CBS' hit legal drama "Matlock" is undergoing a significant cast change with the dismissal of actor David Del Rio, who portrayed junior associate Billy Martinez. The firing comes after an internal investigation into a sexual assault allegation made by co-star Leah Lewis, who plays Sarah on the series. Reports confirmed on October 9 by Deadline detailed that the alleged incident occurred on September 26, with the accusation reported on October 2. Following the investigation, Del Rio was promptly dismissed and escorted from the set, with executive producer Eric Christian Olsen reportedly among those present.

David Del Rio's character, Billy Martinez, has been an integral part of "Matlock" since the pilot episode. As a first-year junior associate at the prestigious law firm Jacobson Moore, Billy was known for his ambition and worked closely with senior lawyers. His professional dynamic often led to conflict with his friend and fellow junior associate, Sarah (Leah Lewis). However, the two, along with Madeline "Matty" Matlock (Kathy Bates), formed a close-knit trio affectionately nicknamed "You Three" by their senior lawyer, Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), as Matty infiltrated the firm. Beyond his professional life, Billy's personal storyline was just beginning to unfold, as he learned he was going to be a father with his on-and-off girlfriend. Del Rio had expressed excitement about exploring this new aspect of his character, noting in a pre-firing interview, "This will be the first character I've ever played that has to deal with fatherhood. And to be in an environment such as the law game is going to be a real nice ‘two thunderstorms colliding.’ As an actor, you want your circumstances to be delicious."

The abrupt departure of Del Rio and his character poses a challenge for the "Matlock" creative team, who are now rewriting scripts to account for Billy's exit. While Del Rio's character was a series regular and his developing storylines were compelling, the specifics of how Billy Martinez will be written off the show have not yet been revealed. The timing of the firing is particularly noteworthy as Season 2 is currently filming, with close to half of the season already completed with Del Rio in his role. A pre-planned hiatus is scheduled for next week, wrapping the first half of the season, with the second part of filming set to commence after Thanksgiving. This means viewers can expect to see Billy Martinez as a series regular in the initial episodes of Season 2, which were filmed and edited prior to the allegations and dismissal. His departure will likely occur before or immediately after the mid-season break.

"Matlock" Season 2 is set to debut on CBS on Sunday, October 12. The premiere episode, titled "The Before Times," will feature Matty, Sarah, and Billy as they tackle an arson case, while Olympia endeavors to protect Julian's (Jason Ritter) involvement in the Wellbrexa case. Subsequent episodes, "Another Matlock," "Tomorrow Is Still Tomorrow," and "Piece of My Heart," have also been revealed. Executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman hinted at Matty's evolving arc for the season, stating, "Matty thrives as a woman in control. This year she's not, due to a lot of surprises, so she starts to grip tighter and tighter," indicating a shift in her character's dynamic. Despite the cast change and potential alterations to the team's chemistry, Matty's overarching quest for truth and justice, particularly concerning her daughter, remains the central focus and heart of the series, ensuring its core narrative continues uninterrupted.