April 2021 Tulsa Lawyer Magazine

LAW WEEK SYMPOSIUM

A Message from the President

Kimberly K. Moore 2020-2021 TCBA President

Pg. 2

2021 Virtual Law Day Symposium

Friday April 30, 2021 See pgs. 4-8 for all the details!

TCBA Contacts, Committees & Sections Page 36

TULSA LAWYER

In this Issue

April 2021

2

Advancing the Rule of Law, Now

4

Law Day Symposium

5

Symposium Event Topics

6

Featured Speakers - Learn all about them!

8

Sponsorship Opportunities

9

VP's Corner -First Responder's Will Clinic Philip Hixon

11

TCBF Charity Golf Tourney! Sign up Now!

12

One Conversation at a Time

13

Law Day Virtual Book Club - Last Session!

15 Inspiration, Recognition and Commemoration Highlighting Lawyers and Judges who Dedicatedly

Pursue Justice 16 Loretta F. Radford - Legal Director for the Oklahoma

City University School of Law, Center for Criminal Justice

17 The Honorable Wilma L. Palmer

Special Judge of the District Court, Tulsa County 18

Member Event- Learn How to Write a Book with Denver Morrissey Nicks

21

Pierre Robertson - First Year Attorney

22

Kevinn Matthews - Attorney, The Cochran Firm

24

Bernadette Gilbert - Managing Attorney, Department of Human Services/Child Support

25

Danny C. Williams, Sr. - Partner at Conner Winters

26

The Honorable Tonya N. Wilson Special Judge, 14th Judicial District of Oklahoma

27

Member Event - Virtual Flower Arranging Celebrate a special woman in your life!

28

Civil Justice State Legislative Roundup

By Katy Dilks

30

Command the Courtroom Stage, By Rena Cook

31

Fostering Connections - Children & the Law News

32 Grapevine 34

Classifieds Tulsa Lawyer 1

A Message from the President Kimberly K. Moore Advancing the Rule of Law, Now This is one of my favorite months as a TCBA So what is the rule of law? What is power under the Member. I began my involvement with the TCBA many rule of law? How has the rule of law shaped and years ago by volunteering on the Law Day Committee. sustained us and how might it shape our future?

I watched and learned the first year. By the second and There are several definitions of “rule of third year I was in charge of Lawyer in the Library and law,” and its elements. We see common then I chaired the Committee. Lawyer in the Library expressions, including “no man is above was a great event that took place in the Courthouse Law the law,” or “everyone is equal in the eyes Library, but I realized soon certain demographics were of the law,” or “government of laws, not a not represented. So by the second year, I expanded the government of man.” Generally, “rule of event to different branches of the Tulsa County Library law” is a principle under which all persons in hopes of reaching more people. It was a success. and institutions are accountable to laws that Thanks to the generosity of our members, many people are: widely and publicly shared, equally from different walks of life received free in-person enforced, and independently adjudicated. legal advice. To me, this is what Law Day is all about – These basic ideas emerge from centuries giving back to the community and education of the law. of traditions and law, but also align with Some activities have been postponed, like OBA's Askcontemporary standards in human rights A-Lawyer delayed until this Fall. As we celebrate Law and international law.

Week, please help us by participating in the activities put together by our Law Week Committee!

Power takes comes from a variety of sources and takes many forms under the rule of law.

In the United States, much power is outlined “The rule of law is the bedrock of American in the U.S. Constitution, which established rights and liberties-in times of calm and unrest alike. a blueprint for government and explicitly The 2021 Law Day theme – Advancing the Rule of Law, articulated powers to both federal and state Now – reminds all of us that we the people share the governments. The Bill of Rights, the first responsibility to promote the rule of law, defend liberty, ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution and pursue justice.” offer specific examples of limits to federal power. But we also find power beyond American Bar Association the Constitution, in our state, community, and daily life. Courts, elections, policing, 2 Tulsa Lawyer

public health mandates, local policies are all examples. We might also find power in civic traditions, places, and norms.

Considering the division among our nation, and the various calls for reform, change, equity, access, and even unity, it is not a stretch to consider how the rule of law could provide stability, order, and opportunity. We could consider current events, or technologies of the future, and imagine ways that the rule of law will continue to sustain and guide our nation through challenges and growth. There is also power in the people under a rule of law system.

It is very difficult for a nation to maintain the rule of law if its citizens do not respect the law. Consider the role of protests, voting, civic participation, and how of us may play a part in upholding the rule of law.

American Bar Association

Bar Updates!

• The interior remodel countdown is approaching completion. We are looking at a completion date of April 9, 2021.

• Virtual Law Day Symposium, Friday, April 30.

• The TCBF Annual Golf Tournament will be held at Meadowbrook on May 3.

• The C.A.P. Program is still looking for volunteers to assist on the FED docket. Please contact Beth Nellis at bethnellis@cox.net to sign up.

• Will Clinic for 1st Responders and Teachers need volunteers. Please contact Philip Hixon at phixon@gablelaw.com.

• The TCBA will be closed on April 2, Good Friday If you would like to start a conversation on the topic of our Law Day theme please check out our Facebook page.

Kimberly K. Moore TCBA President, 2020-2021

First Responder Will Clinic Volunteers needed to staff this no-charge estate

planning services clinic. Services will be limited to a simple will and, if appropriate, health directive documents and a basic Power of Attorney.

• April 19-23 and May 4th (See page 9

for details. ) • Contact Philip Hixon or Tami Williams with questions and to volunteer.

• phixon@gablelaw.com • tamiw@tulsabar.com • 918-584-5243

Tulsa Lawyer 3

Tulsa County Bar Foundation

2021 Virtual Law Day Symposium Friday ~ April 30, 2021 9AM-1PM Law Day Theme

The American Bar Association’s theme for Law Day this year is Advancing the Rule of Law Now. The rule of law is the foundation of United States. The idea that every person is treated equally under the law and that no one is above the law. The ABA has invited local bar associations to engage in a conversation about what Advancing the Rule of Law means in their community.

The ABA asks: What is the rule of law? What is power under the rule of law? How has the rule of law shaped and sustained us? How might the rule of law shape our future? The Tulsa County Bar Association’s celebration of Law Day is two-fold. First, in our community, Tulsa is currently recognizing and commemorating 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre. We invite and encourage you to attend those events. But, while we, as a local community commemorate the injustice, lives, economic loss, and devastation of a community, the TCBA is also looking forward in the ways we can answer the call to defend liberty and pursue justice.

Our celebration of Law Day is also a call to action because we, as attorneys, each share the responsibility to promote the rule of law.

This event is FREE for TCBA Members. $50.00 for non-members Register at www.tulsabar.com

by April 15th!

4 Tulsa Lawyer

Featured speakers: Phil Armstrong Project Director for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission Hannibal Johnson Author, Attorney, Consultant and the Commissions Education Sub Committee Chair Dana & Keith Cutler Award-winning trial attorneys and partners in the law firm of James W. Tippin & Associates in Kansas City, Missouri, practicing in the areas of civil defense litigation, education law, and small business representation.

Tom Vincent Attorney with GableGotwals, currently serving as the Co-Chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Committee.

Candice Pace Director of Development & Communications at the Oklahoma Bar Foundation.

Read about our featured speakers on pages 6 & 7 of this issue. We are thrilled to have them as a part of the TCBF Law Day celebration!

Event Schedule Symposium Session I Avoiding Unintentional Exclusivity: How the Language We Use Matters (Even When We Don’t Mean It That Way) presented by Tom

Vincent II, Shareholder with Gable Gotwals in Tulsa, OK and Candice Pace, Director of Development and Communications, Oklahoma Bar Foundation.

(1.0 OKMCLE Credit Hour)

Exclusion, whether intentional or unintentional, has a real effect on those being excluded. Most of us have good intentions when it comes to interacting and connecting with others from different backgrounds, but well-meaning people can participate in exclusion without realizing it. Learn to recognize why the language we use in our communications matters and how to avoid unintentional exclusivity, and how to make positive changes in your organization’s usage of language, with Tulsa attorney, Tom Vincent, from GableGotwals, and Candice Pace of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation

LAW DAY EVENT SPONSORSHIPS Available on Page 8

Thank you to these sponsors Platinum

GableGotwals Silver

Hall Estill

Symposium Session II Let’s Talk About IT: Avoiding MicroAggressions and Managing Implicit Bias Presented by Keith & Dana Cutler, Partners at James W. Tippin & Associations, Kansas City, MO. (1.0 OKMCLE Credit Hour)

2020 brought to the forefront the racial challenges that the country faces, including in the legal profession. Microaggressions affect us all, but as bar members and leaders, we play a key role in addressing them. Speakers Dana and Keith Cutler, of Cutler Cultural Consulting and the Emmy-award nominated television show,Couples Court with the Cutlers, will show you how to manage our implicit biases and how to spot microaggressive and provide advice for how to turn microaggressions intro microaffirmations.

Law Day Presentation Join the TCBF Law Week Committee for its annual Liberty Bell Award, Brunton-Will CLE Award, and Sandra Day O’Connor Award announcements as well as a special presentation from Keynote Speakers, Phil Armstrong and Hannibal Johnson, Esq, from the from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission.

Proceeds from the Law Day Symposium will go to the Buck Colbert Franklin Legal Clinic recently launched by the University of Tulsa Law School.

Visit https://law.utulsa.edu/buckcolbert-franklin-legal-clinic/ to learn about the clinic. Or see pg17 of the March issue of Tulsa Lawyer Magazine.

LAW DAY SYMPOSIUM FEATURED SPEAKERS Phil Armstrong Project Manager of the 1921 Oklahoma Black Lawyers Association. He served as chair of the

Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission and a native of Ohio, Phil Armstrong has made Tulsa his home for more than 20 years. Armstrong has a varied background in the corporate sector and as an entrepreneur in the restaurant business and has been actively engaged in the community by serving on several non-profit boards, including the Barthelmes School for Music, Community Service Council, Reading Partners of Tulsa and as chairman of the board for the Greenwood Cultural Center.

