Vol. 5 No. 43 | Oct. 22, 2025
Courts
- 2025 OK CR 19: BERTRAND v. STATE
- 2025 OK CIV APP 33: IN THE MARRIAGE OF: SKOCH v. SKOCH
- 2025 OK CIV APP 34: SPEAKE LAND HOLDINGS, LLC v. COLBERT, et al.
Dispositions Other than by Published Opinions
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma Court Calendar
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma is in session year round, unless otherwise noted. The court regularly schedules conferences on Mondays and other days as needed.
Member Transitions
More
The 121st OBA Annual Meeting will be held Nov. 6-7 at the Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel. The deadline to reserve your room has been extended to Friday, Oct. 24. Be sure to book now to get the discounted room rate. Space is limited!
TWO WAYS TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION
By Phone: Call 1-800-325-3535 and give the operator the group code: FI4 Oklahoma Bar Association
Online: Click to book your group rate for the Oklahoma Bar Association
Tulsa sports broadcaster Kevin Ward will join us as the guest speaker during the 2025 Delegates Breakfast on Friday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 a.m., held during the Annual Meeting.
Mr. Ward serves as the program director for The Sports Animal in Tulsa and ESPN Tulsa for Stephens Media Group. Currently, Mr. Ward voices the weekday hourly sports updates on The Sports Animal in Tulsa and hosts the weekly high school football preview show and scoreboard show each Friday. He also produces the podcast Suit Up, airing every Sunday morning on The Sports Animal in Tulsa and streaming on www.suitup611.com.
The cost for the Delegates Breakfast is $40 for nondelegates and alternates. This event is free for delegates. Use the code DELEGATE2025 when registering. The deadline to register is Oct. 29.
"On Feb. 14, 2023, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued a decision in Duarte-Gonzalez, holding that the three- and 10-year unlawful presence bars can continue to run while a noncitizen is inside the United States.
THE THREE- AND 10-YEAR UNLAWFUL PRESENCE BARS
Under §212(a)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), certain individuals who accrue unlawful presence in the U.S., depart and then apply for admission are subject to penalties known as the three- and 10-year unlawful presence bars. These grounds of inadmissibility apply to three classifications of individuals: 1) individuals who remain inside the U.S. past the expiration of their authorization, 2) individuals who entered without inspection and 3) individuals who knowingly made a false claim of citizenship to obtain permission to enter the U.S."
"Across Oklahoma, children facing abuse, neglect and trauma are navigating some of the most complex moments of their young lives. In these moments, having someone who listens, advocates and accurately speaks on their behalf can make all the difference. The Oklahoma Bar Foundation invests in programs designed to protect these voices, ensuring that children involved in the justice system are supported in courtrooms, counseling sessions and community spaces where critical decisions about their futures are made.
Through IOLTA grants, the OBF funds organizations that combine legal advocacy, therapeutic care and education to safeguard children’s rights and well-being. Canadian County CASA and The CARE Center are two outstanding examples of how funding provides essential support to the most vulnerable members of our communities."
"As we look ahead to 2026, the Oklahoma Bar Association invites you to make a meaningful impact by joining one of our many volunteer committees. There’s no better time than the present to connect, contribute and grow. Join your fellow lawyers in serving on an OBA committee to help shape the future of the legal profession.
With more than 20 active committees to choose from, different opportunities and connections are waiting for you. Whatever your passion, there’s a committee that needs your voice and perspective. This is your chance to get involved with the OBA, meet new lawyers and make a difference in your community.
From promoting access to justice and legal education to supporting lawyers facing personal challenges, OBA committees are making a difference. You’ll also build your professional network and work on meaningful projects that align with your values.
Ready to get involved? Look at the committee list and sign up at www.okbar.org/committees/committee-sign-up. Appointments for 2026 will be made soon, so don’t wait!"
If you are looking for ways to give back, the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Program is seeking volunteers for the upcoming year. This program affords an excellent opportunity to be involved in a rewarding and fun learning experience for Oklahoma's high school students, but it is not possible without volunteers!
There are many opportunities to volunteer. You could serve as a scoring panelist, an attorney coach, a presiding judge or a trial site coordinator. There are also opportunities for serving on the Mock Trial Committee, helping with skills clinics or helping prepare the state championship team.
Contact Program Coordinator Mike Horn by Nov. 15 to volunteer.
Featured CLE
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
I recently heard from a local attorney who discovered her email address was being spoofed. Other Oklahoma lawyers began receiving messages that looked like they came from her, with subject lines like, “Here’s the attachment I wanted to share with you.” Hopefully, no one clicked on the attachment.
This type of scam is becoming more common. Cybercriminals know that lawyers are more likely to open emails from other members of the bar. By impersonating a familiar name, they create a false sense of trust that can lead to stolen credentials or malware.
If you receive an unexpected email from another lawyer, especially one that contains an attachment or link, pause before opening it. Here are a few ways to protect yourself and your firm:
- Hover before you click. Check the sender’s full email address. Spoofed addresses often contain subtle misspellings or extra characters.
- Verify directly. If something seems off, pick up the phone or send a new message (not a reply) to confirm the lawyer actually sent it.
- Don’t download attachments or click links unless you’re expecting them.
- Report the attempt. Let your IT provider or firm administrator know immediately so they can block the domain or take other preventive steps.
- Educate your staff. A quick reminder at a staff meeting can prevent a data breach.
Incidents like this highlight the importance of staying up-to-date with technology and its potential risks within the legal profession. Understanding how email spoofing works and ensuring your team can spot it helps safeguard sensitive client information and reinforces your commitment to professional standards.
If your address is ever spoofed, notify your contacts and local bar associations so others are aware. Even the most tech-savvy lawyers can be targets. A moment’s hesitation before clicking can save hours of cleanup later.
The Oklahoma Bar Journal is a publication of the Oklahoma Bar Association. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2025 Oklahoma Bar Association. Statements or opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff. Although advertising copy is reviewed, no endorsement of any product or service offered by any advertisement is intended or implied by publication. Advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their ads, and the OBA reserves the right to edit or reject any advertising copy for any reason. Legal articles carried in The Oklahoma Bar Journal are selected by the Board of Editors. Information about submissions can be found at www.okbar.org.