Thomas Reilly, the son of Irish immigrants Mortimer and Bridie Reilly, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on February 14, 1942. After attending Cathedral High School, he went to Saint Francis Xavier University. Later, he transferred to American International College. He graduated in 1964 and soon after enrolled in Boston College Law School, graduating in 1970. He and a partner, Wayne Budd, started their own small law firm at 3 Center Plaza in 1975. Later, Mr. Reilly worked in the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division. He joined the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office some time afterward. Working his way through the ranks, he became the Middlesex District Attorney in 1991, holding that position for eight years. He was elected Attorney General on November 4, 1998. In January 1999 he officially became Massachusetts' 43rd Attorney General, and has been working hard for the people of the Commonwealth ever since. Mr. Reilly currently resides in Watertown with his wife Ruth. He has three daughters and four grandchildren.

Attorney General Reilly is committed to service. Being a native of Springfield, he realized how difficult it was for people outside of the Boston vicinity to reach his downtown office and voice their concerns, so he established two additional full-service offices in Worcester and New Bedford to accommodate Central and Southeastern Massachusetts residents. The creation of these offices has been a great success.

Thomas Reilly’s efforts can best be appreciated while exploring the structure of his office and some of its divisions and purposes. The Attorney General’s Office consists of five bureaus, each of which is broken down into specific divisions in order to more efficiently provide for the people of Massachusetts. The five bureaus are the Executive, Public Protection, Business and Labor Protection, Government, and Criminal Bureau, which recently merged with the former Community Based Justice Bureau.

In these main departments, there are some special task forces and organizations of interest. Some of these units are specifically designed to help the most vulnerable members of society, including the elderly and children. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is one such body. This unit investigates and prosecutes allegations of patient abuse, mistreatment, or neglect in any Massachusetts extended care facility that receives Medicaid funds (www.ago.state.ma.us). The Elder Protection Unit of the Public Protection Bureau seeks to reach elderly persons before they become the victims of fraud by keeping them informed. The Attorney General’s Children’s Protection Project works to promote child safety through outreach programs and coordination with local government officials and community and social workers.

Started in June of 1993, the Disability Rights Project enforces state and federal laws pertaining to disabled persons, focusing especially on fair housing rights and accessibility to the world around them. The Environmental Crimes Strike Force works with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Environmental Police, and State Police to stop environmental crimes and prosecute offenders. The Attorney General also works to eliminate racism and discrimination of all types. The Employment Discrimination Project ensures that businesses follow employment practices according to Massachusetts and federal laws. The Hate Crimes Strike Force works to prevent and deal with hate crimes. Finally, the Conflict Intervention Team (CIT) provides emergency services to schools dealing with large-scale conflicts, especially when racial tensions play a role.

Attorney General Tom Reilly is devoted to public service, and strives to serve the Massachusetts public well. He and all of his employees at his extensive offices work for the public and with the public for the improvement of Massachusetts life. His Ward Fellow this summer is Leanne Gaffney.