Armstrong holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Akron.

Phil will work with the Commission, its subcommittees and key Greenwood District organizations to execute plans for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Hannibal Johnson, Esq. Hannibal B. Johnson is a graduate of Harvard Law School. He did his undergraduate work at The University of Arkansas, where he completed a double major in economics and sociology.

Johnson is an attorney, author, and independent consultant specializing in diversity & inclusion/cultural competence issues and nonprofit governance. Johnson has also served as an adjunct professor at The University of Tulsa College of Law (legal writing; legal ethics), Oklahoma State University (leadership and group dynamics; business law [MBA Program]), and the University of Oklahoma (ethics; cultural diversity; race & reason; The 1921 Tulsa Race Riot; nonprofit leadership & management).

Johnson serves on the federal 400 Years of AfricanAmerican History Commission, a body charged with planning, developing, and implementing activities appropriate to the 400th anniversary of the arrival, in 1619, of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia. He chairs the Education Committee for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. Johnson is past president of Leadership Tulsa, the Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League, and the Northeast 6 Tulsa Lawyer

board of directors of The Community Leadership Association, an international leadership organization, during 2001 – 2002, is a founding director of the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, and is past chair of the board of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. He has also served on the Oklahoma Advisory Committee for the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Johnson directed Anytown, Oklahoma, a statewide human relations camp for teens, for more than a decade, and served on the Advisory Board of the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Writers Conference of the Southwest. Johnson served as chairman of board of directors of The Rotary Club of Tulsa, 2015 – 2016, chaired the Club’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee during that same period, and served as the Club’s President during 2018 – 2019. He has served on the Institutional Review Board for Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and is past chair of the board of directors of the Foundation for Tulsa Schools. He has also served as a member of the board of directors of the Oklahoma Humanities Council. He served on the Programs Committee for the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation and organized the Center’s annual symposium for several years. In 2004, Johnson graduated with the inaugural class of the national “Connecting Community Fellowship Program” based in Richmond, Virginia.

Johnson’s honors include: the 2016 Whitney M. Young, Jr., Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America; the 2015 National Philanthropy Day Award for Diversity and Inclusion from the Association of Fundraising Professionals; the 2013 “The Inclusives” diversity award from Tulsa’s Young Professionals; the 2012 “Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Diversity Award” from the Oklahoma Bar Association; the “Don Newby/ Ben Hill” award from Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry; the “Keeping The Dream Alive” award from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Society; the “Outstanding Service to the Public Award” from the Oklahoma Bar Association; the “Ten Outstanding Young Tulsans” award from the Tulsa Jaycees; the “Distinguished Leadership Award” from the National Association for Community Leadership; the 2005 “Ralph Ellison Literary Award” from the Black Liberated Arts Center; the 2006 Oklahoma Human Rights Award from the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission; induction into the 100 Black Men of Tulsa, Inc. “Hall of Honor” in 2007; and the “Goodwill Appreciation Award” from the Islamic Society of Tulsa in 2008

Dana & Keith Cutler

Award-winning trial attorneys Keith and Dana Cutler are partners in the law firm of James W. Tippin & Associates in Kansas City, Missouri, practicing in the areas of civil defense litigation, education law, and small business representation.

Dana has served in several positions of bar leadership during her career, including being the first woman of color elected as President of The Missouri Bar, in 2016. Her numerous bar-related awards include three President’s Awards from The Missouri Bar; a President’s Award from the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association; the Ronda F. Williams Spirit of Diversity Award; and the Sly James Diversity and Inclusion Award, just to name a few. She has been recognized as a Missouri Super Lawyer since 2014 and was honored as the 2018 Woman of the Year by Missouri Lawyers Weekly at their Annual Women’s Justice Awards Luncheon. Dana’s practice is concentrated in Education Law with a focus on charter schools and general liability defense. She has tried more than twenty bench and jury trials. Dana received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with honors, from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and her J.D. degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

In more than 30 years of practice, Keith has firstchaired over 80 civil trials in addition to arguments before the Courts of Appeals in Missouri and Kansas, the Missouri Supreme Court, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also very active in the Bar -- he has served as president or chair of several bar associations and bar committees, is an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law, and is a frequent seminar speaker on trial practice, ethics, and professionalism. His awards include the Lewis W. Clymer Award from the Jackson County Bar Association, the Decade Award from the UMKC School of Law, and the prestigious Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Award, given annually to three lawyers across the state of Missouri under the age of 36 who have demonstrated unusual proficiency in the art of trial advocacy. Keith received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and his J.D. degree from UMKC.

When not practicing law, Dana and Keith are co-judges on the two-time Emmy-nominated, nationally syndicated daytime television courtroom show “Couples Court with the Cutlers,” which features couples who are having conflicts, complications, or disagreements in their relationships. The show, distributed by MGM’s Orion Television, is seen daily in over 85% of the United States.

The Cutlers have been married for over 30 years and have three adult sons.

Tom Vincent

As an attorney, Tom focuses his practice on legal issues involving cybersecurity, data privacy, compliance, and corporate governance. As a former banking manager and executive, he brings a process and business-oriented approach to best serve clients from a preventive standpoint. This blended experience has equipped Tom to better understand the mechanics of companies from the angle of a business strategist and legal counsel.

He began his career working for financial institutions serving in key management and compliance roles at both small and mid-sized financial institutions, including BSA/AML Compliance Officer for a bank and Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary for a broker dealer. He advised on commercial and consumer banking, fiduciary and trust, broker-dealer and investment advisory, BSA/AML, FCPA and CRA. He also served on various ethics and compliance committees for the Boards of Directors to develop and implement compliance policies and assess compliance efforts.

In 2014, he joined GableGotwals, where he represents clients on matters involving data security and privacy, compliance, risk management, HIPAA/HITECH, security assessments and protections, investment advisory, and trust and fiduciary. He has assisted clients both in preventing and in responding to security breaches and have led corporate governance projects including the development and implementation of new policies, procedures, and customer agreements, and have represented a bank as an expert witness.

Currently, he serves as the Co-Chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Committee. In this role, he trains associate attorneys and staff on networking, business development, and professional narratives with a focusing on creating environments where they can be empowered to achieve and enhance their professional and personal success.

Candice Pace Candice Pace graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Mass Communication and a minor in Sociology. She began her career as the Vice President of Development at the United Way of Norman. Then she worked as a Marketing Consultant at OPUBCO Communications before starting as the Director of Development & Communications at the Oklahoma Bar Foundation in 2015. She serves as the Communications Chair and Board of Trustee for the National Conference of Bar Foundations and is also a certified Pilates and Barre Instructor.

She currently lives in Oklahoma City with her husband Jim, 2 Jack Russell Terriers, rescue dog and cat.

Tulsa Lawyer 7

Tulsa Lawyer 8 8Tulsa Lawyer

VP'S CORNER

Philip Hixon, TCBA Vice President

SPECIAL LAW DAY EVENT

FIRST RESPONDER WILL CLINIC Law Day is typically observed on May 1 of each year.

This year May 1 is on a Saturday, so the Association’s annual (virtual) Law Day Symposium is scheduled for Friday, April 30. As part of this year’s Law Day observance, the Association anticipates hosting a First Responder Will Clinic as a show of gratitude for the sacrifices made by our first responders during a challenging period over the last twelve or thirteen months. The no-charge estate planning services provided through the Clinic will be limited to a simple will and, if appropriate, health directive documents and a basic Power of Attorney.

For purposes of the Clinic, a “first responder” will be determined consistent with CDC definitions and other federal guidance, generally defining first responders as emergency response providers, such as EMTs, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. However, we will also be opening the Clinic to elementary and secondary teachers (e.g., PK-12).

sufficient time for the attorney to complete conflict checks. The second phase is the intake interview process between the first responder and the volunteer attorney to determine the first responder’s estate planning needs. We anticipate the intake interviews will be conducted virtually (e.g., Zoom, etc.) or by telephone during the week of April 19-23. The third phase is the document execution event, which (if construction ends on schedule) will be hosted on May 4 in the lower level of the newly renovated Bar Center.

Everyone participating in the document execution event will be required to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.

The Association is still seeking volunteers from estate planning attorneys among its membership to assist with the First Responder Will Clinic. Each volunteer attorney will be providing his/her own forms for the Clinic.

If a first responder’s estate planning needs are more complex than the basic services provided through the Clinic, the Association is requesting that the volunteer attorney provide the services at a discounted rate (to be determined by the attorney) and, if necessary, complete the services after the May 4 document execution event.

If you are willing to participate in the Clinic, please contact me or Tami Williams. phixon@gablelaw.com tamiw@tulsabar.com

The Clinic will consist of three phases. The first phase is community publicity and, beginning early this month, registration of first responders. To register for the Clinic, first responders will contact the Bar Center staff by telephone. The Bar Center staff will pair a first responder with a volunteer attorney with

Tulsa Lawyer 9

Thank You to These Generous Sponsors!

EAGLE

Rhodes Hieronymous Mazzios

Richards & Connor

BIRDIE

Barrow & Grimm

PAR

James R Gotwals & Assoc.

Titus Hillis Reynolds Love

HOLE

Archer Law Oklahoma Attornyes Mutual Insurance

Brad Williams Graves McLain

William Kellough Professional Reporters

TulsaLawyer Lawyer 11 11 Tulsa

One Conversation at a Time Advancing the Rule of Law Now – one conversation at a time as a Lawyer Referral & Information Services referral panel member.

We all know what a lawyer is, right? Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about us: A lawyer or attorney is a person who practices law, as an advocate, attorney at law, barrister, barrister-at-law, barat-law, canonist, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, counsellor, solicitor, legal executive, or public servant preparing, interpreting and applying law, but not as a paralegal or charter executive secretary And what is “law”, this thing we practice? Do we know it when we see it?

