OCU Law 2023 In Brief Magazine

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ublications such as the one you are now holding have a long lead time. You’re reading this in September or October, but the deadline was July, mere days after I commenced my new role as Dean. As such, the content that follows this message will be as new to me as it is to you. Only in the years ahead will I have influence over this magazine, or more importantly, this school we love.

As such, I feel a bit like I’m composing a letter for a time capsule.

As I write, the echoes of Independence Day fireworks still ring in my ears, my office walls are barren, and conversations about our school’s future are just commencing. By the time you actually read this, however, I can imagine that I will have enjoyed hundreds of conversations about our school, and today’s sketch of a vision for our future will have become paint on canvas. Hopefully, I will have also hung some pictures on the walls.

Photograph by Simon Hurst

Having offered this qualifier that perhaps the message I write in September would differ from the one I write in July, I can still offer some sentiments that are evergreen.

The first is to share my gratitude and excitement for this opportunity to serve my alma mater. I am especially grateful to Dean Emeritus Jim Roth for his five years of service and his support during my transition. I am also grateful to President Kenneth Evans, the search committee and all those who engaged with the dean search process.

And though these opening months will have been focused on listening and relationship-building that will lead to thoughtful planning and the casting of new visions, the July version of me already possesses a keen understanding of the foundation upon which we build.

OCU Law is the only law school in Oklahoma City, America’s 20th-largest city and our state’s capital city. That presents an incredible opportunity for us. It is also a special obligation. This world-class city depends on us to meet its future legal needs. OCU Law produces lawyers who are the defenders of the rule of law and the facilitators of our city’s business, government and civic life. Also, the law is a career path that provides incredible opportunity, and we want that opportunity to be available to all.

The collective strengths of our history, our faculty, our staff, our alumni, our students and our beautiful historic home in downtown Oklahoma City give confidence that we can meet our challenges and seize our opportunities. This is true in July, September, October and all the months that lie ahead.

I know that as we leverage these strengths, you will be right there, as you always have been. Thank you for your ongoing support of OCU Law. I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with you as we face the vital work before us.

Enjoy this latest issue of In Brief, and if I can connect with you about OCU Law, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can find me at dholt@okcu.edu.

All my best,

Dean David Holt ’09

DEAN

David Holt ’09

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Destry Holzschuh Director of Marketing and Communications

EDITORIAL STAFF

Jennifer Stevenson Prilliman Assistant Dean for Advancement & External Relations

Beth Wellman Administrative Assistant

The 2023 Sovereignty Symposium

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Kelli Hildreth Special Events Coordinator

LAW STUDENT EDITING BOARD

Austin Dodd Beth Knight Krista Mireles

CONTRIBUTORS

Ashley Collier Preston Nicholson Tia Ebarb Matt Luciana Perez ’23 Sam Holzschuh Lindsey Pever ’18 Sarah McGovern ’06 Jim Roth ’94 Carla Spivack

CREATIVE DIRECTION & GRAPHIC DESIGN

Amy Fuller Flint Inc

PHOTOGRAPHY

Simon Hurst Photography Ian Weston

CONTACT INFORMATION

Admissions 405.208.5354, lawadmit@okcu.edu Advancement 405.208.7100, lawadvancement@okcu.edu Student Services 405.208.5332, lawstudentservices@okcu.edu 800 N. Harvey Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 • 405.208.6400 • law.okcu.edu All editorial contributions and submissions are welcome and are subject to editing and are used at the Editor-in-Chief ’s discretion. In Brief Magazine is a copyrighted publication of Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Learn about the latest OCU Law news and events.

Connect with us @OCULaw

COVER ARTWORK BY

ERIC TIPPECONNIC for the 2023 Sovereignty Symposium

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LEGAL BRIEFS

Bob Haupt

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ALUMNI NEWS

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GIVING BACK

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Rock, River, Tree

Gary Homsey

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Advocacy for Native Communities

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Legal Briefs

NEWS IN & AROUND OCU LAW The panel discussed the filing of a bill of particulars, the state and federal appellate process after a defendant is sentenced to death (including federal habeas corpus), the clemency process, and the days leading up to an actual execution in Oklahoma.

Dean House, her son and Professor Kolar

Back to School Bash OCU Law ushered in the new school year with the fourth Back to School Bash. All OCU Law students and faculty, their families, and current members of the Law Alumni Association were invited to join the fun. This year’s theme was “Road tripping back to school,” and the Bash included food trucks, games, face painting, bounce houses, axe throwing, and more. The event was sponsored in part by Phillips Murrah Law Firm. Fun was had by all!

The event also recognized the members of the Oklahoma Death Penalty Review Commission, on the sixth anniversary of the commission’s March 2017 publication, The Report of the Oklahoma Death Penalty Review Commission, in which the eleven-member bipartisan commission unanimously recommended that Oklahoma’s “current moratorium on the death penalty be extended until significant reforms have been accomplished.”

The panel discussion was moderated by Professor Maria Kolar, who has worked on capital appeals as a federal law clerk, a law clerk for the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, and as an attorney for the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System. Professor Kolar now writes and teaches in the areas of Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, and Capital Punishment at OCU School of Law.

Stony the Road

The Road to Execution Presented by OCU Law Diversity Council This spring, OCU Law and the OCU Law Diversity Council hosted the third annual Stony the Road lecture series. The panel of experts gathered to shed light on Oklahoma's capital punishment legal process and the path of a capital case/defendant from the time of charging through actual execution.

The panel was made up of legal experts with vast experience in the death penalty realm in Oklahoma, including former Attorney General Drew Edmondson, current Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna, First Assistant Federal Public Defender Emma Rolls, and Oklahoma Innocence Project Legal Director (and former Oklahoma County Appellate Public Defender) Andrea Miller.

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Professor Kolar, Professor Miller, Emma Rolls, Vicki Behenna, Drew Edmondson

Panelists Emma Rolls and Drew Edmondson

Photography by OCU Photography, Ian Weston

The Road to Execution topic was chosen because in October of 2021, after a botched execution, an execution using an unauthorized drug, and a moratorium on executions that lasted almost seven years, the State of Oklahoma resumed executions of persons on death row who have exhausted their appeals and been denied clemency.

Left top: L-R Professor Gatton, Dean Dalley, Brennan Lecturer Professor Joseph Postell, Professor Spiropoulos, Professor Lyons Left bottom: L-R : Catherine Quinlan, Quinlan Lecturer Professor Helen Norton, Megan Quinlan, Dean Roth

Photography by Oklahoma City University

Right: Quinlan Lecturer Professor Helen Norton, University Distinguished Professor and Rothgerber Chair in Constitutional Law at University of Colorado Law School

Brennan Lecture:

Quinlan Lecture:

Presented by Joseph Postell, Associate Professor of Politics at Hillsdale College

Presented by Helen Norton, University Distinguished Professor and Rothgerber Chair in Constitutional Law at University of Colorado Law School

State Legislatures and the Prospects for Self-Government In an era of increasing polarization, animosity, and dysfunction in the national government, what role can state governments and state legislatures play in ensuring that government responds to the wishes of the people? State legislatures are uniquely positioned to play an important role in self-government because they are close to the people. But how can they be best equipped to serve this function? This lecture addressed the importance of state legislative capacity for ensuring that state legislatures are capable of fulfilling their role in self-government.

Professor Postell made a normative case for increasing state legislative capacity as a means of dealing with contemporary polarization and distrust in government.

He focused on increasing the length of sessions, getting rid of term limits and devoting more resources to state legislatures and mechanisms like the legislative veto.

He argued that state legislatures are the most genuinely representative parts of a state government and that while governors are elected statewide, they do not reflect the pluralism and diversity of the geographic interests in a state.

“Legislatures are the only places where genuine deliberation, including bargaining and compromise, can occur. While Congress is gridlocked and polarized, I think state representatives are able to be more independent of their national parties and therefore more bipartisanship can happen at the state levels, but that means we have to strengthen them.”

When Speakers’ and Listeners’ First Amendment Interests Collide

Constitutional questions can be especially challenging when they force us to choose between important constitutional values – between liberty and security, for example, or among speech, religion, and equality. Along these lines, some First Amendment problems are particularly difficult because they demand that we choose between speakers’ and listeners’ First Amendment interests.

Speakers’ and listeners’ First Amendment interests collide when speakers want to tell lies while their listeners want the truth. And when listeners want speakers to reveal information that speakers would prefer to conceal. And when listeners want to be left alone while speakers want to talk to them. This lecture explored the ways in which listeners’ interests make a difference in how we think about, and decide, important First Amendment problems.

Professor Norton explained the role of listeners’ interests in shaping past Supreme Court decisions, some involving commercial speech and others involving political campaigns.

The lecture then examined the role that listeners’ interests currently play in disputes that now divide the lower courts, disputes that will no doubt soon reach the Supreme Court.

These include ongoing disagreements about how to define “true threats” unprotected by the First Amendment, as well as free speech challenges to recently-enacted laws that restrict platforms’ choices about whether to publish certain speakers’ posts on their sites. Throughout this discussion, the lecture explored several different “tiebreakers” for resolving First Amendment conflicts between speakers and listeners.

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LEGAL BRIEFS

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW ANNOUNCED FOUR NEW FACULTY MEMBERS

Dr. Ying Zhou Dr. Ying Zhou joined the faculty of Oklahoma City University School of Law as an Assistant Professor of Law in the fall of 2023. Her scholarship lies at the intersection of business law, data privacy, and technology law, as well as international and transnational law, with a specialization in both U.S. and Chinese law. In recent years, her research has examined issues that arise in connection with international corporate regulation, with particular emphasis on the U.S. model of corporate enforcement.

Professor Tia Ebarb Matt Professor Tia Ebarb Matt joined OCU Law in July 2022 as a Clinical Professor of Law and the Director of Experiential Learning – she also oversees the Experiential Learning program.

She received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1995 and a J.D. from University of Washington School of Law in 1999. She practiced in Arizona and Washington, focusing on estate and business planning with an emphasis on asset protection.

Prior to her arrival at OCU, she spent eight years at the University of Exeter Law School in England where she created a vibrant pro bono program, including six legal advice clinics.

Professor Ebarb Matt believes that teaching through practical work impacts the way students learn, and it ultimately instills critical thinking and leadership skills and facilitates students in developing self-efficacy, empathy, and a sense of belonging.

She is an enrolled member of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb.

Professor Sarah McGovern Professor Sarah McGovern joined the faculty at Oklahoma City University School of Law as a Legal Research and Writing Professor in the fall of 2022.

Prior to this, Professor McGovern served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Western District of Oklahoma for over thirteen years. There, she represented men on death row throughout their federal appeals in each of the federal district courts of Oklahoma, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

Professor McGovern has served on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma County Bar Association as well as Chairman of the Young Lawyers Division of the Oklahoma County Bar. She has also served as Chairman of the Oklahoma County Bar Foundation.

Professor McGovern graduated with a B.B.A. from Ohio University and graduated with her J.D. from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Professor Trevor Wedman Professor Trevor Wedman joined the faculty at Oklahoma City University School of Law in the fall of 2023.

Professor Wedman received his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law. After graduating, Wedman began practicing international corporate law with law firms in Europe and the Middle East while working toward his Ph.D. in legal theory from the University of Leipzig. He has been a visiting researcher at the University of Stockholm, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Vienna. Wedman has published internationally and his monograph, Inverting the Norm - Law as the Form of Common Practice, appeared in 2022 with Mohr Siebeck in Germany.

