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Matthew William Shealy

matt@knieshealy.com
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Phone: (864) 582-5118
Fax: (864) 585-1615

250 Magnolia Street Post Office Box 5159
Spartanburg, South Carolina 29306
United States

For the past 14 years, my practice has been focused on Criminal Defense. I began my career as a public defender in Magistrate Court, handling misdemeanors for the Spartanburg County Public Defender’s Office. I was shortly moved to a full-time position defending people charged with crimes as simple as possessing drugs to as complex as attempted murders and DNA cases. After 3 years, I was assigned to my first murder case. Since then, I have handled a number of murders, criminal sexual conduct cases, and other complex cases. I have tried numerous cases to verdict, from a case of a stolen lawnmower to murder, armed robbery, and assault cases.

You should have an experienced lawyer when you have been charged with a crime, one who is not afraid to go to trial. An experienced lawyer knows the Solicitors, knows the judges, and understands how to speak to juries. This knowledge is invaluable when it comes to negotiating plea agreements and taking cases to trial with positive results.

My Father was a public defender in Gaffney for most of my life. My mother was a 3rd grade teacher at Luther L. Vaughan Elementary school. Growing up in a small town, most people knew them as their old teacher, their children’s teacher, their defense attorney, or their loved one’s defense attorney. Mom and Dad taught us that very few people are evil; they do make mistakes and that we should do what we can to help them. As an attorney, I take that mindset into every case I handle.

Education

Law, University of South Carolina School of Law, 2008
Cum Laude; Order of the Wig and Robe; Order of the Coif; CALI awards in Torts II, Conflict of Laws, Administrative Law, and Legal Research.

Classical Studies and Political Science, Hampden-Sydney College, 2005
Interdepartmental Honors; Summa Cum Laude; The Wilson Greek Prize; Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Fraternity; Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors Fraternity; Eta Sigma Phi Honors Fraternity; Phi Beta Kappa Liberal Arts Honors Fraternity; Theta Chi Social Fraternity.

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice South Carolina, 2008
Federal District of South Carolina, 2018
Professional & Bar Association Memberships

South Carolina Bar
Member Since: 2008

Christ Church Episcopal Church
Member Since: 2016

Spartanburg County Bar
Member Since: 2009

Top 40 Under 40 in Criminal Defense
Member Since: 2018

Non-Legal Activities

When not protecting and advancing the rights of my clients, I enjoy spending time with my wife and 2 kids.