Kleberg County Attorney Omar Orlando Collin submitted a formal letter of resignation to the county, which was scheduled to be discussed by county commissioners Tuesday.
However, the commissioners court tabled the matter because one of the commissioners was not present for the meeting.
Effective May 16, Collin was disbarred from the practice of law in the state of Texas.
According to the judgment of disbarment, the evidentiary panel found that Omar Collin committed professional misconduct. The panel found that Collin neglected a legal matter entrusted to him and that he failed to comply with reasonable requests for information from the woman he was representing about her legal matter. Upon termination of representation, Collin failed to surrender papers to which the woman he was representing was entitled. He also failed to refund advance payments of fees that had not been earned.
"The only thing I can say is that, in the past when we have real serious, major issues involving the county, we've always tabled them to make sure that decision is made by the whole court, whether we agree with each other or not," Kleberg County Judge Juan Escobar said. "The fact remains that it's important to have everybody have a say so. Commissioner Lomas is not here today. Out of respect to him, and also being that he's the senior commissioner, it was important that we have everybody before we make a decision."
According to the disbarment, the chief disciplinary counsel of the State Bar of Texas has incurred reasonable attorney's fees and direct expenses associated with this disciplinary proceeding in the amount of $1,857.50. Collin also owes restitution in the amount of $1,000, payable to the woman he was representing.
3News did reach out to Collin, but have not heard back from him.
Collin has been the Kleberg County attorney since October of 2013.