Law is a system of rules created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior, with its precise definition a matter of long-standing debate. It has been variously described as a science and the art of justice.

By these definitions, a practicing attorney is advancing the law with every call or contact with a potential client and most attorneys prefer to be paid for legal services rendered.

TCBA LRIS is a long-standing program serving Tulsa and its surrounding communities referring those needing legal representation, and who can afford reasonable attorney’s fees, to an experienced, qualified attorney who practices in the area of law appropriate to their needs. The service also strives to provide general information regarding consumer, government and other agencies and community resources when appropriate.

The backbone of LRIS is the lawyer who participates in having that one-on-one conversation with a real person having questions, issues, or lack of information about the Law. Remember the days of TCBA staff calling and sending a walk-in person who just arrived from the courthouse under “order” to get a lawyer, to your office that day? Now we’re limited to virtual referrals, but also more efficient using video conversing and emails to replace most of those in-person conversations. TCBA LRIS cumulatively during the past 3.5 years has made 1,933 referrals, advancing the interpretation, process and function of the law one conversation at a time with an attorney. A few comments about TCBA LRIS -

The average attorney fee per LRS client is $7000!

12 Tulsa Lawyer

Our most recent settlement was a notable case. A well-known [SE Oklahoma] law firm was too busy to take a propane explosion case with three (3) major injuries. We knew attorneys with expertise in Dallas and together we prosecuted the case to a successful settlement in nine (9) months. We even sent a small check to the [SE Oklahoma] firm (mostly just to rub it in). :😉

Steve Stidham, Stidham Law, P.C.,

A long time LRIS attorney panel member I have been participating in the Tulsa County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service for many years. As business propositions, the referrals are not usually that beneficial.

However, even when I decline a case, I can usually identify legal issues for the referred individual, reduce his anxiety, and explain the economic realities of employing legal counsel. In many cases, I can also identify other attorneys with the right combination of expertise and affordability in the relevant area of practice. I think these benefits make the program worthwhile.

Brian Huckabee, Huckabee Law PLLC,

A long-time attorney LRIS panel member Feed back from persons referred has been overall positive – and is working well to offer this service for over 25 years.

Jeril Haug, TCBA Lawyer Referral Service Coordinator since July 2020, had stepped up to the challenge of working with people from many walks of life and treats each with dignity and respect while determining the best resource for the immediate need.

“If you need a lawyer consider this valuable resource!!” – Terrill C. “The process of searching for a lawyer who can be helpful is so overwhelming! Tulsa County LRS makes it easy and convenient. What a great public service!” – Sheila V. “Great service! It’s good to have a trusted resource to help you find a lawyer when you need one.” – Lisa Z. Lawyer Referral contacts are a fraction of the calls TCBA receives overall for assistance. TCBA began monitoring the numbers of calls received for information and screening for lawyer referral and is averaging 120 referrals per month to other agencies in addition to the LRS referrals.

Some interesting facts about LRS – during the past nine and half years (time period for which there is reliable data), TCBA has made thousands of referrals and attorneys have

Quick Facts about LRS (about ten years)Annualized

Average Referral Amount

Highest Referral Amount

Lowest Referral Amount

Attorney Fees Earned per referral

$

$ 130,000.00

$

Referral Fees Paid

Referrals made to LRS panel members (3.5 yr. avg)

$

7,096.21 609.62

$

552

12,900.00 705 (2019)

$

1,002.50

2.50

280 (2021 projected)

DID YOU KNOW?

paid referral fees in excess of $113,000. That equates to around $1.3 million in revenue for the attorney, all for a nominal attorney participation fee ($70 annually). Based on the referral data, that average attorney fee generated by accepting a LRS client is about $7,000. Because no referral fee is calculated on the first $1,000 of attorney fees, the numbers below are understated, but reflective of the results of the lawyer referral program.

One conversation at a time – you can make a difference in someone’s life and advance the law. Celebrate Law Day and celebrate the good works of TCBA and its members!

Last Session of the Law Day Virtual Book Club 2021!

The upcoming 2021 sessions for the Lynn Miller

Law Day Book Club will be virtual and limited to ten attendees. Specific dates will be provided soon.

Start reading now so you’ll be ready! Meeting dates & times along with more details on the session leaders can be found below and in future issues of Tulsa Lawyer.

UPCOMING SESSIONS:

Monday, April 6th 5:30PM Tulsa, 1921: Reporting a Massacre

by Randy Krehbiel Discussion Leader:

RANDY KREHBIEL

Randy Krehbiel is an Oklahoma native and a graduate of Oklahoma State University. He arrived at the Tulsa World in 1979 as a sports writer, and has remained there ever

since. He has reported on a wide range of topics, including college football, boxing, politics and the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing. In 1999 he was assigned to coverage of the Tulsa Race Riot, a panel established by the Oklahoma Legislature to investigate the events of May 31-June 1, 1921, and their aftermath. Thus began the two decades of research and reporting that became the basis of Tulsa 1921: Reporting a Massacre, which was published in September 2019 and was named Oklahoma Department of Libraries’ Nonfiction Book of the Year and the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Book of the Year. Randy lives in Tulsa, Okla., where he continues to report on issues related to race and the Race Massacre as well as state and national politics and government. He is a member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame.

The Honorable Martha Rupp Carter, Chair Email Martha.carter@oscn.net to register for the virtual book club session.

Inspiration, Recognition and Commemoration:

Highlighting Lawyers and Judges who Dedicatedly Pursue Justice This year's Law Day theme is bold and energizing, a call to action as we recover from the waves of shock and puzzlement experienced over this past year. The 2021 theme is: Advancing the Rule of Law Now. With this theme we celebrate the country's bedrock, our justice system, our American rights and liberties, and the responsibility we individually bear to maintain and advance the Rule of Law. If we didn't know before, we undoubtedly know now how vital it is for each one of us to do our part. We keep mindful that the Rule of Law exists and is sustained only by work and diligence. The people of the world, including the citizens of this great country, take the Rule of Law for granted only with real peril. The integrity and strength of the Rule of Law rests squarely on the shoulders of we the people.

for those who could not advocate for themselves, an endeavor he has actively pursued representing persons in housing issues during the on-going pandemic.

Recommendations for firms and law schools to promote diversity and inclusion are far ranging and practical.

Recruitment of diverse candidates from colleges and universities is one. Devote resources within the firm or law school to recruit students from all racial backgrounds. Assign someone in the firm or law school with the primary responsibility of diversity and inclusion. Implement educational programs to provide members of the legal profession with greater awareness of issues and implement strategies to thus recognize achievers and then change the composition of our work environment. Make it a goal to mentor someone of The Law Day Committee related to the work of the which you can learn from as well as they can learn 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Committee in from you about all aspects of life. Take an inventory developing and celebrating "Advancing the Rule of of hiring and admission practices to determine if you Law Now." How very appropriate for Tulsa lawyers can improve practices that limit those processes that to recognize this work and effort within the greater exclude diverse candidates. Involve young people in community in our 2021 Law Day celebration. programming such as mock trials or shadowing or tours to allow the opportunity to understand what a career in As a part of those celebrations, the Tulsa County Bar law might entail. looks to recognize some of the lawyers and judges who dedicatedly pursue justice and daily advance the Rule A common theme in their advice to those curious about of Law. or seeking legal careers is to ask for help, including finding a mentor, seeking guidance, shadowing The inspiration of these jurists and lawyers in arriving attorneys and judges, and asking those working in the to the law comes from multiple sources. Judge legal profession for advice and guidance.

Wilson knew early in her life she would choose a legal career, inspired by Justice Thurgood Marshall, Ada The first step is learning from and following the advice Lois Sipuel, and attorneys involved in the civil rights of these leaders in the legal profession. movement. Danny Williams was inspired by his great grandfather, P.A. Chappelle, one of the first African American attorneys in Oklahoma, and his late uncle, The following pages are filled with the history, the Honorable Carlos Chappelle. The seed was planted inspiration and experiences of lawyers and for Kevinn Matthews after a senior internship at Tulsa judges in the Tulsa Legal Community. Each law firm Norman and Wohlgemuth. Judge Palmer had was asked to provide their biographical inan enthusiastic business law teacher and set her course formation and to choose questions from a list in her junior year of high school. Pierre Robertson was provided and share their thoughts with us. inspired with thoughts of helping others and advocating

Loretta F. Radford

Legal Director for the Oklahoma City University School of Law, Center for Criminal Justice.

Loretta F. Radford has been licensed to practice law in the State of Oklahoma since 1985. She is currently the Legal Director for the Oklahoma City University School of Law, Center for Criminal Justice.

She retired from the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys Office, Northern District of Oklahoma in September of 2019 after a 26 year public service career with the federal government. She has served as a member of the Board of Bar Examiners for the State of Oklahoma since 2008.

Q &A What can a lawyer, law student, or law school Bar Associations do today to help encourage young persons to be aware and involved in a positive way in diversity issues?

The single most important goal for the future of the practice of law in the State of Oklahoma is to diversify the practice, the legal clerical support, the district court benches and the appellate courts of this state with people of color. Law Schools need to stress this fact in their recruitment efforts; lawyers need to stress this fact in the courtrooms when they are picking juries and arguing cases, and in carrying out their pro bono or public service duties; Bar Associations need to recognize the historical disadvantage that people of color experience in just trying to compete with the majority; and current judges need to support the addition of people of color to the bench. To have true diversity we must change the culture. The majority has to quit the mindset that they are somehow diminished professionally by giving a taller foot stool to a person of color in order to give that person of color just a minimal opportunity to compete at the same vantage point. When we realize that true diversity and inclusion is a not a handout but a hand up, we can change the culture and improve the efficiency of the legal system for all of the citizens of the State of Oklahoma.

