Bookmark
PDF
Share
CaseIQ

Matter of the Commission on Practice (no formal complaint)

Supreme Court of Montana

Oct 13, 2026

Judgment

Subsequent
References

CaseIQ

(i~'Wu. I.- Vlu L w- ^'»iu

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

PR21-0187

FILED

OCT 1 3 2026

Bowen Qreenwood Clerk of Supreme Court IN THE MATTER OF:

-At

TAD J. QUINN,

ORDER

An Attorney at Law, Respondent.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC) asks this

Court^tosuspend Montana attorney Tad J. Quinn from the practice of law on an

interim basis under Montana Rules for Lawyer Disciplinary Enforcement (MRLDE) 25 because ^itbelieves^he^hasviolated^the Montana Rules of Professional Conduct and poses a substantial

threat^ofserious^harm^to clients or the public. In its petition, ODC alleges Quinn was an attorney prosecutor for the Judge Advocate General until approximately December 2025, when he was suspended from his ability to represent uniformed service members following an ethics investigation. Quinn subsequently received an honorable military discharge. ^InJanuary 2026,^theDepartment of the Navy, Office of the Judge Advocate General,

informed Quinn^it^wasreferring^the matter to ODC and advised him he had an obligation to self-report. However, Quinn did not self-report to ODC.

On July 15, 2026, ODC received a report from the JAG

Office, which stated Quinn had violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice "through the wrongful use of a controlled substance on multiple occasions, unauthorized absence, dereliction of duty, false official statements, conduct unbecoming an officer, and drunkenness; and (2) engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentatio^n." Pam Bucy, Chief Disciplinary Counsel, reviewed the ^JAGreport^andfound^it contained an "alarming pattern of substance abuse issues." ODC requested a response from

•' 'A. '

10/13/2026 Case Number: PR 21-0187

Quinn. The request noted Quinn had not self-reported ^andasked^him^todescribeⁱⁿ^his response "any efforts you have made to address your

substance abuse^and^drugaddiction, as well as any ongoing or continuing treatments, and current support plan." In Quinn's response, he advised ODC that when he was in the military, ^he^wasself-medicating symptoms from untreated, acute, combat-related PTSD with drugs and alcohol. However, since his discharge, he had received regular psychological ^care^andsubstance abuse counseling. Quinn further stated he actively participated ⁱⁿ^theMontana Bar's Lawyer's Assistance Program on a weekly basis and he had "regular ^anddirect communication^and mentorship" with Mike Larson, LAP Director. Quinn fiirther

advised^ODC^he^hadengaged in "successful medical rehabilitation," and asked ODC to find he had successfully mitigated his substance abuse issues and was fit to

practice^law. In its petition for interim suspension, ODC represents

further investigation revealed Quinn's "pattern of substance abuse and criminal activity ^had^not^justcontinued since^his military discharge but escalated," and Quinn had active

warrants^for^hisarrest^when^he advised ODC he was in recovery from his substance abuse

issues. ODC alleges Quinn was arrested in Glacier County shortly

after^hisreturn^to Montana in March 2026 and charged with DUI—1st offense, ^andPartner^orFamily Member Assault—1st offense. Quinn failed to personally appear at his arraignment on April 1, 2026. His counsel advised the court Quinn ^hadinformed^him^he^was^out^ofstate; however, Quinn was pulled over that evening in Glacier County and was subsequently charged with Negligent Endangerment and DUI—2nd offense.

ODC further determined that on July 22,2026, Quinn was arrested and charged with DUI—3rd offense. Reckless Driving, and Operating a Motor Vehicle with Expired Registration in Missoula. On August 4, 2026, the Glacier

County Attorney moved^to revoke Quinn's bond because Quinn had missed at least seven breath tests required as a condition of his release. Quinn then failed to appear at his show-cause hearing and the court issued a warrant for his arrest.

The Missoula County Attorney also petitioned to revoke

Quinn's release^on^the Missoula County charges because he missed scheduled

breath^testmonitoring^that^was^a

condition of his release in that case. Quinn continued to miss tests after the petition was filed and he was ultimately arrested and remanded to custody, remaining in detention at present.

ODC further alleges that during a September 30, 2026

status hearing^on^the Missoula County charges, Quinn advised the court he had spoken with LAP Director Larson once, contrary to his assertion to ODC that he was in "regular and direct communication and mentorship" with Larson. ODC also

learned Quinn^was^nolonger employed at the law firm he indicated as his employer in his response to ODC. The reason for Quinn's departure is presently unknown to ODC, ^but^Bucynotes^as^part^ofODC's request for interim suspension that Quinn's apparent status as a sole practitioner would allow him to accept cases, retainers, and other funds without the benefit of oversight. MRLDE 25A provides:

Upon receipt of evidence constituting probable cause ^that^alawyer subject^to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Supreme Court ^hascommitted^aviolation of the Rules of Professional Conduct or is incapacitated ^and,ⁱⁿeither case, poses a substantial threat of serious harm to clients ^or^thepublic. Disciplinary Counsel may file a petition with the Supreme Court ^to^have^thelawyer suspended pending proceedings. The clerk shall send ^thelawyer^a^copy^of the petition to his or her last known address.

ODC alleges Quinn's circumstances, as set forth above, ^mayconstitute violations of M. R. Pro. Cond. 8.4 (providing it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on their honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness as a lawyer), which also calls into question whether Quinn currently possesses the necessary competence, skills, knowledge, and preparation to engage in the practice of law, as required byM. R. Pro. Cond. 1.1.

ODC further alleges Quinn's response to ODC implicates ^M.^R.^Pro.Cond. 8.1(a) (providing a lawyer shall not knowingly make a false

statement^ofmaterial fact)^and8.4(c) (providing it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation) because ^at^the^time^he^told^ODC^he^had engaged in "successful medical rehabilitation," had

mitigated^hissubstance abuse issues,

and was in "regular and direct communication" with ^the^LAPDirector,^he^hadⁱⁿ^fact^been charged with multiple DUIs, had warrants out for his

arrest,^and^hadapparently^only spoken with LAP Director Larson on one occasion. We have reviewed ODC's motion and exhibit and agree the allegations made against Quinn may constitute probable cause he has

violated^theRules^ofProfessional Conduct and poses a substantial threat of serious harm ^toclients^or^thepublic. Pursuant^to MRLDE 25B, Quinn is directed to show good cause, if ^any,^why^heshould^not^be suspended during the pendency of the criminal proceedings against him and disciplinary proceedings that may follow.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Tad J. Quinn shall have

until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, to prepare, file, and serve a response to the petition for interim suspension.

DATED this day of October, 2026. Chief Justice

Justices