Clarksville attorney reprimanded for practicing law after license revoked

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A local attorney was publicly reprimanded by the Tennessee Supreme Court for continuing to practice law after her license was revoked.

On January 21, 2020, Colleen Ann Hyder’s license to practice law was suspended for failure to pay her professional taxes for 2019. On July 19, the court issued a statement publicly reprimanding her for knowingly practicing law after her license was suspended, according to a press release.

The day after her suspension on January 21, Hyder appeared in Montgomery County District Court for a hearing. She did not notify the judge of her suspension. Later that day, she paid $457.06 in delinquent taxes, but did not pay the $100 late fee or the $200 reinstatement fee.

From January 23 to January 27, Hyder appeared in court several times, according to the Supreme Court statement. The following Monday, January 27, 2020, she paid the outstanding tax fee and reinstatement fee and filed her motion for reinstatement.

On February 3, 2020, Hyder contacted the Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Responsibility to inquire about her admission to practice law. The Board informed her that she would not be permitted to represent clients or practice law until she was reinstated by an order of that court.

Hyder’s license was reinstated on February 4, 2020, retroactive to January 28, 2020, the date the Board received full payment of all required fees by Hyder.

Clarksville Now has reached out to Hyder for comment.

Public criticism

On July 19, the court issued the reprimand. A reprimand is a reprimand and a warning, but does not affect the lawyer’s ability to practice law.

Hyder filed a petition to reconsider the hearing panel’s decision, arguing that she was permitted under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 26, to continue representing existing clients for 30 days after her suspension. She argued that Section 26 was ambiguous because it did not impose practice limitations on attorneys facing suspension under that section.

“She argued that a lawyer who has been temporarily suspended for embezzling client funds has 30 days to close his practice, so he should be allowed to continue representing existing clients even while suspended for nonpayment of his professional taxes,” the statement said. “An admittedly less serious violation.”

Despite the petition, the board upheld Hyder’s public reprimand.

“Attorneys in Tennessee must pay their professional tax or be immediately suspended by order of this Court,” the committee stated. “Practicing the practice of law while suspended for failure to pay professional tax is unauthorized practice of law.”