I recommend that lawyers, law students, and law school Bar Associations learn to identify the areas of implicit bias that stifle their thoughts and ultimately their work in the legal profession. The Harvard Implicit Bias test is designed to measure the attitudes and beliefs that 16 Tulsa Lawyer

people may be unwilling or unable to report. Lawyers, students, judges and Directors of Bar Associations should include this test in their training and curriculums. Then, training should be implemented to teach individuals how to combat the bias. It can be instituted for lawyers as a part of the curriculum requirements for admission to the bar; administered to students in first year law school in much the same way that legal research and writing is required; provided in the success training templates as a part of the professional conduct guidelines for every Bar Association; and administered to judges both at the district court level and the appellate level as a part of their oath of office. When all aspects of the legal profession become serious about diversity, we will lose the fear of discussing race and the implicit bias that affects our professional lives. We will lose the unconscious bias that continues to influence the actions and decisions of who we hire, who we promote, who we appoint as judges, how we interact with people of a certain group, and even how we evaluate the work performance of employees. Diversity training, beginning with identifying implicit bias, is the single most effective way to encourage young people to get involved in diversity issues. They will do what they see us do.

The Honorable Wilma L. Palmer Special Judge of the District Court, Tulsa County Judge Wilma L. Palmer is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, Class of ’82 and holds Bachelor’s (1986) and Law (1989) degrees from the University of Tulsa. She was the first African American woman to be appointed to the Tulsa County District Court bench in February, 2007. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Palmer was a solo practitioner in Tulsa for 17 years. Her general law practice included experience in domestic, probate, civil and criminal matters. She also served as general counsel for the Housing Authority of the City of Tulsa for 8 years. Currently, Judge Palmer is assigned to the Juvenile Division of the Tulsa County District Court bench.

Who or what inspired your choice to work in the legal profession?

I first knew that I wanted a profession in the legal field when I took a business law course my junior year of high school. The course was taught by an enthusiastic teacher. I knew I wanted to help people and make a difference in the lives of others. I attended college with the goal of attending law school post-undergraduate. I never vacillated on my career choice, and I never felt a need to take a ‘gap year.’ Since taking the course in high school, I always knew what direction I wanted my career to take. My parents were always supportive of my career goal. I set my goal and worked diligently to see it come to fruition, and my family supported me throughout. I was born on Law Day, and I always joke that my destiny was set at birth.

What advice do you share for young persons who want Q&A a legal career?

The advice I would have for a young person that What is the most rewarding aspect of your legal career? wants a legal career would be to first know why you want

The most rewarding aspect of my legal career is to pursue a career in the legal profession. Make sure you having the opportunity to be a part of the transformation are passionate about your choice. Set out your vision for of individuals and families. I am currently assigned to the yourself in some form that you can refer to periodically.

Juvenile Division of the Tulsa County bench. I preside Keep your eyes on your goals, and pursue them with the over juvenile delinquent cases and juvenile deprived cases. passion that is within you. Do not be afraid to request help Typically, a traumatic event brings a minor child or the and guidance from those already engaged in the profession. parents of minor children to court to appear before me. My A good mentor in the legal profession is priceless, and many ability to impact that family and be a part of its healing and of those engaged in this profession would love to mentor an growth is one of the most rewarding aspects of my legal up-and-coming undergraduate or law student. I would also career. Most minors and their families spend enough time encourage a prospective lawyer to look for opportunities to in the presence of the court for me to build a rapport with clerk or intern. Your law school education will teach you them. I see them through their case and can witness their the law, but there is no better experience for learning how to growth and setbacks. I serve as their judge in the context of practice law than hands-on experience. their case, but I do not believe I can make a positive impact on their lives unless I really get to know them and they have Describe the impact of race upon your career? trust in me and the court system. When I am able to be a part The impact of race upon my career is probably one of their successes, I find it extremely rewarding. of the most difficult questions for me to answer. I am a native

My assignment to the juvenile division allows me to Oklahoman. I have lived in Tulsa all of my life. I attended offer rehabilitative programming that is designed to improve elementary, middle and high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the participants’ family life, and when the participants engage yet was not aware of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre until in programming and are successful in overcoming the issues I was a sophomore in college. I read a book about these that brought them into court, it is one of the most rewarding events for a college class. I thought to myself, “how can aspects of my work. Not all participants will accept the help this be?” I did not have any knowledge of the atrocities we have to offer, but when you have a youth or parent that that took place in my hometown in 1921. As a young adult, has embraced the treatment that is offered to them and fully I felt weirdly betrayed to some extent by those who were engage, the results can be phenomenal; I find great reward responsible to guide my high school education and to assure in being a part of the positive change. I see the potential of that I was a well-informed, well rounded individual before each individual and family that appears before me and to be high school graduation. I thought that surely at some point a part of their successes is most fulfilling. in my education in Tulsa, Oklahoma from pre-K to high

school, someone in an Oklahoma History course would have mentioned this terrible event to me.

My discovery of this event in history clarified for me the sentiment of many African Americans. See, I thought the inherent distrust that many African American individuals have was because of historical slavery. I did not know that the root was much more complicated for those that lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma and were aware of the destruction of the Greenwood District, “Black Wall Street.” While my career path was settled well before I became aware of the race massacre, I better understood the interactions between races in my hometown. By becoming a part of a profession where African Americans are under-represented, I could do my part to change the narrative in that regard.

Throughout your work in the law, describe any changes in racism you have noted.

I have always been aware of the race division in Tulsa Oklahoma. I knew the geographical boundaries and the predominant racial makeup of individuals in different areas of the city. I attended public schools and saw the different divisions within those schools— so much in elementary school, but more so in middle school and beyond. My parents taught my siblings and me to be kind to others, pursue our dreams and handle conflict appropriately. I attended school with all races, and within the different racial groups, there were nice and not-sonice children. When I attended law school, I participated in the Black Lawyers Association. There were more non-African American students than African American students. As a practitioner, I realized that disproportionate numbers also transcended into my practice of law.

I was appointed to the bench in February of 2007 as the first African American female judge to be appointed to the district court bench in Tulsa County.

My appointment to the bench held some local historical significance. I found that my friends, family and the larger African American community expressed how proud they were of the appointment. The appointment was also historically significant locally because it exemplified the commitment of the Tulsa County Bench to diversity and inclusion. The media coverage of my appointment not only focused on my qualifications to serve on the bench, but also on the fact that I was appointed as the first African American female to do so.

There’s no question that over the past 14 years that I have served on the Tulsa County bench, the issue of racism has moved further and further to the forefront of social issues that need to be addressed. African Americans in general have been under-represented in many areas of society, and the legal profession is no exception. Racism is being recognized and addressed. Society as a whole has

been required to consider race, and individuals have been urged to engage in self-evaluation of their own part in the equation. Everyone’s story is different, and we hail from different backgrounds and have different experiences. It may be difficult for non-African Americans to appreciate the implicit bias that African Americans face on a daily basis, including within the legal system. It is refreshing to know that many people are no longer turning a blind eye to the issue of race and that the built-in biases are being addressed slowly in many areas of society including the legal community.

What would you recommend for firms or schools to do in order to promote diversity inclusion in the future?

There are many tools that firms and schools can utilize first to determine if racial bias exists within their organization.

I believe that self-evaluation, whether individual or organizational, is a starting point to determine if bias exists. I would encourage firms and schools to take an inventory of their practices in hiring and admitting students to determine whether there are implicit biases in their practices, and then address them. Self-evaluation is a great start to eliminating bias which, in turn, promotes inclusion and diversity.

What can a lawyer, law student, or law school Bar Associations do today to help encourage young persons to be aware and involved in a positive way in diversity issues?

At the risk of sounding redundant, the organizations and individuals can encourage young persons to self-evaluate and address any biases they may have. They can also encourage young people to educate themselves on the reasons why there are diversity issues and why they are seemingly so prevalent today. I believe that if individuals are educated on the necessity of having diversity in firms, schools and the legal profession, they are more inclined to be involved in a positive way.

What are some educational experiences or books you recommend to help others grow or understand?

There are racial justice, diversity workshops and bias trainings offered by different organizations. The Appellate Judges’ Educational Institute offered a roundtable seminar on the issue of racial justice. The Irvin Harris Foundation Professional Development Network has diversityinformed tenets that are available to review. There are several resources available that are relevant to the legal profession.

20 Tulsa Lawyer

Pierre Robertson First Year Attorney

Pierre Robertson is a first year attorney from Cleveland, Ohio. He moved to Tulsa in 2014 with Teach for America and taught fourth-grade for three years. He then went to law school and participated in various activities, serving as President of the Student Bar Association, Tulsa Law Review, American Association for Justice moot court travel team, and a Director on the Public Interest Board, among other organizations. He currently works as a Staff Attorney for the Housing and ReEntry Teams at Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma.

Q&A What is the most rewarding aspect of your legal career?

As cliché as it sounds, helping others. Working in housing during this pandemic, I often see people when they have endured so much before I meet them, and knowing I have a chance to help them is priceless.

Who or what inspired your choice to work in the legal profession?

The ability to help others and to be an advocate for those who could not advocate for themselves. My family had a strong influence as well.

What advice do you share for young persons who want a legal career?

With your parent’s permission, shadow an attorney. Oftentimes people think attorneys are only in the courtroom, but the beautiful aspect of the legal profession is that attorneys can be in both courtrooms and board rooms. By shadowing an attorney, young people can have an idea of what “a day in the life” of an attorney is like and no two days are the same.

What would you recommend for firms or schools to do in order to promote diversity inclusion in the future?

To promote diversity and inclusion, I’d recommend additional programming and funding. Before my legal career, I worked as an elementary school teacher. Bringing my fourth-grade students on field trips was invaluable as they were able to physically touch and experience numerous careers. Bringing students to visit firms and law schools is crucial as it shows them what their potential future could look like. Increasing funding for scholarships is paramount as it can help lower the many barriers to entry.

