FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * NEWCASTLE PARTNERS L P   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol HALLMARK FINANCIAL SERVICES INC [HALL] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director __X__ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 200 CRESCENT COURT, STE 1400 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 04/07/2009 (Street) DALLAS, TX 75201 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 04/07/2009   J(2)   1,417,498 D $ 6.93 (3) 5,901,615 (1) D (1)

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
NEWCASTLE PARTNERS L P 200 CRESCENT COURT STE 1400 DALLAS, TX 75201		X

Signatures

Newcastle Partners, L.P., By: Newcastle Capital Management, L.P., its general partner, By: Newcastle Capital Group, L.L.C. its general partner, By: /s/ Mark E. Schwarz, its managing member		04/09/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	1. The Reporting Person holds 5,901,615 shares directly. The Reporting Person is also a member of a "group" for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and accordingly may be deemed to beneficially own Shares of the Issuer's Common Stock owned in the aggregate by the other members of the Section 13(d) group. The Group consists of the Reporting Person., Newcastle Capital Management, L.P., Newcastle Capital Group, L.L.C., Newcastle Special Opportunity Fund I, L.P., Newcastle Special Opportunity Fund II, L.P., Newcastle Focus Fund II, L.P., Mark Schwarz, DSC Services Inc. and the Detroit Stoker Company. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of the Issuer's Common stock owned by the other members of the Section 13(d) group except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.
(2)	Transaction constitutes a distribution of shares to withdrawing partners of NP as of March 31, 2009.
(3)	Closing price as of March 31, 2009.

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