Legal Action

PUBLICATIONS LIST

Maria T. Kolar Associate Professor of Law B.A., The University of Notre Dame

M.A., Emory University J.D., Yale Law School

Felony Murder Liability for Homicides by Police: Too Unfair & Too Much to Bear 113 J. CRIM. L. & CRIMINOLOGY (2023)

Eric T. Laity Professor of Law B.A., Harvard University J.D., Harvard University

“International Prescriptive Jurisdiction and American Conflict of Laws” 52 Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law (2023)

Tia Ebarb Matt Clinical Professor of Law & Director of Experiential Education B.S., University of Arizona J.D., University of Washington

“Rationale and Recommendations on Decolonising the Pedagogy and Curriculum of the Law School at the University of Exeter” 56 The Law Teach 536 Vol. 56 Iss. 4 (2023) p. 536-551

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Carney Anne Nasser Visiting Professor of Law B.A., UC San Diego J.D., Tulane University

Welcome (Back) to the Jungle: The Status of America’s Tiger Crisis 18 Mich. State U. College of Law Animal & Nat. Res. L. Rev. 1 (Aug. 2022)

Carla Spivack Oxford Research Professor of Law Director, Certificate Program in Estate Planning B.A., Princeton University J.D., New York University Ph.D., Boston College

Developing Professional Skills: Wills, Trusts & Estates (West Academic 2022) (co-authored with Karen J. Snedd)

Phyllis Taite Professor of Law B.S., Florida A&M University J.D., Florida State University

LL.M., University of Florida

Inequality by Unnatural Selection: The Impact of Tax Code Bias on the Racial Wealth Gap 110 KY. L. J. 639 (2021-2022) Teaching Cultural Competence in Law School Curricula: An Essential Step to Facilitate Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Legal Profession 2022 ULR 813 (2022) (co-authored with Nicky Boothe) FLPs With Estate Plans Tax Stringer (November 1, 2022)

D.A. Jeremy Telman Professor of Law B.A., Columbia University M.A., Cornell University

Ph.D., Cornell University J.D., New York University

Our Dumb First Amendment: The Case of the Foul-Mouthed Cheerleader 126 W. VA.L. REV. (forthcoming 2023-24)

LEGAL ACTION

PERIOD POVERTY

BY CARL A S P IVACK P R O FESSOR of L AW

The past few years have seen increased awareness, both nationally and across the globe, of a phenomenon called “period poverty.” This refers in part to literal financial lack — that is, the inability to afford commercial menstrual products, but it also encompasses problems like inadequate access to supplies and services for menstrual hygiene, lack of adequate menstrual education, menstruation-associated stigma and shame, and any combination of the above. These are concerns throughout the world, and growing awareness about them has awoken a worldwide movement for “Period Equity.” Period Equity refers to the

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campaign for the relief from period poverty in all its forms in all countries. It is, essentially, a movement to remove all the impediments menstruation has placed in the way of women’s full participation in public life, whether at school, work, government, politics or society in general.

First, cost: menstrual products are not cheap, and while some states have lifted the tax on these products, about half the states still tax them – despite the fact that similar products for men (think condoms, Viagra, Rogaine) are often tax-free. While cost is a se-

rious problem in developing countries, it is also true that a fourth of people in the United States who need these products struggle to afford them. And period poverty has grown: a 2021 study from U by Kotex showed that two in five people have struggled to afford period products in their lifetime – a 35% increase from its 2018 research. And, while 25 million women in the United States live in poverty, Food Stamps don’t cover tampons or any other menstrual products.

Photograph by SKC

Most states exempt “necessities” from sales taxes, and period equity activists insist that menstrual products should be in that category. States collectively make over $150 million annually from taxing menstrual products. The organization Period Equity argues that this is not just inconvenient for women but

Due to lack of basic hygiene, as well as to the stigma, large numbers of women and girls miss work and school.

also unconstitutional. They argue the tax amounts to a violation of the equal protection clause since the law targets a bodily function associated with women.

Class action suits have been filed around the country on this basis.

Then there is the problem of access: groups of people who lack access to menstrual products include high school and college students, people in prisons (the federal government passed a law that requires federal prisons to supply free menstrual products to inmates, but most state prisons still require inmates to buy them at the prison commissary), and people in homeless shelters.

Plus, the stigma still associated with menstruation: these problems are often worse for women in other countries around the world. In India, for example, only 12 percent of women have access to menstrual products. The rest must rely on rags, newspapers, socks, toilet paper and plastic bags. More than one billion women around the world lack access to safe, clean and private toilets. Five hundred and twenty-six million lack access to toilets at all. Add to this the fact that stigma still attaches to menstruation in many of the countries where these women live: in these countries, menstruating women are often denied access to their homes, to food preparation and the company of their families while they are menstruating. Due to lack of basic hygiene, as well as to the stigma, large numbers of women and girls miss work and school. Studies show that 28 percent of girls in Rwanda miss school because of their periods. In Uganda, 70 percent of girls miss one to three days a month. These facts have existential implications for women and girls: studies have shown a connection between menstruation and lost wages, and the cost of hygiene products may make daughters seem like excessive financial burdens.

Oklahoma still taxes menstrual products. In 2022, Sen. Jessica Garvin (R) introduced a bill that would provide free products to low-income people and a tax refund for others who bought menstrual hygiene products, but it still has not become law. Currently, proposed Senate Bill 176, co-authored by Sen. George Young (D) and Rep. Jason Lowe (D), would require school districts and public charter schools in Oklahoma to distribute free menstrual products to students.

This bill was scheduled for a hearing by the Education Committee, but the chair of that committee ultimately decided not to hear it. Finally, HB 2122, written by Rep. Amanda Swope (D), would exempt all menstrual products in the state from sales tax. Right now, this bill is in the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee; if it gets out of that committee, it will head to the House of Representatives for a vote. If approved in the House, it will then go to the Senate for a vote. So, there are bills pending to address this issue in Oklahoma: messages of support from constituents would certainly make a difference in moving them along.

LEGAL ACTION

Photography by Oklahoma City University

THE 2023 SOVEREIGNTY SYMPOSIUM Held in Oklahoma City June 13 and 14 at the Skirvin Hotel, the theme for this 35th symposium was “Treaties.” Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne was the keynote speaker, her second time in that role at The Sovereignty Symposium, and symposium panelists included experts in Indian Law from all over the country. Over the two days, close to 550 people attended.

The transition from the Oklahoma Supreme Court to OCU was smooth, and The Sovereignty Symposium’s future is bright.

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LEGAL ACTION

The Sovereignty Symposium

PANELISTS

The Sovereignty Symposium XXXV’s panelists included esteemed tribal and Oklahoma government leaders, artists, musicians, attorneys, and judges. The panels featured at this year’s symposium: SY M BIOTIC ECO NO M I C S

WATE R L AW

Panelists: John “Rocky” Barrett, Reggie Wassana, Meloyde Blancett, Steven C. Agee, Deborah Dotson, Geoffrey Standing Bear, Bill G. Lance, Jr., Leslie Osborn, Carly Griffith Hotvedt, Tim Gatz, Dan Boren, Susan Harper, Tana Fitzpatrick, Valorie Devol, Wayne Garnons-Williams, Victor Flores. Moderated by James C. Collard.

Panelists: Lewis Johnson, Kenneth Wagner, Duane Smith, Sara Hill, Greg McCortney, Barney Austin, Susan Paddack, Julie Cunningham, Mithun Mansinghani, Brian Danker, Brian Candelaria. Moderated by John Hargrave.

Panelists: Vanessa Jennings, Jeri Redcorn, Kenneth Johnson, Jo Rowan, James Pepper Henry, Jay Scambler, Harvey Pratt, Mark Parker, Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, Tim Tate Nevaquaya. Moderated by James Pepper Henry and Jay Scambler.

J UVENIL E LAW A N D C H I L D R E N ’S I S S U E S Panelists: Deanna Hartley-Kelso, Bill Thorne, Mike Warren, Lauren Van Schilfgaarde, Elizabeth Brown, Jennifer McBee, Chrissi Nimmo, Katie E. Klass, Amy J. Pierce. Moderated by Justices Noma Gurich and Dustin Rowe.

TREATIES, INTERGOV E R N M E N TA L AGR E EMEN TS, A ND CO M PAC TS Panelists: Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, Gentner Drummond, DG Smalling, Jerry McPeak, Greg Bigler, Gordon Yellowman. Moderated by Chiefs Chuck Hoskin, Jr., and Gary Batton.

Panelist: John Reif. Moderated by Julie Rorie.

GAM I N G Panelists: Sequoyah Simermeyer, Ernie L. Stevens, Jr., Kyle Dean, Elizabeth Homer, William Norman, Jr., Mike McBride, III, Jonodev Chaudhuri, G. Dean Luthey. Moderated by Nancy Green and Matthew Morgan.

C R I M I N AL L AW Panelists: Jonodev Chaudhuri, Bob Ravits, Trent Shores, Jari Askins, Robert Miller. Moderated by Arvo Mikkanen.

E DUCATI ON Panelists: Ryan Walters, Jan Barrick, Freda Deskin, Patrick Riley, Trey Hays, Duayne Smith, Gregory D. Smith, Dan Little, Frank Wang, Eric Tippeconnic, Cornel Pewewardy. Moderated by Allison D. Garrett.

Photos by Oklahoma City University

SIG NS, SY MB O LS, A N D S O U N D S

E TH I C S AN D A DI S C US S I ON OF TH E C ONC E R N S OF STATE , F E DE R AL , AN D TR I BAL JUD GE S

LEGAL ACTION

The Sovereignty Symposium

AWARDS J O HN B . D O O L IN W R I T I N G C O M PE T I T I O N The John B. Doolin Writing Competition is named after former Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice John B. Doolin. Chief Justice Doolin was the person who first initiated conversation about creating the Sovereignty Symposium, and he continued to be very supportive of the symposium in the following years. Doolin served on the Oklahoma Supreme Court for 20 years. The writing competition named in Doolin’s honor is open to any student enrolled in college at any level. Each year, a first, second, and third place winner are chosen, and the first-place winner is published in The Sovereignty Symposium book.

1st Place: Clayton Fulton, Fulton University of Michigan Law School Indigenous Innovation: How Joint Ventures Between Tribes and Legal Tech Stand to Reimagine Twenty-First Century Justice 2nd Place: Cailey Harris, Harris Thompson Rivers University Restoring the Soul of a Nation: The Repatriation of Indigenous Cultural Property in Canada and the United States 3rd Place: Robert Houle, Houle Thompson Rivers University Residency, Discrimination and Self-Government

Awardees from left to right: Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne; Eric Tippeconnic and Justice Yvonne Kauger; OCU President Kenneth Evans.

in First Nations Communities and Canadian Jurisprudence Honorable Mention: Lauren Ashley Week, Week University of Michigan Cultural Resources, Conquest, and Courts: How State Court Approaches to Statutory Interpretation Diminish Indigenous Cultural Resources Protections in California, Hawai‘i, and Washington H AGE R P R I ZE The Hager Prize is named after C. Steven Hager and is awarded each year to a student or symposium faculty member who submits an essay about the Indian Child Welfare Act or any legal issue concerning Native American children. The winning entry is published in the symposium book. C. Steven Hager worked as a senior staff attorney at the Oklahoma Indian Legal Services for many years. He also served as the Chief Judge for the Kickapoo Nation in Kansas and on the Supreme Court for the Kaw Nation of Oklahoma. Hager wrote for the symposium’s Hargrave Writing Prize several times and won the competition in 2015.

Emma Payne, Payne Thompson Rivers University First Nations Governance & Economic Development. Josiah Wilson: A Case Study on Determining Indigeneity

Awardees from left to right: Brian Candelaria Greg Bigler Justice Yvonne Kauger and Jim Roth

HA RG RAV E P R I ZE The Hargrave Prize is named after former Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Rudolph Hargrave. The competition is open to past or present Sovereignty Symposium faculty to submit original and previously unpublished papers. The top three are awarded a prize and have their papers published in the symposium book.

Hargrave served on the Oklahoma Supreme Court for more than 30 years, including a stint as Chief Justice of the Court. During his time as Chief Justice, he was elected by the National Conference of Chief Justices as its vice-president, the only Oklahoma justice to serve in that position.

Photography by Oklahoma City University

Justice Yvonne Kauger said of Hargrave and his family at the 2023 Sovereignty Symposium, “For 26 years, Rudolph Hargrave was the shepherding force behind the symposium and the perennial master of ceremonies.

His wife Madeline attended every symposium in her support of Rudy and the Court. And I appreciate their son, Johnny Bob, and his grandson Jeff for continuing the Hargrave legacy as panel members.”

Brian Candelaria THE S OV EREIG N T Y SYM P O S I U M AWA R D The Sovereignty Symposium Award is premised on consistent or extraordinary contributions to The Sovereignty Symposium. Each year, award recipients are given a medal.

This year, in addition to an OCU Sovereignty Symposium Medal, contemporary jewelry designer and metalsmith Kenneth Johnson designed a special necklace

for each of the honorees. Kenneth has been called the jeweler to the Justices because he designed pieces for Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonya Sotomayor, Canadian Chief Justice Beverley McLaughlin, former Chief Justices Douglas Combs, Noma Gurich, Richard Darby, and Yvonne Kauger. Five winners: Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne Kenneth Evans Jim Roth Greg Bigler Eric Tippeconnic O C U’S F I R ST H ON OR E D ON E AWAR D “Since its inception in 1988, The Sovereignty Symposium has awarded the status of ‘Honored One’ to unique individuals whose lifetime contributions to the world, the United States, the State of Oklahoma and their personal communities are without peer. The remarkable individuals granted this award include Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, former Attorney General Janet Reno; Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller; the Kiowa Black Leggings Society; the Vietnam Era Veterans Intertribal Association and many, many more. Yet this award, this symposium, this dialogue between sovereignties that began so many years ago and continues today would not be possible without Justice Yvonne Kauger. It is indeed my honor to present, OCU’s first Honored One Award to the Honored One, Justice Yvonne Kauger.” - OCU Law Dean Jim Roth at the 2023 Sovereignty Symposium Justice Yvonne Kauger

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Photography by Oklahoma City University

The 2024 Sovereignty Symposium dates are June 11 and 12. We hope to see you there in 2024!