What can a lawyer, law student, or law school Bar Associations do today to help encourage young persons to be aware and involved in a positive way in diversity issues?

The key is to meet young people where they are and show them why diversity is so important. Most young people don’t wake up in the morning thinking about the importance of diversity. But by showing why diversity and representation matter, may help.

Lawyers and law students can help by volunteering in schools either as mentors or by speaking to a group of students.

This commitment could be once a week or once a semester, but the few hours it would take out of your day could change a student’s life.

Law school bar associations can help by getting young people involved. TU Law annually hosts at least two programs a year where middle and high school students are invited to the law school to participate in a mock trial, tour the law school, and speak with law students. These programs are sponsored by the law school but various organizations such as the Black Law Student Association, Latino Law Student Association, the Student Bar Association, the Public Interest Board, and many others consistently help out.

What are some educational experiences or books you recommend to help others grow or understand?

I highly recommend reading Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. The movie Just Mercy is great, but the book is far more impactful since it covers everything the movie does but also includes additional stories and statistics about the criminal justice system. It references the impact of the criminal justice system on both children and minorities and weaves together the stories of various individuals, showing the impact the system has on a person.

Law Day Fact #1 - In 1957 American

Bar Association president Charles S. Rhyne envisioned a special day for celebrating our legal system.

Tulsa Lawyer 21

Kevinn Matthews Attorney, The Cochran Firm

Tulsa native Kevinn Matthews was recently appointed to lead The Cochran Firm’s expansion into Oklahoma after spending an 11 collective years working for companies like Williams Production and Exploration (The Williams Companies) as In-House Counsel before branching out as a Litigation Attorney with a focus on health and safety issues while managing oil field incident litigation made him into a lawyer set on preventing tragedy. He received his B.S. in Urban and Regional Studies from Cornell University and his J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law. He was an Eric B. Jensen Memorial Scholar.

Kevinn is also a recipient of the Office of Professional Development Service

Q&A What advice do you share for young persons who want a legal career?

My advice is broader in than a legal career, which is just a part of life. I advise them to figure out what they want to accomplish (OBJECTIVES) with regards to: • Family 1st (in good times and bad) • Lifestyle (what type of lifestyle do you want to lead?)

• Career | Definition of Career by Merriam-Webster vs. a job (know the difference)

From a STRATEGY standpoint I tell them to be Firm on Objective and Flexible on Approach (FOFA).

I teach them to gather RESOURCES and organize them with thought as resources guide strategy. For example, the University of Tulsa College of Law Office of Professional Development (OPD) “offers career development services to TU Law students and alumni.”

TIME – I always ask and am surprised by the response to this question “how many hours are there in a week?”

PRIORITIES – Typically a listing of titles provides some guidance (Law Student, review editor, SBA President, son, sibling, tenant, pet owner, ultimate frisbee team captain . . .)

Finally, all the planning in the world does not mean a thing if you do not EXECUTE, which is why the FOFA is so important.

22 Tulsa Lawyer

Award and the James C. Lang Mentoring Award from both the Tulsa County Bar Association and The University of Tulsa College of Law.

Kevinn lives as a cooperative, compassionate, and engaged member of his local and global communities. His commitment to social responsibility and service along with a shared responsibility for the environment make him the consummate citizen. Kevinn recently helped lead the launch efforts of the Buck Colbert Franklin Legal Clinic, which provides legal assistance to residents of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, just as its namesake did before and after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Throughout your work in the law, describe any changes in racism you have noted.

Firms and in-house departments profess to understand that diversity does not mean having a few ethnic or other minorities in the office. There have been strides to improve the culture as to minority lawyers, but much is still needed. There needs to be more participation from all the leaders in the community to create a pathway to excel in the practice of law.

What would you recommend for firms or schools to do in order to promote diversity inclusion in the future?

Promoting diversity requires more than talk and implementation of educational programs that provide members of the legal profession with greater awareness of issues like bias (both explicit and implicit) in the workplace and strategies to eliminate it. Action is required from the leadership down.

Describe the impact of race upon your career?

I realize that there are few Black men in the legal profession, and I work to be an inspiration to some and an excellent lawyer to others.

Law Day Fact #2 - In 1958, President

Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day as a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law.

Tulsa Lawyer 23

Bernadetta Gilbert

Managing Attorney, Department of Human Services/Child Support Q&A What advice would you share for young persons who want a legal career?

For those persons determined to pursue a legal career, I would strongly advise them to seek at least one mentor. Particularly for minorities and women, a strong mentorship program is crucial for legal success. No one would set out on a road trip they had never taken before without driving directions; nor should they embark on this journey without the advice and guidance of someone who has taken it before. An effective mentor encourages the talents and aspirations of her mentee; if you have a mentor who does not do that for you, you should seek another.

Bernadetta Gilbert is the Managing Attorney in the Department of Human Services/ Child Support offices in Washington and Osage Counties.

A lifelong Tulsan, Bernadetta graduated from the University of Tulsa College of Law in May 1997, and landed at her current position after many years in private practice. She believes very strongly that we as a society, must do anything and everything we can to insure that our children not only survive, but thrive. In her spare time, she loves to read, watch sports, travel, and play tennis with friends.

What would you recommend for firms or schools to do in order to promote diversity inclusion in the future?

I would love to see universities make higher education more easily affordable for the entire American middle class, particularly minorities. Removing and/or lessening the economic barriers to college attendance benefits us all in the long run.

A more highly educated workforce makes the country more able to compete in the global economy, leading to a stronger national economy. A person must be able to not only afford to get into college, but also afford to graduate. Far too many students either drop out of college because of the cost or graduate drowning in debt. I think the idea of free community college is a very good one, and would love to see law schools make attendance less expensive.

I think law firms, like all businesses, benefit from a diverse workplace, one that looks more like the country in which we all live. However, true and long-lived diversity is not possible until everyone in the firm is willing to acknowledge that implicit bias is alive and well, as is racial and gender stereotyping. Until these issues are addressed, workplace diversity is not possible.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Black experience in America, I would recommend two books by the same author, Ibram X. Kendi, a professor and director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University. The first is titled How To Be an Anti-Racist and the second, Four Hundred Souls.

Special thanks to the TCBF Law Day Committee for all of their work and many contributions to the celebration of Law Day 2021!

Chair: Lizzie Riter Hon. Dana Kuehn Mary Bundren Robert Redemann 24 Tulsa Lawyer

Hon. Martha Rupp Carter Rodney Buck Daniel Crawford David Tracy

Danny C. Williams, Sr. Partner at Conner Winters

Danny is part of the firm's litigation group. He has extensive experience in commercial litigation particularly in the area of Eminent Domain. Prior to joining the firm Danny served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma from August 2012 until March 2017. During his time as U.S. Attorney, he led several large investigations one of which resulted in the largest indictment in the history of the Northern District.

Q&A What is the most rewarding aspect of your legal career?

I found the most rewarding aspect of my career has been reuniting parents with their children. I represented indigent parents in deprived cases for about 10 years and to help them navigate the system and eventually be reunited with their children was very rewarding.

Who or what inspired your choice to work in the legal profession?

I was inspired by My Great grandfather P.A. Chappelle one the first African American Attorneys in the State of Oklahoma. I was further inspired by my and P.A.’s Grandson, Judge Carlos Chappelle to go to law school and enter into the legal profession.

What advice do you share for young persons who want a legal career?

The advice I give to young people the most is that being a lawyer is an honorable and noble profession. It will allow them to be problem solvers as well as ensure that people’s rights are protection.

Describe the impact of race upon your career?

Throughout my career I have worked in environments where there were very few or no people of color working in that environment. While my race in my opinion has not had a negative effect on my career, the lack of diversity at times has made it a lonely existence.

Law Day Fact #3 - In 1961, Congress designated May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day. This program continues today and has grown to many countries around the globe

Throughout your work in the law, describe any changes in racism you have noted.

As stated above I have not encountered overt racism.

I notice that diversity and inclusion is much more of a focus hiring and maintaining a diverse workforce.

What would you recommend for firms or schools to do in order to promote diversity inclusion in the future?

First, I believe they have to have someone within the organization whose main responsibility is diversity and inclusion. Secondly there has to be intentional actions by the schools and law firms to not only interview diverse candidates but to admit and/or hire people of color (this does not mean reducing the standards for admission or in the hiring process but making an intentional effort to diversify).

What are some educational experiences or books you recommend to help others grow or understand?

I would recommend from Slavery to Freedom by John Hope Franklin (Booker T. Washington Graduate and son of B.C. Franklin)

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The Honorable Tonya N. Wilson Special Judge, 14th Judicial District of Oklahoma Tanya N. Wilson is currently a Special District Judge in Tulsa County. Judge Wilson is a 2002 graduate of the University of Tulsa College of Law. Judge Wilson worked at the Tulsa County District Attorneys Office for over 11 years.

Judge Wilson also was one of the first Case Managers in Juvenile Court for Tulsa County.

Judge Wilson worked as a private attorney specializing in criminal and family law prior to taking the bench. Judge Wilson was appointed as a Special Judge in July 2020.

Q&A What is the most rewarding aspect of your legal career?

Most of my legal career was working in the juvenile system or Crimes against Children division in the District Attorneys Office. The most rewarding aspect of my career was to help a child who is deprived or neglected find a loving home. I have had children thank me for believing them when no one else would. I have had family members thank me for getting justice for their loved one.

Who or what inspired your choice to work in the legal profession? I have always had an interest in the legal

person of color in the DA’s office or in a courtroom.

In those times when a majority of the defendants were African American, I was disappointed at the lack of diversity in the legal representation in the courtroom.

