On Friday, February 7, 2025, the Administrator of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission filed a formal complaint against attorney Asha Vivian Mathai. The complaint outlines multiple instances of alleged misconduct that may warrant disciplinary action.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Asha Vivian Mathai,” with case no. 2025PR00007.
The charges cited Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct 8.4(b) and 8.4(d).
The complaint includes two counts of misconduct. The first count centers on Mathai’s criminal conviction related to a violation of an order of protection and criminal damage to property. According to the document, in January 2021, Mathai’s sister filed a petition for an emergency order of protection against her due to persistent harassment. A Cook County judge granted the emergency order, prohibiting Mathai from contacting her sister, her brother-in-law, and her nephew.
Despite the court’s order, the complaint alleges that Mathai violated the protection order by contacting her sister and brother-in-law over seventy times in two weeks through various means, including phone calls, texts, and social media, often accompanied by threats of physical harm. On July 13, 2021, it was reported that Mathai was seen on a video camera wielding a clothing iron and knocking on the door. Respondent then struck the front glass door with the iron, causing the door to shatter, and fled the scene.
On July 27, 2021, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office filed misdemeanor charges against Mathai for knowingly violating the order of protection and for damaging property. Following a series of court continuations, Mathai pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the order of protection on November 3, 2023, resulting in a twelve-month conditional discharge. However, as of the filing of the complaint, Mathai had reportedly failed to fulfill the conditions of her discharge, including the payment of court-ordered fines and restitution.
The second count of the complaint addresses similar allegations from a separate incident in Colorado. After her divorce from her husband in January 2020, Mathai allegedly engaged in harassing behavior toward him, leading to the issuance of a temporary protection order in January 2021. The order prohibited her from contacting her ex-husband and mandated that she maintain a distance of at least 250 feet from his residence and workplace.
Despite the order, Mathai reportedly continued to send harassing emails to her ex-husband, culminating in threats against him and others. A permanent civil protection order was issued against her in February 2021, but Mathai allegedly violated this order multiple times, including sending threatening emails to her ex-husband and law enforcement officials. These actions led to a harassment charge against her in Boulder County, Colorado.
As of the date of the complaint, there are outstanding arrest warrants against Mathai in both Boulder and Jefferson counties related to her alleged violations. The complaints allege that Mathai’s actions reflect poorly on her honesty and trustworthiness, which are essential qualities for legal professionals.
The complaint states:
“WHEREFORE, the Administrator respectfully requests that this matter be assigned to a panel of the Hearing Board, that a hearing be held, and that the panel make findings of fact, conclusions of fact and law, and a recommendation for such discipline as is warranted.”
According to the filing, Ms. Mathai acquired her law license in Illinois in 2006.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