LEGAL ACTION

BY D E STRY H O L ZS CH U H DI R ECTO R of M A R KE TI N G & C O M M UN I C ATI O N S

The Sovereignty Symposium

HISTORY

When Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Yvonne Kauger started The Sovereignty Symposium in 1988, she had high hopes for its future, but in the 35 years since, it has become more successful than most could have imagined.

Today, The Sovereignty Symposium is the premier symposium for legal and artistic issues in Indian Law. It’s one of the most prestigious Indian Law conferences in the country.

“Everyone we have on our panel could be the keynote speaker,” Justice Kauger said.

In the late 1980s, after several years of discussions of starting an Indian Law conference at the National Conference of Chief Justices, then-Chief Justice John B. Doolin approached Justice Kauger, with the concurrence of the court, and instructed her to start the conference herself. Justice Kauger obliged, and The Sovereignty Symposium was born.

The first year, the symposium was set at the same time as the Red Earth Festival (which Justice Kauger had co-founded just a year earlier). The popularity of the festival was a big draw for people to come and be on the panel at the symposium at their own expense.

Will Rogers, Jr., was the festival’s honored guest and participated in the parade that year, which helped to kick off the symposium.

The symposium only had one panel that first year – in 2023 it had 12.

When the symposium started, the state Supreme Court saw one or two cases related to Indian Law each year, but now it sometimes sees up to three a week.

At that time, the Chickasaw Nation had fewer than 50

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Left to right, this page: 1988 Opening Ceremonies; Justice Yvonne Kauger, Chief Justice John B. Doolin, Chadwick Smith. Opposite page: 2012 Opening Ceremonies; 1988 and 2023 Drum circles.

employees – now it has close to 14,000.

Henry Bellmon was the governor of Oklahoma at the time of the first symposium and was very supportive – even speaking at the symposium that year. Federal Judge William J. Holloway, Jr., helped lend the symposium credibility from the very beginning with his support, and he continued to be very supportive throughout. Enoch Kelly Haney, an artist, tribal leader, Oklahoma State Senator, and Oklahoma City University alumnus, was another early supporter of the symposium.

One of the symposium writing competition awards is named after Rudolph Hargrave, a former Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice. “Rudy was like the uncle of sovereignty,” Kauger said. “He was so supportive. He believed in the future of the tribal courts and tribal judicial systems.”

A second writing award is named in honor of Justice John B. Doolin. Each year, the symposium publishes a book edited by Kyle Shifflet, a staff lawyer for Justice Kauger, containing papers from major scholars and winners of the Doolin and Hargrave writing competitions. Law schools and law libraries nationwide subscribe to the book.

From the beginning, the symposium garnered tribal support. Each year during the Opening Ceremonies, tribal leaders bring in the flags of the sovereign nations. Some years the governors of the state of Oklahoma have processed in with them. In earlier years the Indian Affairs Commission served as a sponsor.

Justice Kauger says the symposium has always been “the safe place” where discussion can take place be-

Disclaimer: The Sovereignty Symposium was established to provide a forum in which ideas concerning common legal issues can be exchanged in a scholarly, non-adversarial environment. The Supreme Court espoused no view on any of the issues, and the positions taken by the participants were not endorsed by the Supreme Court.

tween tribal and state leaders. While at times the discussion has been lively, the symposium has continued to provide a place for the parties to gather for a chance to have a conversation.

In the years since the symposium began, the tribes have grown their own lawyers, and many have seen massive economic development. Tribal courts have expanded and preside over many cases each year as well.

Justice Kauger recalls Browning Pipestem saying at an early symposium, “In the olden days, the tribes fought their battles with bows and arrows and rifles.

Now they fight their battles in the courtroom as briefcase warriors.”

Today, a painting by Eric Tippeconnic titled “Briefcase Warrior” hangs in the Oklahoma Judicial Center.

Julie Rorie, a staff lawyer for Justice Kauger, has been coordinator of The Sovereignty Symposium for 30 years.

“The tribes have reinvigorated their nations in the 35 years that the symposium has been operating,” Rorie said. “So, it’s been fascinating to watch, and it’s been fascinating to play a part in it through the symposium because Oklahoma’s tribal nations are in a vastly different situation than they were in 1988.”

These days, the symposium sees second and third generations of attendees and speakers, such as former congressman Ed Edmondson, who was critical in the symposium’s formation, his sons former state attorney general Drew Edmondson, state supreme court justice James Edmondson, and Justice Edmonson’s granddaughter, Essie. Distinguished

speakers include Sandra Day O’Connor, Janet Reno, and Baroness Emma Nicholson. Students, professors, and scholars from across the country compete in the writing competitions. Attorneys and non-attorneys alike come from all over to attend, and it grows each year.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the symposium was forced to cancel and then go virtual like so many other things, so when everyone was able to return in person in 2022, Justice Kauger said it was like coming home.

“Governor Anoatubby danced in,” Kauger said. “He’s always just walked in, but that time he danced in. So many people that have left Oklahoma and are scattered throughout the country that are lawyers or tribal administrators or government officials all maintain strong Oklahoma roots. So, in some ways, the symposium has always been a homecoming.”

After 35 years, The Sovereignty Symposium is finding a new home with Oklahoma City University and Oklahoma City University School of Law this year. Justice Kauger says she believes the transfer to OCU will allow the symposium to grow in ways it has not been able to so far.

In addition to OCU Law being Justice Kauger’s alma mater, she trusts that the school will nurture the symposium. That and enthusiastic support from President Evans and Dean Roth guided the decision to choose OCU Law as the symposium’s new home. “I’m very excited that OCU is taking on the symposium because that ensures its growth,” Kauger said. “The appointment of the new dean, Osage Warrior Mayor David Holt, will help it achieve its full potential.”

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SOVEREIGNTY

The Conversation

BY SA R A H McG OV E R N PR O FE S S O R of L AW

Earlier this year, Oklahoma City University announced plans to adopt The Sovereignty Symposium. The Sovereignty Symposium is the premier annual national legal conference that focuses on all aspects of tribal sovereignty and governance. The Sovereignty Symposium has been shepherded by the Oklahoma Supreme Court for thirty-five years and is now coming to a new home within Oklahoma City University.

The Sovereignty Symposium provides a forum for the exchange of ideas between a diverse set of sovereign stakeholders. Tribal governments here in Oklahoma and from across the United States lead the way in crafting their own approaches to self-governance, while thoughtfully collaborating with federal, state and local counterparts to ensure a maximum positive impact. The Sovereignty Symposium has fostered important cutting-edge conversations amongst tribal, federal, state and local leaders. These conversations have led to meaningful engagement and partnerships that serve as the rising tide that lifts all boats.

Sovereignty is the most important aspect of tribal governance. All good things flow from recognition and respect for sovereign nations, which pre-date the United States and continue in full force today. Although recognition of sovereign nations has come with a varied past, United States Supreme Court precedent began to recognize and protect tribal sovereignty in the early 1800s in a series of cases known as the Marshall trilogy. Named after John Marshall, the longest serving Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and a prominent player in the establishment of federal Indian law, the Marshall trilogy is comprised of three cases where the Supreme Court recognized the sovereign powers of tribal governments and the trust responsibility owed to these nations by the federal government.

These foundational cases have since served as the backdrop for the entire field of Indian law.

Yet, the scope of tribal sovereignty and its interplay with federal, state and local counterparts remains a topic of debate to this day. The ever-evolving relationship with the sovereign nations is evidenced by the recent debate over criminal jurisdiction. In 2020, in McGirt v.

Oklahoma, the United States Supreme Court affirmed that Congress never disestablished reservation lands in eastern Oklahoma, and as such, the state of Oklahoma lacked jurisdiction to prosecute crimes committed

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by Indians on these lands. Subsequent cases have gone on to apply this holding to all Five Tribes within Oklahoma, removing jurisdiction to federal or tribal courts.

In 2022, the Supreme Court clarified in Oklahoma v.

Castro-Huerta that, while criminal acts committed by Indians fall under the jurisdiction of federal and tribal courts, jurisdiction to prosecute non-Indians who commit crimes against Indians on tribal lands is jointly held by federal and state governments. While the basic jurisdictional structure has been roughly carved out by these cases, many questions remain as to what all of this means for each of the respective governments on a day-to-day basis.

Without the type of important conversations promoted by The Sovereignty Symposium, answers to these questions likely would remain in the hands of the courts. But, that need not be the inevitable. The Sovereignty Symposium has kept open a forum where ideas about such legal issues can be exchanged in a scholarly, non-adversarial environment. This exchange of ideas is intended to strengthen the stakeholders by recognizing that there are roles to be filled by the various entities, which complement one another, without distracting from the tribal nations’ sovereignty.

Across the years, The Sovereignty Symposium has made a point to facilitate the tribal nations’ exercise of self-governance and the preservation of tribal lands and cultures, all while working alongside their respective federal, state and local counterparts. Thankfully, these critical conversations and relationships will continue as The Sovereignty Symposium makes its new home at OCU Law. OCU Law has already made the protection of tribal sovereignty a focus of its American Indian Law and Sovereignty Center, which has served as the academic law and policy center for legal issues that impact tribal communities since 1988. OCU Law is also committed to training tomorrow’s leaders to continue the work that contributes in meaningful ways to protective discourse for tribal sovereignty. It is a hope that one day some of these future leaders may take a seat at the table to engage in the conversations provided by The Sovereignty Symposium. OCU Law is honored to serve as the conduit for this important forum and is proud to assume this responsibility – and looking forward to being a small part of the rising tide.

Mike Larsen

All artwork on this page is copyright Mike Larsen

Featured artist of The Sovereignty Symposium in 2005, 2010, and 2011

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Wills Clinic intern Rosy Buckingham assists in executing her client’s will while clinic interns Eastman Holloway and Chloe Lubbers serve as witnesses.

BY TIA EBA RB MATT Choctaw-Apache C LI NI CAL PROF ESSOR of LAW DI R ECTOR of EX PERIENT IA L LE ARN IN G

FROM CLASSROOM TO COMMUNITY: STUDENT ENGAGEMENT & ADVOCACY FOR

NATIVE COMMUNITIES Oklahoma City University School of Law has a long history of engaging with issues related to Indian Law, with this commitment extending to its student body. In addition to its focus on Indian Law activities through the American Indian Law and Sovereignty Center (AILSC) and the robust Native American externship opportunities, OCU Law encourages students to actively engage in a wide range of activities to enhance their legal education and make a positive impact in their communities. OCU Law offers numerous opportunities for students to get involved and develop the skills and knowledge needed to become effective and ethical legal professionals.

For over three decades, the AILSC has been providing civil legal services to victims of domestic violence, victim's rights services for crime victims, Indian Child Welfare training, tribal court development, and publishing scholarship that examines the unique aspects of practicing law in tribal communities. The majority of the AILSC's work has been funded through federal and partnership grants.

The Jodi G. Marquette American Indian Wills Clinic, previously an externship funded by the Oklahoma Bar Foundation in 2009, has become an in-house legal clinic thanks to a generous anonymous donation in 2010. Currently, the clinic receives funding from both the Oklahoma Bar Foundation and the Indian Land Tenure Foundation, making it the flagship program of the AILSC. The clinic was established in response to the growing need for legal services among

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Native families, many of whom face complex legal challenges related to the management and distribution of trust land. Native families often face difficulties with estate planning and trust land distribution due to a lack of access to legal resources and the complexities of federal laws such as the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, Indian Land Consolidation Act of 1983, and the American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2004. In the absence of a will and in the event of intestacy, the distribution of trust lands is subject to

“...even in Oklahoma, a state with 39 federally recognized tribes, people have little awareness of Native people, so my executive board and I have worked hard to raise awareness of Native culture and Native issues at the law school and main campus.”

Kendra Jump '23 NALSA President 2022-2023

both state and federal laws. This can result in division of the land among multiple heirs, making it more difficult to manage and leading to a loss of control and fractionalization of interests.

The clinic is staffed by law students under the legal supervision of OCU Law alumna Emily Eleftherakis and supported by legal coordinator Lori Harless.

Through their work with the clinic, students can develop their legal skills and gain a deeper understanding of the complex issues that Native families face regarding trust land and estate planning. Students from the clinic travel throughout the state to assist with counseling, finalizing estate documents and educational workshops. Through this community outreach, education initiatives, and estate planning services, the clinic helps promote access to justice; preserve the cultural, social, and economic well-being of Native communities; and ensure the assets and property of Native families are protected and passed on to future generations according to their wishes.

Participating in the clinic satisfies one of the criteria to obtain the OCU Law American Indian Law Certificate, which allows students to specialize in Indian Law during their degree program.