Throughout your work in the law, describe any changes in racism you have noted. For more than 10 years or even

more, we have seen how racial issues have effected our communities and the legal profession. People of color have become more discouraged in the legal system.

People of color no longer believe justice is blind or equally applied when countless examples have shown otherwise. Disparity in sentencing, the war on drugs, failure to prosecute in some unjustified shootings, lack of diversity in the judicial branch have all lead to the lack of confidence in the legal profession.

What would you recommend for firms or schools to do in order to promote diversity inclusion in the future? I

would recommend firms to recruit more from historically black colleges and universities. More importantly, law schools and firms should devote resources within their organizations actually devoted to promoting diversity.

This should include recruitment of attorneys and students from all racial backgrounds. There should also include an effort to work within communities. Many people do not join the legal profession, especially in the area of criminal law, because they do not see lawyers or judges in working in their communities.

What can a lawyer, law student, or law school Bar Associations do today to help encourage young persons to be aware and involved in a positive way in diversity issues? (I would say this is an extension of my answer

profession. Growing up, I admired Thurgood Marshall, Ada Lois Sipuel and all the attorneys who were instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement. I believed to number 6). by becoming a lawyer, I could make a difference in my community as well.

What advice do you share for young persons who want a legal career? My advice to a person beginning a

legal career is to always protect your reputation. Your reputation is more important than any one case or client.

Describe the impact of race upon your career? I cannot

say race has personally had an impact upon my career.

However, there were many times when I was the only

26 Tulsa Lawyer

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Tulsa Lawyer 27

Civil Justice State Legislative Roundup

By Katie Dilks

Though we’re only partway through the 2021 legislative session, many bills have been progressing that could impact the practice of law and access to justice in Oklahoma. This update is accurate as of March 11, the deadline for bills to “cross over” between the House and the Senate – check back in the June issue for an end-of-session recap.

Several bills were introduced this year impacting landlordtenant issues. Three received floor votes and are of particular note: • Senate Bill 200 (authored by Senator Montgomery, and co-authored in the House by Representative Pae) amends and adds language to 41 O.S. 2011 Sections 111 and 113, allowing a victim of domestic violence or stalking to break their lease without penalty by providing notice of a protective order or a police report within 30 days of the incident. The bill would allow landlords to hold the perpetrator of violence civilly liable for economic loss from the lease termination. Moreover, it states that a lease may not limit a tenant’s right to summon a police officer or emergency assistance. SB 200 passed the Senate 45-1 and is being considered by the House.

• House Bill 1950 (authored by Representative Cruz, and co-authored in the Senate by Senator J.J. Dossett) would create a tax credit for the next two years to compensate landlords economically impacted by missed rent due to COVID-19, but only if they did not evict due to nonpayment. The total could not exceed $5 million annually, and an individual taxpayer could not receive more than $1250 from the tax credit annually. HB 1950 passed the House 54-20 and is being considered by the Senate.

• House Bill 1564 (authored by Representative Gann, and co-authored by Senator Stephens) would amend 41 O.S. 2011 Section 131 to require judges entering eviction judgments to immediately order possession to the landlord with no discretion to extend the tenancy (in cases of medical hardship, for example). Additionally, it would allow landlords to apply immediately (rather than after 48 hours) to the local sheriff to enforce possession. The bill 28 Tulsa Lawyer

would set allowable late payment fees at 15% of monthly rent, enforceable in an FED proceeding, and finally states that all provisions in the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act are enforceable even in the event of a catastrophic health emergency. HB 1564 failed the House vote 26-51. However, a motion to reconsider passed, so the bill may reappear next session.

Two bills on domestic and sexual violence are of interest (in addition to SB 200): • House Bill 1028 (authored by Representative Kerbs, co-authored by Senator Weaver) amends 22 O.S. 2011 Section 40.3, Section 60.3, and Section 60.16, requiring peace officers assisting with the filing of a protective or ex parte order to attempt service on the subject of the order and complete a return of service when filing with the court. It also directs the court clerk to accept the petition even if service has not been made, and states that the petition should be given to the appropriate sheriff’s office to obtain service at that point. Finally it states that an emergency protective order is effective until a set hearing date, rather than close of business on the next court day, and that the peace officer must provide a copy of the order (including scheduled hearing date and time) to the victim and defendant. HB 1028 passed the House 89-1 and is being considered by the Senate.

• House Bill 2546 (authored by Representative Munson, co-authored by Senator Floyd) creates the Sexual Assault Victims' Right to Information Act, based on model national legislation. The bill covers many areas, but primarily allows for a sexual assault victim’s advocate to be present at most stages of an interview or investigation (and requires law enforcement to inform a victim about that right). It also states that if a victim chooses to retain counsel, that counsel may be present during all stages of investigation or the legal process. Finally, any forensic evidence collected from a sexual assault victim may not be used to prosecute a victim for a misdemeanor or as

a basis to search for additional evidence of unrelated misdemeanor crimes. HB 2546 passed the House 94-0 and is being considered by the Senate.

Several other bills have also made it halfway through the process, crossing over to the Senate for consideration.

• House Bill 2542 sets the rules for reciprocal admission to the bar back into statute rather than court rule, but does not substantively change them.

• House Bill 1024 limits who can act as a process servers – no one convicted of a violent crime or on the sex offender registry can be a server. It also specifies that assault and battery on a process server is a misdemeanor.

• House Bill 2869 increases judicial compensation setting approximately a 10% increase for appellate judges, and approximately a 40% increase for district and special judges.

• House Bill 2229 adopts the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act, joining 45 other jurisdictions that have already adopted it.

• House Bill 2548 adopts the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, joining 27 other jurisdictions.

• House Bill 1151 would require findings of fact and law to support anything other than equal access and custody in divorce and custody proceedings.

Katie Dilks is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation, which works statewide to increase access to the civil justice system and ensure a fair and accessible legal system for all.

Tulsa Lawyer 29

Command the Courtroom Stage

By Rena Cook

Whether you like it or not, when you're in court you’re in a performance. As a theatre teacher for most of my adult life, I can attest that the lessons we teach actors are directly applicable to the skills a trial attorney needs to be highly successful in the courtroom. The attorney who is comfortable and confident, who uses the voice in expressive ways, making a connection with the jury, client or colleagues, is very likely to have an edge over the less expressive one. Attorney Laura Clark Fey attributes her theatre background with the ease and confidence she has always had in the courtroom. “Even as a fledgling attorney, I knew how to use my voice and body to tell my clients story. All that came from my years as an acting student.”

This article is the first in a series exploring how theatre-based training for the trial attorney can lead to greater ease, confidence, expressivity and connection with the jury. Though a smattering of attorneys have known for years that creative exploration of presentation techniques is a fun and effective way to improve litigation skills, it has recently become even more clear that experiential training offers meaningful and lasting change. In this first article we will address improving the voice through a theatre based curriculum voice. The second article offers insight into how acting techniques can strengthen the effectiveness of storytelling in your openings and closing. Finally, we will share yoga secrets to improve your courtroom performance.

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2013 that “the sound of a speaker’s voice matters twice as much as the content of the message.” In 350 BC, Demosthenes said, when asked the secret to his oratorical greatness, responded, “Delivery, delivery, delivery!” It may seem counter intuitive that how you say it matters more than what you say. Make no mistake, voice matters!

People make judgments about us as soon as we open our mouths, as soon as we utter a word.

Right or wrong, we are found to be educated or not, professional or not, calm and confident or not, hirable or not, believable or not. These assumptions are often formed solely on the quality of our voice and the clarity of our speech.

Voice quality can draw a jury in or push them away. A compelling, authentic and intelligible voice can get a jury on your side. An attorney can lose power and weaken rapport if vocal quality is strident, harsh or nasally. They can sacrifice authority if words are not clear. They can lose credibility if volume is too low or too high; if the rate is too slow or too fast. A disconnect can occur when body language and gesture obscure the message.

In your role as a trial attorney, you will spend multiple hours and many days researching, writing, constructing and rehearsing your argument in order to insure success. Then you hope your voice will automatically come along for the ride. In most cases that is just not what happens.

Knowing a few basics about voice can dramatically improve your performance.

Ridding the body of habituation tension is the first step. Tension anywhere in the body murders the voice. I suggest yoga, dancing or brisk walking with active arms. I have a morning routine I call vocal yoga which gets all the systems firing.

How you stand matters. Easy natural alignment helps the voice function more efficiently.

Breath is the power source of voice. What you hear and understand as human speech sounds is nothing more than disturbed air. If you want a full, authoritative and powerful voice, you need to breathe deeply and centrally. I recommend breathing at each punctuation or thought shift. It slows you down to a pace that the audience can hear and comprehend fully.

Finally, you must make space in your mouth.

Think of your mouth as your megaphone – your

natural, built in amplifier. Compelling, authentic, clear speech comes through a relaxed and open mouth.

Attorney Laurie Koller, my co-author on the book Her Voice in Law, says this of theatre-based voice training, “There was a time when we thought you are either born with a gift for story telling or not. That’s just wrong. Sure, some people are gifted in that area. But others can learn to become fantastic story tellers with practice.”

Rena Cook is Professor Emerita, TEDx speaker, presentation trainer, author of Her Voice In Law published by the ABA. https://www.americanbar. org/products/inv/book/393310705/ Performance Mastery: Command the Courtroom Stage - a Retreat, October 15-17, Rena Cook, Jesse Wilson and Natalie Andrews facilitate this theatre-based training for attorneys. Highly interactive and creative, parciapants will learn ease and confidence in front of the jury, dynamic and authentic presentations, powerful and timeless storytelling techniques from the stage and screen, clarity of body language, ease of vocal clarity and authority and strategies for preparing and presenting winning opening and closing. For details and registration: www.myvocalauthority.com/retreat

Children & the Law Committee Spring Fundraiser The Tulsa County Bar Association Children & the Law Committee is supporting Fostering Connections for its Spring fundraiser (formerly Tulsa Advocates for the Protection of Children TAPC). Fostering Connections provides children placed in relative/kinship foster care immediate access to basic needs. They rely on the generosity of the greater Tulsa community to provide for these needs. With your support, they can continue to provide free resources and stability to children in foster care and their families. Please consider either donating cash or shopping Fostering Connections Amazon wish list to show your support. More information and links to the wishlist can be found by visiting the link below.

https://www.fosteringconnectionsok.org/copy-of-support-an-event Each gift, big or small, monthly or annually, allows Fostering Connections to meet the immediate and ongoing needs of these vulnerable kids.

