On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, the Supreme Court of Louisiana issued a ruling in the matter of attorney Sonya Eloyace Hall, an attorney who was placed on probation following a disciplinary hearing. The court revoked Hall’s probation and made the previously deferred portion of her one-year and one-day suspension executory, effectively immediately.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Sonya Eloyace Hall,” with case no. 2023-B-01081.

Hall was initially suspended from the practice of law for one year and one day, with all but thirty days deferred, followed by a two-year period of probation, due to her mishandling of her client trust account and failure to cooperate with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel’s investigation. The court’s opinion specifically stated that any failure to comply with the conditions of probation or any misconduct during the probationary period may be grounds for making the deferred portion of the suspension executory or imposing additional discipline.

In the instant joint motion, the parties stipulated that Hall was not in compliance with paragraphs one and six of the probation agreement because the documentation she submitted with her trust account audits for the periods ending March 31, 2022, and June 30, 2022, was insufficient or non-responsive. Hall failed to respond to the ODC’s efforts to obtain the required documentation, and she also failed to provide trust account audits for the periods ending September 30, 2022, December 31, 2022, March 31, 2023, and June 30, 2023.

Additionally, the parties stipulated that Hall was not in compliance with paragraphs one and seven of the probation agreement because she failed to attend the additional six hours of continuing legal education courses with an emphasis on proper accounting practices, small firm practice, law office management, and/or ethics.

Under these circumstances, the parties agreed that Hall had failed to comply with the terms of her probation, and they asked the court to revoke her probation and make the previously deferred portion of the one-year and one-day suspension imposed in Hall I executory. The court granted the joint motion, revoking Hall’s probation and making the previously deferred portion of the suspension immediately executory.

As a result, Hall is required to apply for reinstatement to the practice of law pursuant to Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 24. All costs and expenses in the matter were assessed against Hall, Sonya Eloyance Hall, Louisiana Bar Roll number 25323, in accordance with Supreme Court Rule XIX, § 10.1, with legal interest to commence thirty days from the date of finality of this court’s judgment until paid.

According to Lawyer.com, Ms. Hall practices in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She acquired her law license in Louisiana in 1997.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.