Beyond our clinical work, the Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) and the OCU Law Diversity Council are committed to promoting student engagement in advocacy, service and education related to Indian Law and culture. One way NALSA accomplishes this goal is through its moot court competition, which focuses on Native issues and provides students with a unique opportunity to sharpen their advocacy skills and gain valuable experience in navigating the complex legal issues that are unique to the Native community. Some of the issues typically mooted include tribal jurisdiction, treaty rights, federal Indian Law and cultural resource protection. Additionally, NALSA co-hosts Indigenous Culture Night in collaboration with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at OCU. This public event helps raise awareness about the rich history and traditions of

Native communities and further provides an opportunity for cultural exchange and learning.

The OCU Law Diversity Council is a student-led organization that promotes diversity and inclusivity within the law school community. The council's mission is to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds and promote diversity within the legal profession. The council hosts events and activities throughout the year that promote cultural awareness and understanding, including cultural celebrations, speaker events and community service projects. The council also provides a forum for students to discuss issues related to diversity and inclusivity in the legal profession and to work toward solutions that promote equality and justice.

In February 2023, the council hosted “The Freedmen Saga in Indian Territory/Oklahoma Reservation” by Mr. Ron Graham. This public event detailed the story of the Oklahoma Freedmen (formerly enslaved people of the Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole) who were granted citizenship by treaty agreements with the U.S. government in the late 19th century. However, their statuses as tribal citizens were later challenged by the tribes in the early 20th century, which led to a series of legal battles that continued for decades. The Oklahoma Freedmen story highlights the complex legal and historical issues surrounding tribal citizenship. It also underscores the ongoing efforts to reconcile the legacies of slavery and racism within American society.

As the legal profession continues to evolve, law schools are placing greater emphasis on providing students with practical and cultural experiences that complement their academic studies. Students at OCU Law engage in a diverse range of opportunities to develop their skills, deepen their understanding of Indian Law, and demonstrate the impact that student engagement and advocacy can have in the Native community and beyond.

OCU Law is proud to be shaping the next generation of Indian Law professionals.

American Indian Wills Clinic Spring 2023 interns Left to right in front row: Rosy Buckingham, Chloe Lubbers, Erin Snyder, Anna Hairston, Samantha Swaim Back row: Eastman Holloway, William McClendon

Wills Clinic intern Erin Snyder assists in executing her client’s will.

LEGAL ACTION

Q&A

Class of 2009 Dean of OCU Law Mayor of Oklahoma City

Meet the Dean

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m born and raised in Oklahoma City. I left to attend The George Washington University, where I received a degree in political science and started my public service career in the Office of the Speaker and then spent two years in the White House. That’s when I married my wife Rachel, who is from Philly. We met at GW. After seven years in DC, I wanted to return to OKC to be part of what was happening here. For those who recall OKC in 2004, there was a sense that the city was on the verge of something. As it turned out, it was. I didn’t have a specific plan for the role I was going to play in that renaissance, but I lucked into being right in the middle of it all as Mayor Mick Cornett’s chief of staff.

It was at that time that I decided I needed to improve myself and go to law school. So, I enrolled at OCU Law and attended classes at night. Three-and-a-half years later, I left my last final, drove home and picked up Rachel to take her to the hospital for the birth of

our first child. A few months later, I was elected to the State Senate, where I served for eight years. In 2018, I was elected Mayor. I’m now in my second term. Simultaneously, from 2014 until this past summer, I spent nine years at Hall Capital, a family-owned private investment company. My wife Rachel is the executive director of the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs, and our kids are now 13 and 11. I’m also a member of the Osage Nation. We assume I’m the first Native American Dean of OCU Law. I think the national statistics state that half of law school graduates use the degree in a way you wouldn’t describe as the conventional practice of law. Other than practicing land use law for a year, that’s my story.

I say “conventional” because you always think like a lawyer, even if you’re not billing by the hour. OCU Law has a very rich history of producing leaders who apply their degrees in public service roles, whether they are elected officials or executives in government agencies

or nonprofits. It’s a huge part of our brand in this community, and I fully expect that legacy to continue.

As an alumnus of OCU Law (only the third to become Dean!), what does it mean to you to now lead the school?

Well, it’s an incredible honor, obviously. You just never know where life is going to take you, but I’m thrilled it’s taken me here. And as an alum, this is very much a labor of love. I had no goal of being a law school dean anywhere but here. I love everything about the school and have so much passion for what OCU Law can mean to our city. I assume people besides alumni can have that same passion, but it certainly comes naturally for an alum.

What are you looking forward to most about being Dean of OCU Law? I have often said in other spheres that with persistence and patience, you can accomplish great things. It’s no different here. I am determined to push us toward incremental improvement every day. What I most look forward to is how that daily incremental improvement will add up over time.

It can take years, but you ultimately look back and can see that you’ve made dramatic change. I like planting trees so my grandchildren have shade. Imagining that shade is what drives me.

The other thing I look forward to is getting to know students. I still know students I taught 11 years ago in OCU’s honors program. Following the individual successes of our students is something that I know will be incredibly rewarding.

As Mayor of Oklahoma City and now Dean, what role do you see OCU Law playing in this city and its legal community?

I think the two roles are so complementary because one is focused on the macro success of the city, and one is focused on a very specific but very critical need. The city needs OCU Law to produce the lawyers that will facilitate our business, legal, government, and civic life, and we also need OCU Law to provide a career path for our increasingly diverse community. We’re America’s 20th-largest city, and OCU Law is the only law school in the city limits.

If OCU Law didn’t exist, city leaders would be hyper-focused on the need for a law school. Since we do have a law school, we need to be hyper-focused on its success. OCU Law has so much to offer the city. Capitalizing on that will be the focus of the next few years.

What are your favorite things to do in OKC? As is pretty obvious, I’ve chosen a busy life, so all I want to do when I’m not working is to be with my family experiencing the culture of our city. Whether it’s the Zoo or a Thunder game or a great restaurant, the city offers an amazing range of options for families. I just wish I had more time to enjoy it all!

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Progress Report and Farewell OCU Law Friends Serving as Dean of our beloved Oklahoma City University School of Law these past five years has been a genuine honor, and I write expressing my deep gratitude to our law school community. Thank you!

While I hope we never experience a pandemic ever again, I am grateful for the many ways the OCU Law community came together, rallied for our students, and emerged even stronger. These past five years together we accomplished a lot, including: • The creation of a “student-centric law school” culture and community, bringing faculty, staff, students, and alumnae together to enhance the students’ law school journey • Successfully achieved re-accreditation with the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) for the next ten years • Stabilized enrollment, reduced attrition and grew the annual budget – even actualizing revenue beyond budget every single year • Avoided a tuition increase these past five years • Created a “Student Success” initiative that wraps services, such as mental health counseling, life coaching, mentoring and individual advising with our expanded academic achievement resources and team • Increased graduation rates by 12%

Photograph by Simon Hurst

• Relaunched our Alumni Association and are engaging hundreds of generous Alums into the daily experiences of our school and students

• Have adopted The Sovereignty Symposium, the premier Indian law conference in America, from the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and we will continue to strengthen this important area of law into the fabric of our law school’s priorities; and • Averaged greater than 90% employment placement for our graduates these past five years, despite the challenges of the pandemic to the economy Together, we pulled together and made this progress possible. A special Thank You to our faculty and staff who give of themselves every day for all of our amazing students.

And yet, challenges remain, namely first-time passage rates on the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE), and the need to further gird our finances, endowments, and scholarships for the sake of our school and students’ future. You have all shown an incredible ability to come together, tackle what ails us, and make progress together. I am certain this special community will continue to lean in and help our new Law Dean David Holt take us to new heights. Let’s all please help him further strengthen our beloved law school.

Oklahoma City University School of Law is a very special place where dreams come true for committed changemakers who will become the successful lawyers and leaders for tomorrow.

Thank you all so much, from the bottom of my heart, for the honor of serving with you as your dean these past five years. Our law school community needs all of us tomorrow too, so thank you in advance for staying involved and for caring so well. Our students are the best and deserve our 110% effort. Thank you!

Yours truly,

• Created an Emergency Care Fund for students in economic need, created a Food Pantry and Business Clothing Closet to assist our students through their law school journey and into the workforce upon graduation • Hired seven new faculty members, bolstered faculty talent and expanded our Clinic offerings to further strengthen our ties to our host City and local economy

Jim Roth ’94 Dean and Professor of Law

LEGAL ACTION

BY SA M H O L ZS CH U H C LA S S of 2 0 24

FAREWELL TO DEAN JIM ROTH On a Friday night in the Will Rogers Theater, Dean Jim Roth retold the story of a poem.

“Here, root yourselves beside me. / I am that Tree planted by the River, / Which will not be moved. / I, the Rock, I the River, I the Tree / I am yours — your passages have been paid.” 1 Roth, dean of Oklahoma City University School of Law, adapted Maya Angelou’s famed images — the Rock, the River and the Tree — to inspire the futures of some hundred students there. The Rock: the founda-

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tion of the rule of law. The River: the grace to wander through your career. The Tree: strength and courage to breathe life into yourself and the legal community.

“It is my hope for you as the Rock, the River, and the Tree, that each of you find your path, make no apologies for it, have the courage to be yourself, find a place that welcomes you,” Roth said. “You are incredibly talented people. I also know you have amazing hearts to do good — and to do right.”

Many in the audience knew it was a message to his en-

1 Maya Angelou, On the Pulse of Morning (Jan. 20, 1993).

“It is my hope for you as the Rock, the River, and the Tree, that each of you find your path, make no apologies for it, have the courage to be yourself, find a place that welcomes you.

You are incredibly talented people. I also know you have amazing hearts to do good — and to do right.”

gonna do this, I wanted to be somebody who would know the students, who would be available with the students, who would be encouraging to the students, not just [wear] the title.”

But before reaching that title, Roth assembled a list of others. In 2002, he was elected as a county commissioner in Oklahoma County and reelected in 2006, becoming the first successful incumbent on that commission in more than a decade. In 2007, Governor Henry appointed him to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission — making history as the first openly gay official in Oklahoma to hold statewide office. He served through 2009, when he joined Phillips Murrah, a law firm based in Oklahoma City.

Roth’s service as Dean started July 1, 2018. He agreed to a five-year contract to end June 30, 2023. When asked to reflect on his legacy, Roth turned the spotlight back to the student body.

DEAN JIM ROTH tire school, among the last of his days in leadership. In December 2022, the students, faculty and staff learned a sad truth: Roth’s time as dean of OCU Law was coming to an end.

When his speech ended, the drum of ovation little drowned out the echo of melancholy. Dean Roth was leaving, and the students grasped tightly onto another chance to delay telling him goodbye.

HUMBL E BEG I N N I N GS Roth, like many of his students, is an Oklahoma transplant. He grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas, in suburban Kansas City, and earned a Bachelor of Arts at Kansas State University in 1991. The wind sweeping down the plains led him to Oklahoma City University School of Law, where he graduated in 1994.

It was also where he attributed a large part of his own identity as Dean.

“I had a fantastic dean who really inspired me,” Roth said of former dean Robert Henry. “So it was important for me, I think, that if I was

Commencement Ceremony photo: Roth at his graduation from OCU Law in 1994 with then-Dean of OCU Law Robert Henry

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“I wanted to make sure that OCU Law was distinguished for being a student-centric law school,” Roth said. “If that's come to fruition, and I hope in many respects it has, then I'll have been thrilled for my time.”

HISTO RY O F D EA N S Roth was the thirteenth dean of Oklahoma City University School of Law. In June 2023, Roth had served 5 years, well beyond the national median of 3.7 years.2 At the time, Roth was one of only two deans in America with degrees from Oklahoma law schools (the other being Arizona State University’s Stacy Leeds, a Juris Doctorate from Tulsa).

TH E ROTH E F F EC T

Roth was only the second alumnus dean after Richard Coulson, who held the position from 1974–1976, and the first openly gay dean in the hundred-year history of the school. Another peculiar feature of Roth’s service was his status as a private practitioner rather than a career academic.

Cheryl Morgan, the Dean’s executive assistant, struck a similar tune.

“Something unique about Dean Roth is that he is the first dean that I know of to continue practicing law while serving as dean,” Associate Dean Lee Peoples said. “This is unique among law school deans.”

For Roth, outsider experience provided the skills that the school most needed, specifically with finances.

“That just comes natural to me,” Roth said. “I think that, to be honest, is maybe what is a benefit to the school to get a non-academic dean because that's just

Roth and OCU Law students at the 2022 OBA Luncheon

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the skillset I've had from my prior life as a state official. Those are unusual experiences. Coming here was the smallest number of employees on the smallest budget that I've been responsible for, but perhaps the greatest purpose.”

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When evaluating Roth’s effect on OCU School of Law, every road leads to one word: “culture.”

