by the court. Mr. Lopesexperience in court oversight of correctional systems extends back over thirty yearsof continuous work in the area of court-ordered prison reform, as a specialmaster, deputy special master, and court monitor, in three additional majorremedial correctional cases under the supervision of the United States DistrictCourts of Texas, Georgia, and Rhode Island.

In addition to hispractice as a Special Master, Mr. Lopes leads the firms Alternative DisputeResolutionpractice andPLDO Strategies LLC, the government relations arm of the law firm. Hehas over 25 years of experience in government affairs and legislative advocacy.Mr. Lopes possesses a unique blend of legal, analytical, and relationshipskills, which he credibly employs in assisting clients with their governmentrelations, lobbying and legislative/strategic planning needs. He combines legalexpertise with a common sense and pragmatic approach to problem-solving and hasa loyal and long-standing government relations client base, representingorganizations ranging from Fortune 100 companies to nonprofit businesses,including organizations within the education, food service, health care,pharmaceutical, and transportation industries, among others.

His proudest accomplishments includesuccessfully advocating for the Council of State Governments (CSG) JusticeCenters Justice Reinvestment Initiative to improve Rhode Islands criminaljustice system through the enactment of legislation supporting rehabilitationand informed decision-making in sentencing, probation, and parole. Mr. Lopes also proudly served as part of asuccessful lobbying effort which advocated for the creation of a board oftrustees at the states flagship educational institution, the University ofRhode Island. He was also intimatelyinvolved in the successful Rhode Island 2020 ballot initiative to remove thecenturies-old word plantations from the official name of the State of RhodeIsland.

Having once interned for former ChiefJustice of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, A. LeonHigginbotham Jr., Mr. Lopes has also been inspired to promote and advocate forincreased minority representation and diversity in the selection andappointment of Rhode Islands judiciary.

Mr.Lopes earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and hisBachelors Degree from Dartmouth College. He is admitted to practice law in theState of Rhode Island.