Stay tuned for details on a Virtual Happy Hour to benefit Fostering Connections coming in May.

Grapevine News

Conner & Winters, LLP, today announced C. Austin Birnie as the firm’s newest partner. Since joining the firm in 2014, Birnie has developed a practice in American Indian/Native American law, which includes litigation on behalf of Tribes in federal, tribal, and state courts, as well as transactional matters with an emphasis on Indian country financings and gaming developments. He also maintains an active general commercial litigation practice, serving clients across a broad range of industries, including banking, energy, and real estate, with a particular focus on trusts and estates disputes. “It is an honor and a privilege to join the ranks of the partnership at Conner & Winters,” said Birnie. “The firm has given me so many generous opportunities to develop as a lawyer. The ability to collaborate with attorneys from our many diverse practice groups has greatly enriched my own practice. This is especially true in our American Indian/Native American group, where I have brought my litigation experience to several high-profile cases, and have expanded my practice into transactional matters such as gaming and tribal financings.

Recently, this work has included coordinating and handling all aspects of a major financing of a new casino resort.” “Austin is such a valued team member in the firm through his American Indian/Native American law and litigation work. He is a highly talented attorney, and we are proud of him,” said Scott Hathaway, president of Conner & Winters. Birnie earned his law degree from the Duke University School of Law in 2014 and received a B.A. cum laude in economics and philosophy from the University of Chicago in 2009. While in law school, he served as lead editor for the Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law, interned for the Honorable Sam Glasscock, Vice Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery, and worked for a boutique firm that specializes in high stakes corporate litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and Delaware Supreme Court.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Tulsa County Bar Association and the Tulsa Opera, and maintains an active membership with the Oklahoma Bar Association and Tulsa County Bar Association.

Following nearly 18 successful years serving with the United States Department of Justice, Trent Shores will join GableGotwals as a shareholder. He will officially start with the Firm on March 29, 2021.

The former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma was the chief federal law enforcement officer responsible for all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation in the Northern District, an area covering 11 counties, including 13 federally 32 Tulsa Lawyer

recognized Indian tribes. In addition, as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Mr. Shores was appointed as Chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee charged with developing and guiding national policy for Indian Country justice. He also served as the National Security Cyber Specialist and worked closely with the Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes and domestic terrorism.

Throughout his career, including during his tenure as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Shores personally tried complex cases in federal district court and argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He has also testified at the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs regarding public safety policies in Indian country, led a presidential task force investigating systemic problems within the Indian Health Service, and negotiated international human rights resolutions at the United Nations.

Mr. Shores is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Indian Law Section, and is admitted to the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

He graduated with a B.A. in political science from Vanderbilt University and received his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma. He is also a graduate of Leadership Tulsa Class 56.

“I am proud to join such a highly esteemed law firm.

GableGotwals’ reputation as a great civic and community partner underscored for me why it was the right fit,” Trent Shores said, “I look forward to using my experience in litigation, Native American law, corporate investigations, and cybersecurity to further enhance the Firm’s offerings. There is no better place to begin the next phase of my legal career.” Dean Luthey, chair of GableGotwals’ Native American and Gaming Practice, said “I am excited to call Trent Shores one of my shareholders and I look forward to working with him. His experience managing government relationships with federally recognized tribes and his work advising on various issues including tribal gaming, white-collar crime, domestic violence, hunting and fishing treaty rights, community policing, and homeland security is a true asset.”

As part of its commitment to enhance diversity within the legal profession, Crowe & Dunlevy has added an externship component to the firm’s Diversity Scholars Program.

The externship opportunity is open to first year law students who are recipients of the firm’s Diversity Scholars Program and is designed to provide practical experience, mentorship and academic credit.

The program is open to students at Oklahoma City University School of Law, the University of Oklahoma College of Law and the University of Tulsa College of Law.

Crowe & Dunlevy’s Diversity Scholars Program also includes scholarships awarded annually to outstanding law

students based on academic achievement, financial need and commitment to the law. Recipients can receive up to $10,000 during their law school tenure based on satisfactory progress and performance. Since the firm’s Diversity Scholars Program was established, more than $250,000 in scholarships have been awarded to exemplary law students.

For more information about the Diversity Scholars Program, visit crowedunlevy.com/about-us/diversity.

Rhodes Hieronymus Jones Tucker and Gable, PLLC announced the addition of Lindsey Kaiser and Curtis Kaiser to the Tulsa location 2 West 2nd Street, Suite 1000, Williams Tower II, Tulsa, OK. Lindsey graduated from the University of Oklahoma Magna Cum Laude with a degree in international business. She received her law degree from the University of Oklahoma college of Law. Lindsey has extensive experience in community association law as well as defense of insurance matters.

Curtis brings with him over 35 years of experience in real estate transactions, real estate title work and community law. During the last 25 years his primary focus has been estate planning, probate and community association law. Curtis has worked closely with developers, boards of directors and property managers serving condominium and neighborhood associations. He is a graduate of the University of Tulsa College of Law. Contact info@rhodesokla.com.

Matlock

Sharrock

Stall

Rhodes Hieronymus Jones Tucker and Gable, PLLC announced the relocation of their Oklahoma City office to 1001 NW 63rd Street, Suite 280, Oklahoma City, OK. With the addition of office space, we welcome Malinda Matlock and Elizabeth Sharrock as Partners and Joseph Stall as an Associate.

Malinda’s experience is diverse in professional Liability (Medical, Legal, A&E, E&O, D&O), Employment Litigation, Sexual Misconduct, Premise Liability, Transportation, Bad Faith Insurance claims and Coverage disputes. She was peer selected as an Oklahoma Super Lawyer for 10+ years and is recognized as one of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.

Elizabeth specializes in professional liability, employment law, premise liability and general civil litigation. She is a 2017 Best Lawyers inductee, serves on the Rockin G Equine Sanctuary

board and makes her home in the Oklahoma City area. Joe Stall, likewise, lives in the Oklahoma City area and is experienced in complex litigation matters, including transportation, product liability, employment, medical negligence and construction.

Contact info@rhodesokla.com.

Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold is pleased to announce that Brian J. Kuester, Emily C. Krukowski, and Samanthia S. Marshall have joined the firm.

Mr. Kuester joins the firm as of counsel. He was admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2000. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Central Missouri (B.S. 1990), and his law degree is from the University of Tulsa College of Law (J.D., with highest honor, 2000). Prior to joining the firm Mr. Kuester had served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma since September 2017. As the district’s top federal law enforcement official he led the law enforcement community in preparation for the unprecedented criminal jurisdiction shift ushered in by the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic McGirt decision. Mr. Kuester will focus his efforts in the areas of education and municipal law and litigation.

Ms. Krukowski joins the firm as of counsel. Ms. Krukowski is licensed to practice in Oklahoma and Missouri. Her undergraduate degree is from Marquette University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2011), and her law degree is from the University of Tulsa College of Law (J.D., with highest honor, 2014). While in law school, Ms. Krukowski served on the Tulsa Law Review as an Articles Research Editor and was inducted into the Order of the Curule Chair. Ms. Krukowski is an active member of the Junior League of Tulsa and the Council Oak/Johnson-Sontag Chapter of the American Inns of Court.

Ms. Krukowski’s practice is focused primarily on research and writing at all stages of litigation in the areas of education, employment, and municipal law.

Ms. Marshall joins the firm as a shareholder and director. She was admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2009 and previously practiced with the firm from 2009 to 2014.

Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Southern California (B.A., cum laude, 2001), and her law degree is from the University of Tulsa College of Law (J.D., with highest honor, 2009). While in law school, Ms. Marshall served as the Editorin-Chief of the Tulsa Law Review. Ms. Marshall has been included in Oklahoma Super Lawyers’ list of “Rising Stars” and in Best Lawyers in America. Ms. Marshall is a graduate of Leadership Tulsa, a past president of The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, and a former board member for the Tulsa Area Human Resources Association. She concentrates her practice on providing daily guidance and litigation support to educational institutions and on representing both public and private employers in all areas of employment law and litigation.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc. presents SPRING CONTINUING EDUCATION TELECASTS FOR OKLAHOMA ATTORNEYS Willing to Handle a Legal Aid Case

“ROLLIN’ WITH THE CHANGES!!!”

Classified Ads Jon Starr

Mediator and Arbitrator Contact DRC for scheduling 918-382-0300

SPECIAL LAW WEEK WEBINAR PRESENTATIONS May 3 - 7, 2021 2:00 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.

Monday through Friday MCLE Credit 6 hours, including 1 hour Ethics Credit To register, go to: http://www.probono.net/ok/cle 1 – Register for the Series 2 – Find your confirmation email, add it to your calendar 3 – Access your calendar, click on link to join the webinar

1:50 p.m.

Please join early for announcements and to be sure you can access

2:00 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. Daily webinar topics: Monday, May 3rd “Housing – Fair Housing Issues and Changes in the FED Docket” Eric Hallett, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Tuesday, May 4th “Changes in the Practice of Family Law, McGirt Impact, Marsy’s Law” Julie Goree, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Wednesday, May 5th “Tax and Consumer Law Changes” Brette Gollihare, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma & Rachel Mathew, Polston Tax Resolution & Accounting Thursday, May 6th “How To Handle the Changes: Ethics During the Quarantine” Richard Stevens, OBA Ethics Counsel Friday, May 7th “Positive Takeaways from the COVID Changes - A View From the Bench” The Honorable Julie Doss; The Honorable Ann Keele,Tulsa County District Court; The Honorable Judge David Smith, Rogers County District Court.