“He has connected with students in ways I have never seen another law dean be able to,” Peoples said.

“He has greatly improved the working culture of the school for the staff and faculty.”

“His communication and connection with students is above and beyond that I've ever seen,” Morgan said.

“I think he might know every student's name in this school. He just loves the students. He will do anything for a student in need.”

Many of Roth’s most significant accomplishments as dean guided the school toward that elevated culture.

He launched OCU Law’s first Master of Legal Studies programs; he transformed and expanded the student services, career services, and academic support units; he revived the alumni association and its involvement with students; school fundraising reached levels never seen; the ABA site visit results were among the

2 Average/Median Length of Service—Current Deans, Rosenblatt’s Deans Database (last visited March 21, 2023), https://lawdeans.com/stats.php.

best in school history; and the school now hosts more clinics than ever.

Fundraising was a particularly impressive part of Roth’s legacy at OCU Law. In 2018, the school operated on a $7.4 million budget. In 2023, it was nearly $11 million — an increase of more than 45 percent.

Fundraising totals quadrupled after Roth took over, raising at least $1 million annually in his term.

“I've joked amongst all my friends that ‘dean’ is Latin for ‘fundraiser,’” Roth said.

“He has connected with students in ways I have never seen another law dean be able to. He has greatly improved the working culture of the school for the staff and faculty.”

A S S O C I AT E D E A N LEE PEOPLES

Overall staff and faculty employment increased, as well as their compensation. The school also created an emergency fund during the pandemic to help students with bills when they’ve lost their job, internship or experienced other setbacks, something Roth is particularly proud of.

Surely for anyone in a leadership role in the past five years, the coronavirus pandemic is a defining period

of their legacy. OCU Law, like all schools in 2020, faced a then-unthinkable uphill climb to both keep students, faculty, and staff safe, and continue the mission to educate the student body.

“We lost no students, staff or faculty to the disease,” Roth said. “I mean, people can argue over masks if they feel the need, but at the end of the day, I felt the responsibility to make sure people would survive it. And they did, thank God.”

A large metric of the success of a law school is bar passage, a particular struggle at OCU Law since the full adoption of the Uniform Bar Exam.

“If there were one thing that I could change for my time here,” Roth lamented, “that I dream of, is that every one of our graduates would pass the bar the first time they try. Full stop — end of story. It's what keeps me awake at night. It's what's made me cry at times trying to encourage people to keep trying.”

Roth with his husband Phillip Koszarek at the 2023 Alumni Awards Gala

Dean Roth with United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Yvonne Kauger

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Dean Roth’s Investiture Ceremony

“He’s like the Energizer Bunny. He can take a dead room and just have them laughing and talking to each other. That’s just his personality.”

CHERYL MORGAN Empirically, the UBE proved to be a tougher test than the former Oklahoma Bar Exam. But as an “access law school,” Roth said OCU Law has a “moral obligation” to enable its students to obtain bar licensure.

A P E R S ON AL N OTE

“We have to be clear-eyed about it,” Roth said. “Our motto cannot be, ‘You'll eventually have a law license.’”

“What you see walking through the halls of the school — that’s him,” Morgan said. “He’s like the Energizer Bunny. He can take a dead room and just have them laughing and talking to each other. That’s just his personality.”

“I think it’s unconscionable to sell a $100,000 car without the keys to drive it,” Roth said.

While numbers have room to improve, Roth emphasized that he — and the school — were committed to walking the path with graduates.

“You've come here with a vision of a license,” Roth said. “We don't say goodbye at graduation. We will be with you to get that license.”

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Roth often touched the hearts of those in his life, and it came honestly. Few at the school were more familiar than Morgan.

That aspect of his personality was fueled by the nature of working at the school.

“I find energy and purpose in people, and I guess I pull energy from our students,” Roth said. “That’s really sustaining.”

Dean Roth and his husband Phillip Koszarek at the 2023 OCU Law Graduation Ceremony

As a boss, he won’t get any complaints from Morgan.

“When he’s here and we’re busy working, the next thing I know, he’ll turn on music and blare it and say, ‘Is that too disruptive?’” Morgan said. “He listens to fun music — mostly old rock and roll music.”

Roth clearly enjoyed the working relationship, too.

“I mean, I begin every day and end every day with Cheryl Morgan,” Roth said, “and she’s probably the best part of it work-wise.”

Morgan offered a personal message to Roth as he moves on to an adjunct position.

The dean’s role is overwhelming — 24/7 — expectedly so, for a man who gives his personal phone number to every student, and undoubtedly knows each of their names as Morgan has said.

Sitting in his office in March, Roth knew he had only a few months left to consider a goodbye to his students, past and present.

“I’ve put off thinking this through,” Roth said.

But to them, the faculty and the staff, he had this to say:

“He knows how much I will miss him on a day-to-day basis,” Morgan said. “We will have a friendship forever, and I know that. But my wish is for him and Phillip to have back their time and enjoy it — to have that reconnection.”

“It has been my hope that this school would feel the love from me that I felt from it,” Roth offered, “and maybe even more so for our students’ sake because someday I want them to come back and do their best for the next generation. Be open to that. It’s a real gift.

It’s been a great experience.”

FA R EW ELL

“And this experience — it will change you,” Roth said.

Quality time with his husband Phillip tops the list of Roth’s plans this Summer. They bought a boat earlier this year and took delivery over spring break.

Roth’s contract ended June 30, 2023. He will remain on faculty as a professor for energy law and will still have many “irons in the fire,” as Morgan said.

“I hope to spend some time breaking it in and finding some quiet cove on Grand Lake and some good music,” Roth said. “And my husband’s looking forward to some time together.”

But missing will be those charming hallway chats, a silver Porsche in the parking lot, the roaring laughter of Friday faculty meetings, and some classic rock humming from the Dean’s Suite.

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2023 Graduation

ALUMNI NEWS

class notes 2022 - 2023 1940s James William “Bill” Harrison ’49, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and as Silver City’s (New Mexico) town manager, a Grant County commissioner and Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments director, celebrated his 100th birthday.

1960s Justice Yvonne Kauger ’69 was the Global Vision Humanitarian Award honoree in the Global Vision Awards presented by Sister Cities International Oklahoma City.

Gary Rhodes ’69 announced his retirement after practicing law for 43 years.

1970s The late Senator Billy Mickle ’74 was inducted into the Eastern Oklahoma State College Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame.

Trustee Andrew Benton ’79, president emeritus of Pepperdine University, was named the interim president of the University of Central Oklahoma.

1980s Norman D. Thygesen ’80, associate district judge in Muskogee, retired from a 42-year law career.

Keith Barton ’83 retired after serving as presiding judge of the Abilene Municipal Courts in Texas for 31 years.

Steven J. Goetzinger ’83 was elected to serve a fourth one-year term as mayor of Nichols Hills.

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Vicki Behenna ’84, former law school professor and executive director of the Oklahoma Innocence Project, was elected as Oklahoma County's first female district attorney.

Helen C. Zajic ’86 was promoted to partner at the Egan Law firm in Santa Barbara County, California.

Kayce Gisinger ’88, director at the Phillips Murrah law firm, became a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

1990s Cary Pirrong ’90, the newest member of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education, was in a profile story in The Oklahoman.

Angela Morrison ’90, an environmental and natural resources attorney who represents clients in the energy, manufacturing, developer, trade association and government sectors, joined Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP as a senior attorney in Miami, Florida.

Jeff Berry ’98, attorney and sports agent, was named a member of the board of directors of the V Foundation, a cancer research charity.

2000s Tray Payne ’00 was elected mayor of Lubbock, Texas.

Daniel Whitmarsh ’01 appointed as secretary of the Land Office by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.

Law professor Hiram Sasser ’02, had a column published in The Tulsa World, executive general counsel for First Liberty Institute, headlined “Oklahoma edges out Texas in protecting religious liberty.”

Jonathan Grammer ’03, trial lawyer and landman, was included in D Magazine’s Dallas 500, a special edition that profiles the Dallas region’s most influential business leaders.

Missouri Rep. Jason Smith ’04 was named by the U.S. House Republicans as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Steven McConnell ’93 was named senior vice president, general counsel for Tinker Federal Credit Union.

Heather Kay ’05 was promoted to partner of the Scheef & Stone law firm in North Texas.

Nona Lee ’95, executive vice president and chief legal officer for the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team, was a guest on the Bouncing Back podcast.

Mirna Abyad Baloul ’05, president, COO and board secretary of Spacee, was featured in an issue of Dallas Innovates magazine. Spacee provides tech and AI solutions for retailers and consumer brands.

Glenna Cordray ’98 was promoted to associate general counsel for regional litigation for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Prior to her promotion, she served for eight years as a regional managing attorney for the department.

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

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Theodore J. Fleming ’05 was appointed as a district judge for the Fourth Judicial District in the State of Idaho.

Adam Falco ’06 was promoted to city attorney for College Station, Texas.

Jennifer K. Christian ’07 was elected as a new director of the Phillips Murrah law firm.

State Rep. Anthony Moore ’07 received the 2021 Distinguished Service Award from the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education.

Adam Panter ’08 was appointed to serve as district attorney for Oklahoma’s 23rd Judicial District, encompassing Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties.

Heidi Raedel Magaro ’08 was the 2022 recipient of the Washington State Bar Association’s Local Hero Award for her participation in various community volunteer organizations.

Shane Mendenhall ’08 was sworn in as the Macon County (Illinois) Circuit Judge.

Collin Walke ’08 joined the Hall Estill firm as special counsel in the Oklahoma City office.

Sarah Stewart ’09 released her book “The Monster in My Home: Surviving Evil” in October 2022. The book chronicles her experience with domestic violence and teaches others how to avoid or safely leave a domestic violence situation.

Scott Cravens ’09, was published in The Journal Record in a guest column

by COO and a founding principal at Full Sail Capital, headlined “In times of volatility, hang on to long-term plan.”

2010s

in memoriam James L. Gullett ’61 of Clinton, OK Thomas R. Williams ’61 of Gilroy, CA Jerry D. Mullins ’62 of Tucson, AZ Charles L. Hunnicutt ’64 of Sulphur, OK James A. Clark ’67 of Ardmore, OK Benjamin J. Curtis ’71 of Summerfield, OK Howard A. Schuminsky ’72 of Orange, CA Luther F. Crown ’73 of Yukon, Oklahoma Michael J. Daley ’73 of Oklahoma City, OK Charles E. Campbell ’74 of Chickasha, OK V. Arthur Bova ’75 of Pittsburg, PA Jerry W. Putnam ’78 of Jones, OK Jack L. Smith ’78 of Miami, OK Edwin W. Robey ’79 of Salisbury, MD James B. Morelli ’80 of Oklahoma City, OK Gerald A. Geiger ’83 of Cleveland, OH Paul W. Austin ’85 of Topeka, KS Teresa A. Rendon ’88 of Oklahoma City, OK David B. Hickens ’90 of Enid, OK John P. Evans ’91 of Oklahoma City, OK Keith D. Magill ’08 of Edmond, OK David M. Hammer ’14 of Oklahoma City, OK

Tiffany Strother ’11 was appointed judge for the 249th district court in Johnson County, Texas.

Greg Steward ’11 was appointed as chief deputy county and prosecuting attorney of Campbell County in Wyoming.

The American Bar Association Journal published an article by Adam Banner ’11, founder and lead attorney of the Oklahoma Legal Group, titled “‘Suits’ and the difference between federal and state court.”

Holmes Whalen ’11 will serve as senior counsel for U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin in his Washington, D.C., office. Prior to the midterm elections, Whalen served Mullin in the House of Representatives.

Chelsea Celsor Smith ’11 was named director of legal for Helsinn Therapeutics, Inc., a pharmaceutical company with U.S. operations in New Jersey, focused on oncology and rare disease.

Dakota Low ’13, a personal injury lawyer, recently opened his new offices in Mustang.

Taryn Henry ’13 is a new member of the St. Francis Foundation board of directors.

Monica Ybarra Weedn ’14 was appointed to serve on the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Strategic Planning Committee.

Juan Alfonso Ramos ’15, who started the Fort Worth Meat Packers company in 2020, was in a feature story in The Fort Worth Report.

Sean McDivitt ’15 was promoted to chief of recruiting branch for the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps.

IN BRIEF

Taylor Reed ’16 began working as commercial litigation associate with the DLA Piper (U.S.) LLP Dallas office.

Brooke Henderson ’17 was hired as vice president, relationship manager, at Heritage Trust, a subsidiary of Argent Financial Group.

Alyssa Gillette ’19 joined the Oklahoma City office of Hall Estill as an associate.

JulieAnn Robinson JD ’19, joined the Rudnicki Firm as an associate.

2020s Norma Cossio ’20, Immigration attorney, was invited to the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County to give a public discussion about the naturalization process.

