On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, the Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility in Minnesota and attorney Hunter Tonry entered into a stipulation for reciprocal discipline before the Minnesota Supreme Court. In this stipulation, both parties agreed that the appropriate discipline for attorney Tonry’s unauthorized practice of law is suspension.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Hunter C. Tonry,” and was bought by the Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility.
In a petition for disciplinary action, it was stated that Tonry was suspended from practicing law in Minnesota on October 11, 2005, due to nonpayment of lawyer registration fees. Additionally, on June 28, 2022, Tonry faced public discipline by the Oregon Supreme Court for knowingly engaging in unauthorized law practice from March 2020 to August 2021. The Oregon Supreme Court’s order, detailed Tonry’s misconduct, which violated Rule 5.5(a) of the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct and ORS Stat. 9.160(1).
The petition requested that the Minnesota Supreme Court order Tonry and the Director to inform the court within 30 days whether they believe the imposition of identical discipline by the Minnesota Supreme Court would be unwarranted, along with the reasons for such a claim.
The petition for Disciplinary Action states:
“WHEREFORE, the Director respectfully prays for an order of this Court directing that respondent and the Director inform the Court within thirty days of its order whether either or both believe the imposition of identical discipline by the Minnesota Supreme Court would be unwarranted and the reasons for that claim.”
The Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility and Tonry entered into a stipulation for reciprocal discipline, with Tonry agreeing to the court’s immediate issuance of an order for reciprocal discipline. Tonry also admitted to having been served with the petition for disciplinary action seeking reciprocal discipline and unconditionally admitted to the allegations in the petition. These allegations indicated that Tonry had been disciplined by the Oregon Supreme Court for engaging in unauthorized law practice.
Both the Director and Tonry jointly recommended a 30-day suspension as a reciprocal discipline. They also recommended waiving the reinstatement hearing and, if Tonry were to seek reinstatement in the future, he must successfully complete the professional responsibility section of the state bar examination.
Mr. Tonry was admitted to practice law in Minnesota in 1995. His info can be found on lawyer.com.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
