On Friday, April 21, 2023, the Commission on Practice of the Supreme Court of Montana ordered the continuance of the hearing on the Complaint against Helena attorney Gregory M. Worcester for failure to attend several hearings of his clients and failed to inform the clients and the court about his absences.
The case is styled ‘In the Matter of Gregory M. Worcester,’ case no. PR 23-0081.
The Office of the Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) filed disciplinary charges against Worcester on February 1, 2023, based on the grievances accusing Worcester of misconduct of failing to competently and diligently represent the clients by his failure to respond to Discovery, failing to communicate with clients and failed to attend several hearings for his clients.
The hearing was scheduled on April 20, 2023, at 1:15 p.m. before the Adjudicatory Panel of the Commission on Practice, however, on the morning of the scheduled hearing, Worcester advised the ODC that his mother was hospitalized and requested a continuance.
The ODC advised Worcester to file an emergency motion to the Commission for such relief and then advised the Commission Chair of the communication.
After being informed of the situation, the Commission Chair reached out to Worcester while in the presence of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel Pamela Bucy, and Sheena Broadwater from the ODC.
The Commission Chair advised Worcester that he would consider continuing the hearing, but Worcester would need to consent to an immediate interim suspension from the practice of law until a final disposition was entered by the Montana Supreme Court, otherwise, the continuance would be relatively short. Both Worcester and the ODC agreed.
The filing states:
“The Chair then inquired as to any active files he would need to address before closing his office. Worcester responded that he was waiting for confirmation from three or four clients’ new counsel that they would assume the representation and he was also waiting to hear from one other client about her success in obtaining substitute counsel.”
Accordingly, upon consideration of Worcester’s oral request for continuance of the hearing, the Chair agreed to continue the hearing on the next regularly scheduled Commission hearings term, July 2023.
The actual date, time, and place of the hearing will be sent in accordance with the Montana Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement (MRLDE).
The Court further ordered Worcester’s suspension from the practice of law on an interim starting May 12, 2023, until further order of the Court.
Mr. Worcester attended the University of Montana School of Law, graduating in 2017. Prior to the suspension, Worcester practiced in Helena where he maintained Aspen Law, PLLC. He has been licensed in Montana. Worcester’s info can be found on LinkedIn.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