Thomas Grossnicklaus ’20 was named chief of staff/general counsel of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

Ben Frizzell ’20 was promoted to captain in the Marine Corps and currently serves as defense counsel at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

Austin Caldwell ’21 was hired as a new assistant district attorney for Cooke County in Texas.

Chris Hauger ’21 was appointed as assistant district attorney in Seminole County.

Jonna Vanderslice ’22 joined the Phillips Murrah law firm.

Please email your news to lawnews@okcu.edu with “Class Note” in the subject line. Be sure to include your graduation year. We welcome photos (high resolution) but due to space cannot guarantee publication.

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

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ALUMNI NEWS

AN OKLAHOMA

CLASSIC

BY D E STRY H O L ZS CH U H DI R ECTO R of M A R KE TI N G and C O M M S

GARY HOMSEY

Gary Homsey is an Oklahoma classic with stories to prove it.

Ask about his life, and Homsey will recount his days at the AMC store by the railroad, the great men of his childhood, the powerful friends made in his career, and his pride and love for his wife of fifty years, children, and grandchildren. But in the book of Homsey’s life, his service to Oklahoma City University would need its own chapter.

Homsey, a member of the Oklahoma City University School of Law Class of 1974, has been a patron of the law school for decades and is a member of the school’s executive board. He was also recently elected chairman of the university’s board of trustees.

At the 2023 Alumni Awards Gala, the OCU Law Alumni Association honored Homsey with the Marian P. Opala Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to OCU and the legal community at large.

Today the titan of Oklahoma City law is known as the founder and renowned trial attorney of the Homsey Law Center, a personal injury litigation firm near I-44 and Classen. But the story of his life begins in a grocery store three miles away.

Homsey is a local boy, a student at Gatewood Elementary School — a stone’s throw from his future law school. His father and uncles ran the American Mutual Company, also known as AMC, a sort of grocer-department store combination in Oklahoma City in the mid-century.

“My dad was larger than life,” Homsey said. “I was fortunate to grow up in a great family. Having a big family was really an important part of my life.”

His parents later sent Homsey to Casady High School in Oklahoma City, a decision Homsey “fought the whole way” but eventually enjoyed, even serving as president of the alumni association for some time.

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OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

IN BRIEF

Homsey attended Oklahoma State University as an undergraduate before starting law school at Oklahoma City University. For him, it was a slow start. As school progressed his studies improved, but his favorite memory at OCU Law was graduation in 1974.

“It turned out to be a very rewarding experience for me,” Homsey said. “I think graduation was my finest hour. I accomplished something. My parents were thrilled. I was thrilled. To me, graduating OCU Law was tremendous.”

After law school, Homsey was a legal intern for the Oklahoma County Court Clerk’s office for then-clerk Dan Gray. Next, he worked in civil litigation with distinguished Oklahoma attorney Robert J. “Jim” Turner.

“For some reason, they gave me the job,” Homsey said.

“I just idolized Jim Turner. He was next to my dad — one of the most influential, principled men. He lived his life right down the middle; he did not vary.”

Homsey later dabbled in criminal litigation but switched back to civil practice. Around that time in the early 1980s, Homsey established the Homsey Law Center at its current location near Northwest 39th and Classen in Oklahoma City.

In its 40 years, Homsey Law employed as many as 17 lawyers. Today, much of the firm’s litigation work is referred to Homsey’s son-in-law Joe Carson, another OCU Law alumnus.

“You know, litigation — I did it for 35 years,” Homsey said. “It’s kind of time for me to sit back and let somebody else do this.”

But working together on civil litigation keeps Homsey’s days interesting.

“We’re having fun with it,” he said. “It keeps me occupied, wanting to come to the office, and it perks me up when I’m here.”

Photos opposite, left to right: Gary B. Homsey, Justice Marian P. Opala.

Mayor David Holt, Gary B. Homsey, Lindsey Pever, Dean Jim Roth.

Joe Carson, Kristin Homsey Carson, Anna Homsey Shadid, Sue Homsey, Gary B. Homsey, Wren Homsey, Benji Homsey.

During his career, Homsey has served as president of the state chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has been voted a Lawdragon leading plaintiff lawyer, ranked in the top percent of all plaintiff trial lawyers, recognized as an Oklahoma Super Lawyer, and rated an AV Pre-Eminent Lawyer by peer review from Martindale Hubbell. He is also a member of many other professional associations. On the side, Homsey became a commercial space developer, always looking to do a new deal. Homsey also values spending time with his family and grandchildren. He golfs, cycles, and is an active member of his church.

Homsey’s involvement with OCU Law post-graduation started thanks to then-president of the university Tom McDaniel and trustee Bill Shdeed, a close friend and fellow OCU Law patron. Both encouraged him to join the university’s governing board. Homsey said Shdeed refused to take “No” for an answer.

“So, I joined the Board of Trustees,” Homsey said, “and I fell in love with OCU all over again in a different way. It has so much to offer. It does so many great things for young people. It just inspired me to want to get more involved and maybe help some of these young people who need some direction or need assistance getting into school.”

Homsey has served as a mentor to many lawyers throughout his years in practice. He and his family have continuously and generously given their time, support, and resources to Oklahoma City University.

He became Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 2010 until being elected Chairman in 2023. In all the years on the board, Homsey said he has never missed a meeting.

“OCU has allowed me to experience so many things in life in different ways,” Homsey said. “It’s been very rewarding. There’s no way I could ever give back as much as it’s given me. It’s been a tremendous experience, and one that I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity.”

In return for his dedication, OCU awarded Homsey an honorary doctorate in 2012. Today, OCU Law students cross the Gary and Sue Homsey Plaza every morning on the way to class.

The OCU Law Alumni Association awarded Homsey with the Marian P. Opala Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished career and broad commitment to the success of the university and the law school.

The award’s namesake was not an Oklahoman by birth. Opala was a Polish freedom fighter in World War II who survived deportation to a Nazi concentration camp and emigrated to America after liberation by the U.S. Army in 1945.

Through a connection in the Army, Opala settled in Oklahoma City. He attended Oklahoma City University and earned degrees in economics and law in the 1950s. In 1978, Opala was appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, where he served until his death in 2010, at the age of 89. During his service, Opala was an adjunct professor at OCU Law and other law schools.

The OCU Law Alumni Association recognizes Opala’s monumental part of the school’s history by honoring alumni whose career, personal achievements, and contributions to OCU Law and society have distinguished them as a pillar of the legal community with a career of excellence over their lifetime.

“When I got the email, I was stunned,” Homsey said.

“To be considered in the same company as [Opala] is just a compliment beyond my wildest dreams — a recognition that I thought was not reachable for me.”

Homsey beamed with pride and pointed to a photograph of himself with Justice Opala, next to similar pictures with federal supreme court justices Stephen Breyer and Sandra Day O’Connor.

“I always thought the world of him,” Homsey said. “Being a man [like Opala] of integrity, character, intellect, courage is just one of the great compliments of my life.”

Homsey has slowed down some to focus on his health after open heart surgery in February of 2023. He continues to lead OCU’s board of trustees, practice, exercise, and drink his hand-crafted smoothies every day for breakfast.

Looking ahead, he plans to continue spending time with his family, take a little time off, and maybe play a few rounds of golf with his friends.

Alumni Gala

OCU Law hosted the 2023 Alumni Awards Gala Friday, April 21, 2023, at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. The event was emceed by Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, ’09. This year’s event honored five different award winners who are making an impact in the legal community and beyond.

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All names top to bottom, left to right: 1 OCU Law alumni and friends 2 The 2023 Award Winners: John A. “Andy” Bass, John Ratliff, Gary B. Homsey, Ryan Farha, Kyle Cabelka D.A. 3 Betty Farha, Ella Farha, Ryan Farha, Pierce Farha, Alan Farha, Ashley Farha 4 Dean Jim Roth, Lauren Mass, Nikki Jones Edward, Katherine Mazaheri, Jennifer Stevenson, Cheryl Morgan, Phillip Koszarek, Mayor David Holt, Rachel Canuso Holt 5 Lauren Mass, Abigael Ray, Kyle Ray 6 Mayor David Holt 7 Alexandra Ah Loy, Kalani Ah Loy 8 Kristy Loyall, Jana L. Knott, John A. “Andy” Bass, Mary McCann, A. Gabriel Bass, Magda Way, Chance Deaton 9 Lindsey Pever, Katherine Mazaheri, Jennifer Stevenson, Cheryl Morgan

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ALUMNI NEWS

alumni awards O K L A H O M A C I T Y U N I V E R S I T Y S C H O O L of L A W

Honoring OCU Law alumni and their many contributions within the legal community. We believe these award winners will continue the legacy of excellence in their legal communities and beyond.

Gary B. Homsey is the founder of the Homsey Law Center, an Oklahoma City law firm dedicated to providing strong and effective personal injury representation to seriously injured individuals and to the families of wrongful death victims. After graduating from Casady School in Oklahoma City, Mr. Homsey attended Oklahoma State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Finance. He then attended Oklahoma City University School of Law, graduating in 1974. He is admitted to practice in Oklahoma's state and federal trial and appellate courts, and before the U.S. Supreme Court.

He has been recognized by the legal profession and community for his service and leadership. A few of his acknowledgements include the dedication of the Gary and Sue Homsey Plaza at Oklahoma City University School of Law and receiving an honorary doctorate from Oklahoma

City University in 2012. Since 2007, he has been voted a Lawdragon Leading Plaintiff Lawyer and ranked in the top one percent of all plaintiff trial lawyers. He has also been recognized, since 2006, as an Oklahoma Super Lawyer, ranking in the top five percent, and he has an AV Pre-Eminent Lawyers peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Homsey is a member of numerous professional associations and frequently serves in leadership roles for those organizations. Mr. Homsey has dedicated himself to preserving and protecting the ethics and integrity of the legal profession, serving on various fee grievance and ethics committees for the state bar and co-drafting the 1997 punitive damages statute signed into law by the governor.

He has served as a mentor to many lawyers throughout his years in practice. He and his family have continuously and generously given their time,

support and resources to Oklahoma City University. He was Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2010, until taking on the role of Chairman of the Board of Trustees in 2023.

Mr. Homsey values spending time and participating in activities with his family and grandchildren. He golfs, cycles, and enjoys sporting events and is an active member of the St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church.

John Ratliff currently serves as both the Interim City Manager and the City Attorney for the city of Lawton, Oklahoma. As the top administrative executive in the city of Lawton, Oklahoma’s sixth largest municipality, John is responsible for leading a workforce of over 800 employees and overseeing an annual budget in excess of 130 million dollars. Prior to assuming his current duties, John served his country in the U.S. Army as an active-duty officer for over 22 years both as an Air Defense Artil-

Opposite page, left to right: C. Robert Stell, Kristy Loyall, Joseph P. Weaver, Jr., John A. “Andy” Bass, Jana L. Knott, Mary McCann, Chance Deaton, A. Gabriel Bass 44

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

IN BRIEF

lery Officer and as an attorney Judge Advocate General’s Corps. John was originally commissioned as an active-duty Army officer upon graduation from the University of Oklahoma Army ROTC program as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1998.

After tours in Korea, Hawaii, Texas and Iraq, John was selected for the Army’s highly competitive Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) and subsequently transitioned into the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC). John served in a wide variety of positions in the JAGC including Deputy Staff Judge, Brigade Judge Advocate, Administrative Law Chief, Senior Defense Counsel and Assistant General Counsel. In 2013, John deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom while serving as the supervising attorney for a 2,000-soldier organization. John received numerous decorations and awards over the course of his military career including the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf cluster), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Silver), Basic Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and several other individual and unit awards.

In 2007, John earned his Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University School of Law and a Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) from

the University of Oklahoma. He also earned a Master’s of Legal Letters (LLM) in Military and Administrative Law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia. John has been a member of the Oklahoma Bar since 2007. In addition to his professional endeavors, John is a dedicated community volunteer and is deeply committed to several service initiatives that make a positive impact in the community. He frequently volunteers with various hospice organizations where he has participated in several “Salutes to Service,” which are ceremonies that honor terminally ill veterans receiving end-of-life care.

John has also coached several youth football teams and is an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America. John is married to the former Ms. Krista Smith, who is the President and CEO of the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and a State of Oklahoma Tourism Commissioner.

They are proud parents of their three sons: Brayden (15), Jackson (13) and Riley (10).