The Judges will discuss your questions as time permits.

Submit questions when you register!

34 Tulsa Lawyer

Tulsa County Bar Center's temporary location while the Bar Center remodel is underway.

1601 S. Main, Suite #300 Tulsa, OK 74119 The Bar Center is closed during renovations. The staff is available to members via phone or email during business hours of Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm 918-584-5243

Resource Page As situations change be sure to visit www.tulsabar.com and follow us on FaceBook

A quick resource with links to press releases and notices for Tulsa County Courts, OSCN, Northern District of Oklahoma, OBA, Dept. of Health, State & District Administrative Orders and more.

Tulsa Municipal Court Judge, Full-Time: The Tulsa City Council is seeking applicants for one, full-time municipal court judge's position. Term: July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2023; continuing service subject to biennial reappointment.

Annual salary: $120,000.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Oklahoma.

• Must be a resident and a registered voter in the City of Tulsa at the time of assuming office.

• Must have been a registered voter and actual resident of Tulsa, Osage or Rogers County for at least six (6) months prior to the date of application.

• Must have had a minimum of two (2) years of experience as a licensed practicing attorney, or as a judge of a court of record, or a combination thereof, with in the State of Oklahoma.

To apply, applications are available for download at www. tulsacouncil.org, or may be requested via email to secretary@ tulsacouncil.org. Completed applications must be received in the Tulsa City Council Office, City Hall Fourth Floor, 175 East Second Street, Tulsa, OK 74103 no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 23, 2021 or they will not be considered.

Questions? Call 918-596-1990.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA COLLEGE OF LAW invites applications for one or more legal writing assistant professor positions to begin August 2021. Areas of teaching may include, though not necessarily limited to, Legal Writing I, Legal Writing II, Legal Writing III. Minimum qualifications include J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school, a strong academic record, and excellent written and oral communication skills. Relevant legal practice experience is preferred. The University of Tulsa College of Law, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, is committed to equality of opportunity in its employment of faculty and staff, without discrimination on the ground of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Members of under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. If you would like to learn more about the College generally, you may visit our website at www.law.utulsa.edu. Please submit a letter of interest, resume, writing sample, and diversity statement to Prof.

Robert Butkin, Chair, Appointments Committee, University of Tulsa College of Law, 3120 E. 4th Place, Tulsa, OK 74104, or email to robert@butkin@utulsa.edu.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA COLLEGE OF LAW invites applications for the Director of Academic Support position. The Director of Academic Support provides programming and activities from 1L orientation through post‐graduation Bar preparation for student academic and professional success. To implement the goals of student success, the Director of Academic Support will work closely with the Associate Dean of Students, administrators and faculty to envision, develop and implement ongoing academic success, time management, and wellness programming for all students, with targeted programs as needed for students. The Director will provide programming for all 1L, 2L and 3L students, which may include, but is not limited to, workshops, programming, one-on-one tutoring, skills labs, mentoring, and/or other support activities that will meet student learning needs and improve student outcomes based on data-driven research. The Academic Support Director will be responsible for the law school’s Bar support and success program, including teaching the required Bar preparation course that students take in their last semester of law school. Minimum qualifications include J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school, excellent communication skills, and relevant experience. The University of Tulsa seeks to recruit and retain talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.

The University of Tulsa is an affirmative action/ equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.

The University does not discriminate on the basis of personal status or group characteristic including, but not limited to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or marital status.

Please submit a cover letter, résumé, diversity statement, contact information for three references to: The University of Tulsa, Office of Human Resources, 800 S Tucker Drive, Tulsa, OK 74104 or submit online at tulsa.edu/job-application . The review of applications will commence immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

The University of Tulsa is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disability/ Veteran.

Tulsa Lawyer 35

2020 - 2021 TCBA CONTACTS, COMMITTEE & SECTION CHAIRS

www.tulsabar.com

PHONE: 918-584-5243 FAX: 918-592-0208 1446 South Boston, Tulsa, OK 74119-3612 Executive Director Tami Williams tamiw@tulsabar.com Ext. 1002

Front Desk Coordinator

General Inquiries

frontdesk@tulsabar.com Ext. 1000

Membership Director Accounting CLE, Sections & Committees accounting@tulsabar.com Lisa Laughrey Ext. 1001 lisal@tulsabar.com Lawyer Referral & Community Resource Navigator Jeril Haug jerilh@tulsabar.com Ext. 1003

Tulsa Lawyer Editor - Michael Taubman michael@tulsafirm.com Associate Editor - Milly Dunlap Tulsa Lawyer Submissions - tulsabarnews@yahoo.com

TCBA OFFICERS

President................................................................ Kimberly Moore Past President.........................................................

Jim Milton President-Elect............................................................ Kara Vincent Vice President.......................................................... Philip D. Hixon Secretary..................................................................... Natalie Sears Treasurer................................................................. Mike Esmond Budget/Internal Operations........................................ Lisa Creveling Foundation President ...........................................Christina Vaughn Director at Large (1) Large Firm................................. Philip Hixon Director at Large (2) Large Firm.......................... C. Austin Birney Director at Large (1) Medium Firm................................ Kara Pratt Director at Large (2) Medium Firm.................. Jennifer L. Struble Director at Large (1) Small Firm...........................Tamera Childers Director at Large (2) Small Firm...........................Linda Morrissey Director at Large (2) Public Sector.........................Hon. Ann Keele ABA Delegate............................................................. Molly Aspan OBA Delegate................................................................Rick White Library Trustee (1)......................................................... Julie Evans Library Trustee (2)............................................

Trisha Archer Presiding Judge ..................................... Judge William LaFortune U.S. District Court .................................. Hon. John Dowdell C.J., Tulsa Municipal Court............................. Hon. Gerald Hofmeister TU Law School.......................................................... Rachel Baker

FOUNDATION APPOINTMENTS

Law Day ......................................................................Lizzie Riter Community Outreach................................................ Ashley Webb Golf Chair.......................................Trisha Archer & Brian Keester Scholarship Chair.....................................................................TBD Submission, Grapevine & AdvertisingVisit www.tulsabar.com Subscriptions to Tulsa Lawyer are available for $40.00 a year to those who are not Tulsa County Bar Association members or others who do not currently receive the publication.

Contact Lisa Laughrey at llaughrey@tulsabar.com

FOUNDATION

President...........................................................Christina M.Vaughn Treasurer..................................................................... Philip Hixon Trustee....................................................................... Chad McLain Trustee.......................................................................... Jim Gotwals Trustee.................................................... Hon. Martha Rupp Carter Trustee....................................................................... Ken Williams Trustee...........................................................................Lizzie Riter Trustee...........................................................

Hon. Ann Keele Trustee..........................................................................Justin Munn TCBA President.....................................................Kimberly Moore TCBA Pres. Elect........................................................Kara Vincent

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

Access to Justice.............................................. ......Shena Burgess Access to Justice Co-Chair...............................Hon. Tanya Wilson Animal Law..................................................... ..........Katy Inhofe Bench & Bar.................................................... Kevinn Matthews Children & the Law......................................... ........Lizzie Riter Children & the Law Vice Chair..........Timothy Michaels-Johnson CLE ................................................................. .........James Asbill Diversity Development......................................................Ben Fu Diversity Co-chair...................................................Deborah Reed Fee Arbitration................................................. ..........Gary Crews Law Related Education...................................Stephanie Jackson Law Related Education Co-Chair.................... ........Ron Jones , II Lawyer Referral............................................... Catherine Hoopert Membership Services....................................................Kara Pratt Mentoring......................................................... ........Randy Lewin Military/Veterans ............................................. ...Mitchell Garrett Military/Veterabs Co-Chair.............................. Hon. David Guten Nominations & Awards.................................... ...........Jim Milton Pro Bono............................................................... Mac Finlayson Professionalism................................................ ...........Rick White Public Relations....................................................Steve Layman Social Media.........................................................Collaborative Special Events.................................................. .......Natalie Sears Tulsa Lawyer.................................................... Michael Taubman Young Lawyers Division................................. ....Ephraim Alajaji

SECTION CHAIRPERSONS

ADR/Mediation..........................................................Melissa Fell Bankruptcy....................................................... ........Paul Thomas Business/Corporate.......................................... ..............................

Criminal Law................................................... ........Daniel Levy Employment Law............................................. ...Kassidy Quinten Energy & Mineral Law.................................... .......Ryan Pittman Family Law...................................................... ...Todd Alexander Health Law ...................................................... ..... Kristen Evans Health Law Vice Chair..................................... Whitney Dockrey Immigration Law Chair.................................... ....Whitney Webb Juvenile Law.................................................... ..........Lizzie Riter Juvenile Law Co-Chair.......................Timothy Michaels-Johnson Litigation Co-Chairs...............Robert Mitchener & Robert Winter Municipal Law................................................David Weatherford Paralegals/Legal Assistants.............................. .........Gloria Jones Paralegal /Legal Assistants Vice Chair............ Deborah Gresh Probate/Estate/Elder......................................... ...Catherine Welsh Solo/Small Firm............................................... .....................TBD Tax ......................................................... .....Ashlee Crouch Technology ...................................................Pansy Moore-Shrier Workers Comp................................................. ............................ * Section Chairs will be updated as positions are filled.

Tulsa Lawyer is a monthly publication of the TCBA. The TCBA does not necessarily share or endorse the opinions expressed in the materials published. The views are those of thoughtful contributors. Similarly, advertising does not imply endorsement by the TCBA of products or services or any statements concerning them.

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