Kyle Cabelka is a 2013 graduate of Oklahoma City University School of Law. His first day of law school, he sat next to the prettiest and smart-

est girl in class and spent most of the next three years using her class notes and outlines. During law school, he was a member of the American Association of Justice trial team under Professor Dan Morgan and Leslie Lynch, which allowed him to travel to Louisville, Kentucky, and Seattle, Washington, to compete twice in the National Student Trial Advocacy Competition. He just missed out on the on-campus interviews but luckily got his LLI and used it to intern at the Comanche County District Attorney’s Office under prior DA & OCU alumnus Fred Smith. He was able to try five jury trials before graduating. He did not care much for the book work of law school and his mediocre grades showed this. He instead enjoyed the more practical classes, like trial practice, which was his one and only CALI award. During his time at OCU, DA Cabelka had several great professors, many of whom he still considers to be mentors, such as Dan Morgan, Dannè Johnson, Greg Eddington, and the late greats Bill Conger and Dennis Arrow. After receiving his Juris Doctor in 2013, he started his career with the Comanche County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney. In 2016, he was promoted to serve as First Assistant. Governor Kevin Stitt appointed DA Cabelka to office in August of 2021, and he ran unopposed for his current term of 2023-2027. Since beginning work at the district attorney’s office, DA

ALUMNI NEWS

Cabelka has prosecuted almost every type of criminal case, from the most minor traffic offense to capital cases.

If you know Kyle Cabelka, you know he is not a person that cares for accolades or recognition. In fact, he has misplaced his law school diploma and bar admission certificate, so neither one of them is displayed in his office. Instead, his office is decorated with the artwork of his four- and sixyear-old daughters, Harper and Lily.

His favorite piece is a colored toad drawing that says “Toadly Against Drugs.” He was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, and raised in the community he now serves. He is a tireless advocate for victims in his community and a fierce believer in law and order. However, he also works hard on establishing and running diversion programs in his district to give first time offenders second chances. Kyle would also kick himself if he didn’t take this opportunity to shamelessly plug his office and report that he is hiring, so if anyone out there is interested, please let him know.

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Ryan Farha is Managing Director, Deputy General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of ORIX Corporation USA (ORIX USA). He joined the firm in 2011 and is based in Dallas, Texas. ORIX USA is the U.S.-subsidiary of ORIX Corporation, a Tokyo-based global financial services public company (Tokyo: 8951 and NYSE: IX) with over $100 billion in balance sheet assets and over $417 billion in assets under management. ORIX USA has and manages over $85.5 billion in assets, with over 1,250 employees in more than 30 offices in the United States and Latin America. Notable current and former ORIX Group companies include Houlihan Lokey (investment banking), Lument (commercial real estate finance), NXT Capital (private credit/asset management), Robeco (global asset management), and Mariner Investment Group (asset management). Mr. Farha serves in a key leadership role at ORIX USA as a member of the firm’s Management Committee, and is responsible for legal oversight of all principal business activities, including real estate, private credit, and private equity trans-

actions, as well as strategic M&A. In addition, as Corporate Secretary, Mr. Farha is responsible for developing, monitoring, and administering the legal governance framework of the enterprise, including with respect to corporate officers, the board of directors, and various board and operating committees. He also manages the administration, operations, and strategies of the ORIX USA Group Legal & Compliance Department, which is comprised of over 40 legal and compliance professionals. Mr. Farha reports directly to the ORIX Corporation (Japan) Global General Counsel, who is also a member of its Board of Directors and serves as the ORIX USA General Counsel. In 2013, 2014, and 2019, Mr. Farha was distinguished by the Association of Corporate Counsel and D CEO Magazine as one of the top 35 best corporate lawyers in North Texas, and in 2014 received their Outstanding Deputy/Associate General Counsel award. In 2016, Mr. Farha received ORIX USA’s “Live Honorably” award for his example and commitment to accountability and professional integrity in the workplace. He has volunteered in various capacities with charitable nonprofit organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Mr. Farha also served over eight years as either a member of the board of directors or General Counsel of ORIX Foundation, ORIX USA’s prior corporate social responsibility platform. Prior to joining ORIX USA, Mr. Farha was an attorney in the Corporate/Securities/M&A Practice Group at Winstead PC, a national corporate law firm based in Dallas, Texas. In 2006, Mr. Farha graduated magna cum laude from Oklahoma City University School of Law with a Juris Doctor and served as Managing Editor of the Law Review. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Law Review Member of the Year award in 2005. He also earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship from the University of North Texas in 2001. He lives just outside of Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Ashley, and chil-

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

IN BRIEF

dren Pierce and Ella.

Bass Law, for nearly 90 years, has been proud to deliver quality legal services to its clients through a variety of practice areas. Attorney A. Francis Porta founded the firm in 1934 as a solo practitioner, serving clients in El Reno, Oklahoma, and across Canadian County. Attorney Joseph P. Weaver joined Porta in 1949 as the firm grew. In 1966, Porta’s sonin-law, attorney James C. Bass, started practicing with the firm. In 1975, Bass’s brother John A. “Andy” Bass came aboard, prompting the firm to change its name to Porta, Bass and Bass, P.C. Porta continued to practice law until his death in 1983. In 1994, the firm’s name was changed to Bass Law, and it remains such today. Bass Law has a proud history of Oklahoma City University School of Law alumni, including the late James C. Bass, and current attorneys Andy Bass, Jana L. Knott, Chance L. Deaton, and Mary R. McCann.

Over the years, as the firm has grown, it has expanded its legal services and practice areas to include business law, real estate, oil and gas, probate and trust administration, estate planning, litigation, and mediation. Within the past five years, the firm has added an appellate practice and a family law practice. To meet the needs of its growing clientele in each practice area, the firm has continued to expand its team of distinguished and reputable attorneys. Currently, the firm has nine attorneys and offices in El Reno and Oklahoma City. Attorney A. Gabriel Bass leads the team as the firm’s president and managing partner. The firm’s attorneys are Andy Bass, Joseph P. Weaver, Jr., C. Robert Stell, Jana L. Knott, Chance L. Deaton, Kristy Loyall, Magda Way, and Mary R. McCann. The firm recently completed a large renovation of its historic building in downtown El Reno. The renovation makes use of nearly every square foot of space with new offices upstairs as well as refurbished conference rooms. Bass Law is poised to continue to build on decades of service to its clients throughout Oklahoma.

Student Awards, Directors, CLE Series Academic Excellence Awards Colby D. Karcher Association of Corporate Counsel Oklahoma Chapter Award for Excellence in Corporate Law. Alyssa Brooke Cross Judge Dwain Box Memorial Award for Outstanding Appellate Advocate. Timmi Ruth Kline T. Hurley Jordan Award for Excellence in Criminal Procedure. Neeley Paige Russell Charles Nesbitt Energy Law Award for Excellence in Energy Law. Michelle Elizabeth Gutierrez (Spring 2022) and Timmi Ruth Kline (Fall 2022) Oklahoma Bar Association Business/Corporate Law Section for Excellence in Corporation Law. Honia Marie Velvehree Jackson Oklahoma Bar Association Bankruptcy Section for Excellence in Consumer Bankruptcy. Neeley Paige Russell Oklahoma Bar Association Environmental Law Section for Excellence in Environmental Law. Laney Lee Ellis Oklahoma Bar Association Financial Institutions and Commercial Law Section for Excellence in Commercial Law. Connor Colclazier Curtis Oklahoma Bar Association Litigation Section for Excellence in Litigation Skills. Saige Culbertson Jandt Oklahoma City Real Property Lawyers Association for Excellence in Property Law. David LeMaster Donahoe Oklahoma Association of Municipal Attorneys for Excellence in Municipal Law and Policy. Outstanding Service Awards Ta'Chelle Nichollette Ashley Jones Dean's Service Award for Outstanding Service to the School of Law. Outstanding Graduate Awards Austin Thomas Moseley and Emily Murray Judge Alfred P. Murrah Sr. Award for Outstanding Academic Performance. Luciana Perez Oklahoma City University School of Law Jim Roth Award for Excellence in Law School Leadership. Marleyna Kennedy Murray Oklahoma City University School of Law Justice Yvonne Kauger Award. Saige Culbertson Jandt J. William Conger Distinguished Student Award. Timmi Ruth Kline Outstanding Graduate Award. Ta'Chelle Nichollette Ashley Jones Oklahoma Bar Association Outstanding Law School Senior Student.

Alumni Association Board of Directors Lindsey Pever ’18, Immediate Past Chair. Travis Weedn ’14, Chair. Justin Meek ’06, Development Chair. Chance Deaton ’14, Engagement Chair. Katherine Mazaheri ’07, Special Events Chair.

Lauren Mass ’13, CLE Chair. Allie Ah Loy ’12. Benjamin Grubb ’13. Kari Hawthorne ’06. Courtney Warmington ’99.

OCU Law Alumni Association CLE Series 2023 Trauma Informed Legal Care, Shar Agosto (January) This CLE presented by Shar Agosto looked at Trauma, its effects on the brain and how all of this impacts the legal system. She also shared trauma informed elements to consider when working with and interviewing clients. 2022 Oklahoma Supreme Court Year in Review, Jana Knott (May). 2022 Use of Experts in Family Law Cases, Monica A. Dionisio (December).

Juvenile Expungements, Ben Brown (November). Selling Property out of Probate, Kelly M. Hunt (October). Recognizing & Reporting Elder Abuse, Kate Springer (September). Identifying Consumer Law Cases and Helping Oklahoma Consumers Fight Back, Minal Gahlot (June).

If someone invited you to partake in engaging and meaningful connections with fellow alumni and current students, would you be interested? If yes, please continue reading!

The purpose of the Alumni Association, which was relaunched in 2018, is to promote the general welfare and effectiveness of our law school. We strive to accomplish this by strengthening the ties between alumni and preserving and furthering the mission of the school. If you graduated from OCU Law and are not a member, we invite you to join!

Through your membership, which begins at $100 per year, the Alumni Association is able to deliver student-centered programs, encourage and support students during their final exams and bar exam studies, provide scholarships, connect students with mentors from the legal community, deliver the CLE program, and plan the annual Alumni Awards. The Alumni Association’s Board of Directors includes Chair and Mentorship Chair Travis Weedn, Secretary Kara Smith, Student Engagement Chair Chance Deaton, CLE Chair Lauren Mass, Special Events and Awards Chair Katherine Mazaheri, Development Chair Justin Meek, Allie Ah Loy, Ben Grubb, Kari Hawthorne, and Courtney Warmington.

In April, the Alumni Association hosted its annual Alumni Awards Ceremony where honorees were recognized and celebrated at a sold-out masquerade gala at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. Attendees thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to come together to celebrate leaders in our legal community. The Alumni Association recognized the honorees on the previous three magazine pages. OCU Law’s own Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt (’09) was the emcee and, as usual, dazzled the audience with his humor.

This event is such a fun and meaningful one, and it sells out quickly, so plan to join us next year. Nominations are now open to nominate the next group of deserving alums.

My tenure came to a close on June 30, and I would like to wholeheartedly thank Dean Jim Roth, fellow members of the Executive Board and Alumni Board, volunteers, and law school staff. Getting to witness the impact of the work of these dedicated servant leaders is one reason why I am proud to have graduated from OCU Law. Our talented alumni are doing interesting and important things across Oklahoma, the U.S., and the world. It was rewarding to serve as Chair.

If you are interested in assisting with these efforts, please contact me at 405-206-9575 or lindsey@anewenergylaw.com.

Lindsey Pever ’18 Immediate Past Chair, Oklahoma City University School Law Alumni Association Attorney, A New Energy

IN BRIEF

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

47

GIVING BACK

thank you for giving

Dean’s Level $20,000+ ——————

Oklahoma Bar Foundation, Inc. Oklahoma City Community Foundation Keri Norris

Platinum Level $10,000+ ——————

Eric Huddleston Katresa Riffel James Roth Tom Quinn

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Gold Level

Foundation

Nicholle Edwards

$5,000+

Rose Barber

Emily Eleftherakis

——————

The Honorable Deborah Barnes

Spencer Fane LLP

The Honorable Jerry Bass

Danielle Fielding

Jodi Cole DeWitt, Paruolo & Meek, PLLC Emmanuel Edem Professor Eric Laity Christin Mugg Phillips Murrah, PC

Silver Level $1000+ ——————

The Honorable Arnold Battise V. Arthur Bova, Jr. Linda Byford Joseph Carson Conklin Family Foundation William Corum Paula Dalley Chance Deaton

Robert Abernathy

Patricia Demps

William Ackerman

Jennifer Dutton

David Aelvoet

David Echols

American Fidelity

William Edmondson

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

IN BRIEF

Ryan Farha Timothy Foley Timothy Gatton Steven Goetzinger Harry Goldman Kevin Hill Gary and Sue Homsey Michael S. "Mickey" Homsey Joe Homsey, Jr. Sweet Dewberry Hubbard, PLC Johnson Hanan Vosler Hawthorne & Snider

Brandon Long

Ronald Caveglia

Brittany Hunt-Jassey

Shanna Pope

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores

Kayla Cawood

Joel Ivy

Climb Consulting, LLC

Mary Jackson

Jennifer Stevenson Prilliman

Robert Margo

Laura Corbin

Donna Jackson

Raytheon Company

McAfee & Taft, PC

Dale & Janette Cornelius

Barry Johnson

Kathryn Reid

Mid-America Law Library Consortium, Inc.

Crowe & Dunlevy

Jennifer Johnson

E. Christine Reid

Justin Cullen

Heather Kay

James Reynolds

Faustine Curry

John Kempf, Jr.

Casey Ross

Michael Decker

Robert Kemps

Benjamin Russ

Daniel Defilippi

James Kleinbaum

Ralph A. Sallusti

Kevin Dellinger

Jim Klepper

Leslie Samara

L. Wayne Edgar

Jeffrey Kline

Danielle Schinzing

Lindsey Pever

Derek Ensminger

The Honorable Ted Knight

Kevin Sellers

George Proctor, Jr.

Jay Evans

Gerald Koester

Kara Smith

Roland Schafer

Irving Faught

Maria Kolar

Richard Smith

Andrew Schroeder

Jennifer Finley

Shade Kremer

Kevin Smith

William and Pamela Shdeed

Steven Foster

C. William Lange

Maribeth Snapp

Ramona Freels

Timothy Larason

Andrew Spiropoulos

Irwin Steinhorn

Alyssa Gillette

Tammy Latimer

Kate Springer

The Honorable Douglas Golden

Joseph Leszczynski

Edward Goldman

David Livingston

——————

Kevin Gordon

Mr. Brad Madore

Alexandra Ah Loy

Grecia Gramajo

Vanessa Martinez

R. Daniel Alcorn, Jr.

The Honorable Lydia Green

Lauren Mass

William Anderson

Barry Grissom

Tia Matt

The Honorable Don Andrews

The Honorable Noma Gurich

Thomas McCoy

Sara Hall

Kenneth McDaniel

Furqan Azhar

Marla Harrington

Sarah Jernigan McGovern

Svetlana Baca

Miranda Harris

Allison McGrew

Jahni Tapley Bachman

Claude Harris, III

Adam Miller

Hamden Baskin, III

Kelly Monroe

Regan Beatty

The Honorable Barbara Hatfield

Matthew Becker

Hay Charitable Fund

Cheryl Morgan

Joseph Biscone, II

Jordan Haygood

Charles Moser

Elizabeth Bowersox

Tami Hines

Dana Murphy

Daniel Whitmarsh

George Bradley

Janie Hipp

John Myers

Mackenzie Wickstrom

Ross Branton

Carrie Hixon

Robert Nguyen

Sandra Williams

Bianca Bryant

Brian Hobbs

Preston Nicholson

Anthony Winter

Adam Bush

David Holt

Nike, Inc.

Michael Wolf

Stephen Butler

Tina Holzschuh

Robert O'Bannon

Kaitlyn L. Woodruff

Cabelka Law PLLC

Destry and Sam Holzschuh

Leonard Pataki

Sandy S. Chang and Fonda B. Wu

Nancy Cain

Alana House

Todd Pauley

Sheryl Young

Austin Caldwell

Harrison Houser

Brian Phillips

Austin Young

Justin Carter

Stephanie Liebl Huber

Suzanne Pointer

Sajani Zachariah

Nikki and Joel Miliband Isai Molina Ashley Murphy Christina Murray Oklahoma County Bar Association

Carroll Wheeler

Benefactors

Tara Tabatabaie

Robert Lewis

Daniel Morgan

IN BRIEF

David Telman The Kerr Foundation, Inc. Craig Thompson Chris Tumminia Susan Urban Travis Vernier Earle Wagner Collin Walke Lori Walke Xiaoxue Wang Heather Webster Julie Weedn Monica and Travis Weedn Joseph Wheeler, Jr.

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

49

GIVING BACK

A Scholarship Story with Luci Perez | Class of 2023 Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey to OCU Law. My name is Luci Perez, and I am a part-time law student in the evening program. My journey to OCU Law has not been a traditional one. I was working with the State of Oklahoma as an Auditor when I decided to go to law school to be a positive change in the community. So, I applied to OCU Law (only) and thankfully was admitted in the fall of 2019. The most challenging thing by far my 1L year was learning how to manage my time and remain disciplined so that I could continue to work 40 hours/ week and get all my readings done for class.

How have your scholarships made a difference in your law school journey?

I received a merit scholarship upon being admitted but I also received the Oklahoma Bar Foundation Partners for Justice Award in the fall of 2022. The amounts I have been awarded have lessened the burden of student loans and provided financial peace of mind.

Reflecting now on your time in law school, what advice would you give your 1L self and other entering 1Ls? I have shared with 1Ls, particularly women of color, that although the imposter syndrome we all feel is nor-

mal, we cannot let it take up space. We must learn how to build our self-confidence in this field. For me, that means surrounding myself with other women that pour into me, encourage me, and remind me who I am and why I’m here.

What's next for you?

I will be going back to state government and hope to do legislative work. My ultimate career goal, however, is to advocate for individuals who have been sentenced to death.

What's something about leaving law school and OCU that you're going to miss?

I will miss the community here. The professors, staff and students who have been a part of my journey and have impacted me. They have helped shape my career in law.

What's something you're glad you said "yes" to in law school?

I am glad I said yes to me and no to my fears and doubts.

So often we (especially women) limit ourselves due to feeling unqualified or less than. This sentiment almost kept me from joining the National Moot Court team. I would not be the confident student I am today had I not said yes to myself and tried out for the team.

IN BRIEF

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

51

GIVING BACK

REFILLING THE GAS TANK A STORY OF GIVING

BY D E STRY H O L ZS CH U H DIRECTO R of M A R KE TI N G & CO M M UN I C ATI O N S

When Bob Haupt graduated from OCU Law in 2000, he was determined to give back double the amount his merit scholarship had allotted him during his time in law school. After crossing that threshold last year, Haupt said he has no plans to stop giving.

“I felt like I was indebted to the law school because it gave me a law degree,” Haupt said. “I think we have an obligation to refill the gas tank, so to speak.”

Haupt initially did not intend to practice law when — at 37 years old — he started law school. At the time, he was in the hospitality business and had around 2,500 employees working under him. He had experienced some success in real estate ventures and was interested in developing legal expertise to benefit his career.

But after earning his law degree from OCU in only 2-and-a-half years, Haupt became a sort of legal entrepreneur. He decided to open a small practice, which he said took “everything that came in the door,” including a lot of civil rights work. He later joined Phillips Murrah as a partner in 2008.

In 2014, Haupt embarked on his next adventure: starting a legal tech company, which provided services to consumers all over the country. Over a few years, the company served nearly 200,000 clients in monthly subscriptions and resolved around 40,000 lawsuits in 30 months. Haupt says it was the biggest law firm in terms of clients, by far, of anyone in the country at the time.

“In 2017, I sold that and said, ‘Well, where do I go next?’” Haupt said. “I felt I was too young to retire. My wife and I looked all over the country and liked Kansas City a lot.”

Bob and wife, Sarah Haupt

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OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

IN BRIEF

Photograph by Raymond Forbes

Haupt and his wife relocated to Kansas City that year, despite a few doubters telling him he was “too old to relocate and start over.” There he joined Lathrop GPM as a partner, where he maintains a diverse practice. Although much of his work involves commercial and bankruptcy law, at least 10 percent includes pro bono representation.

As a scholarship student himself, Haupt said his ability to give back to OCU Law and make a difference in the lives of law students is an opportunity to “balance the equities in life.”

“No one gets anywhere good entirely on their own,” Haupt said. “We all get there through help and contribution from others — or sometimes it’s just luck, but it’s good to recognize that and do what you can to hopefully balance it out and give others opportunities.”

race and gender but in things like geography, education and socioeconomics — is the wellspring of richness in the school.

An appreciation of his own good fortune and a sense of responsibility to others who have had less opportunity have inspired Haupt to give back to OCU Law, and he hopes that others do the same.

“OCU gave me a law degree, so I owe OCU a ‘thank you,’” Haupt said. “Giving back is part of that process.”

Haupt does not expect to ever truly retire and says he’s currently thinking about what he might want to do in the next phase of his life. But, he said, the day that practicing law ceases to be interesting will be the last day he practices law, but he’s not there yet.

Haupt hopes that OCU Law continues to be a welcoming and supportive destination for a large number of nontraditional students each year.

He said he believes that, along with the diversity of the school — not only in

When he’s not practicing law, Haupt likes to spend time with his wife and kids, and he’s currently on the hunt for a few dozen acres of farmland for he and his wife to move to in the future.

“My personal hope is that challenges and struggles cause people to be more sensitive and more forgiving instead of more rigid and less forgiving.”

B OB H AU P T • CL A S S O F 2 0 0 0

1L 2022 Orientation

Study break!

Above: Dean Roth and OCU Law students participating in the Pride on 39th Parade during Pride Month 2023

Exoneree and speaker Brian Banks and OCU Law faculty and staff at the 2022 Oklahoma Innocence Project Wrongful Conviction Day Gala

Fall 2022 SBA Volleyball Tournament

The school welcomed Judge Bacharach from the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit for a book signing in the fall semester

OCU Law hosted a Naturalization Ceremony in the fall of 2022 for new citizens of the United States

Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice John Kane IV shared his professional advice and fielded questions from law students at a roundtable lunch

OCU Law staff and alumni at the OBA annual meeting and luncheon

Student Admissions Ambassador Nikki Erece speaking at Dean’s Preview

La Prensa La Fiesta 2023

PRESTON NICHOLSON

Assistant Dean for Admissions

Hello! My name is Preston Nicholson, and I am the new Assistant Dean for Admissions at Oklahoma City University School of Law! I am excited to join the OCU Law community and work with my admissions team to enroll a great group of new students each year. I am very impressed by our 2023 entering class of law students, and I look forward to seeing them grow into impactful attorneys and changemakers. I am confident they will make positive contributions to the legal community and expand access to legal services to those who need it the most. To our new students – welcome!

I join OCU Law after previously serving as Assistant Dean for Admissions at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas, for the past eight years. After graduating law school and joining the Bar in 2007, my professional career has been focused on assisting students in achieving their law school dreams. I love helping prospective and admitted students find the path that’s right for them. OCU Law is a special place, and our students are among the most motivated, passionate and service-minded students in the country. I consider it an honor to be here.

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Beyond my work in recruiting and admitting students, I am actively involved with the Law School Admissions Council and the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section of Pre-Legal Education and Admission to Law School, where I serve as the Nominating Chairperson. I also volunteer with International Academic Competitions and the JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl, working with talented youth to promote learning through quiz bowl competition. When I’m not at work, I enjoy playing tennis, pub trivia, film, working out and traveling.

students are taken care of academically, professionally, and mentally. Student support and mental health awareness are crucial to our mission, and it will be my responsibility to promote that to any prospective student I meet.

A fun fact about myself is I love game shows and have been a contestant on four TV game shows so far: Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and Let’s Make a Deal.

Our downtown location inspires me. What a great place to study law! With abundant externship and employment opportunities within walking distance of our building, close access to all three branches of government, and a building steps away from culture, art, cuisine, entertainment, and business, we have one of the best locations of any law school in the country.

This is an exciting time at OCU Law. We are on the cutting edge of legal education in many ways, and I look forward to helping expand our reputation on a national level while fostering the close ties we have to our wonderful city and our great state. When preparing future lawyers, we have to be mindful of the complete student – working tirelessly to make sure our

I look forward to meeting our current student body, our alums, and other members of the OCU family over the course of the next year and learning from their experience to help us recruit some of the nation’s brightest law students. If you would like to support our efforts in reaching prospective students, please let us know and we will get you connected!

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

IN BRIEF

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

YOUR FELLOW GRADUATES 3,800 6,705 living alumni across the US and around the world

in Oklahoma The next top four states are Texas, Florida, Missouri and Colorado

Our graduates also live in China, Germany, Guam, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Taiwan

The youngest alumnus is

22 years old

2,423 women 4,275 men and 7 other

The oldest alumnus is

100 years old

1,067 identified as multicultural

Comanche artist Eric Tippeconnic created the artwork for the 2023 Sovereignty Symposium, pictured here hanging in the Oklahoma Supreme Court building. Eric's interest in painting and art was heavily influenced while growing up on numerous reservations and in Indigenous communities, as well as from traveling to Denmark each summer to visit his mother's family.

Eric's cultural diversity and love of history and art from an early age helped develop his interest and passion for creating art from the moment he could hold a pencil.

Using bright, rich, and vibrant color combinations, Eric utilizes his artwork to capture movement that serves as a metaphor for the viewer which boldly states that Indigenous American cultures, while intimately connected to their history, are in fact contemporary, alive, and constantly evolving.

We hope you enjoy this edition of In Brief magazine! Included in your copy of In Brief is an envelope to financially support the mission of Oklahoma City University School of Law. We welcome and appreciate your support.