Vol. 6 No. 15 | April 15, 2026
Courts
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
- 2026 OK 22: BETTS V. TOYOTA, et al.
Court of Criminal Appeals
- 2026 OK CR 14: MCKELVY v. STATE
Court of Civil Appeals
No published opinions this week.
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
Business & Corporate Law | Recent Developments for Corporations in Delaware and Their Implications
"The Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL) allows immense freedom for a business to adopt the most appropriate terms for the organization, finance and governance of its enterprise. To keep it current and maintain its national preeminence, in 2025, the Delaware Legislature enacted two significant amendments to the DGCL: Senate Bill 21 and Senate Bill 95.
Although there have not been corresponding updates in Oklahoma, Delaware’s developments merit close attention due to their direct impact on Oklahoma corporations incorporated in Delaware. Even for entities not incorporated there, Delaware law remains influential, as the Oklahoma Supreme Court has acknowledged the similarities between the two jurisdictions and frequently cites Delaware decisions as persuasive authority in the absence of binding precedent. Notably, certain provisions of Senate Bill 21 are currently under review by the Delaware Supreme Court, a topic this article examines in detail later. The court’s interpretation could significantly influence how the law is applied going forward."
Law Practice Tips | What to Expect at the OBA Midyear Conference
"The OBA Midyear Conference is set to take place at the OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City, welcoming attorneys from all corners of the state for three days. The conference will be filled with engaging educational sessions, meaningful discussions and opportunities to strengthen professional relationships. Attendees will have the chance to connect with colleagues, share experiences and build networks that can support their legal practice well beyond the conference.
Although networking is a hallmark of any legal conference, the core focus of the Midyear Conference lies in its robust educational offerings. This year’s program is thoughtfully designed to address the swiftly changing landscape of the legal profession, providing attendees with the latest insights on pressing topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, enhancing client experience, ongoing professional development and improving access to justice. Through a variety of sessions, participants will gain practical knowledge and tools to help navigate new challenges and opportunities in their daily practice, ensuring they remain at the forefront of innovation and ethical responsibility."
Young Lawyers Division | February Bar Examinees Fueled by Snacks and Solidarity
"As all in our profession likely remember, there are few rites of passage more humbling than the bar exam. It is two days of intense focus, carefully calibrated anxiety and the sudden realization that you now have a love-hate relationship with No. 2 pencils.
This February, 132 aspiring attorneys anxiously sat for the bar exam in Oklahoma. And while they may have arrived armed with cautious optimism, they didn’t walk in alone. Thanks to the OBA Young Lawyers Division, each test taker received a thoughtfully assembled bar exam kit – part survival pack, part stress relief, part silent cheerleader."
February 2026 Bar Exam Results
The results of the February 2026 bar exam have been posted by the Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners. Of the 106 applicants who took the exam, 55 passed, a 52% passage rate. The posted list of results includes everyone who has met all requirements to be admitted to the bar. A swearing-in ceremony for new admittees will be held Friday, April 24, at 10 a.m. in the House chambers at the Oklahoma state Capitol.
The OBA Remembers: April 19, 1995
Our state and nation were forever changed on April 19, 1995. As we mark another year since the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing, we remember the Oklahoma Bar Association members who were lost that day. Thank you to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum for allowing the OBA to publish these tributes and photos that are part of the museum’s collection.
Celebrate Law Day! Submit Your County Bar Law Day Information
The national and statewide celebration of Law Day is Friday, May 1. The OBA Law Day Committee encourages every county bar to join our efforts and plan its own Law Day events – whether it’s coordinating student visits to the courthouse or giving free legal advice for at least one hour. The goodwill generated for the profession by offering this community service makes the effort worthwhile, regardless of the number of activities or calls received.
If your county will be answering calls as part of Ask A Lawyer, please take a moment today to provide your Ask A Lawyer information, including the phone number, using this short form.
Featured CLE
Technology Won’t Fix a Broken Billing Process
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
Every year at ABA TECHSHOW, one of the most entertaining and surprisingly insightful events happens before the sessions begin. The Startup Alley competition gives legal tech companies just three minutes to pitch their ideas to a room full of lawyers, who then vote on the winner.
This year’s winner, CollBox, caught my attention. Evidently, I wasn’t alone: CollBox’s pitch resonated strongly with the audience as well, earning enough votes to secure the top spot in Startup Alley. Their approach to tackling persistent billing challenges struck a chord with many lawyers in the room, highlighting just how widespread and urgent these issues are in legal practice.
Lawyers do not like calling clients about unpaid bills.
It is uncomfortable. It strains the relationship. And, more often than not, it gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list until those receivables start to age … and age … and eventually get written off.
CollBox’s solution is simple in concept. They act as a third party, intervening before accounts are sent to collections, and follow up with clients through emails and calls. The goal is to be persistent but professional, helping firms get paid without the lawyer having to make that awkward call.
For some firms, especially those with a steady volume of billed work and aging receivables, this could be a helpful tool. It creates consistency, removes emotion from the process and may improve cash flow.
But before you outsource this function, it is worth pausing for a moment.
In many cases, the problem is not collections. It is the system leading up to it.
I often see:
- unclear billing expectations at intake
- infrequent or delayed invoicing
- a lack of evergreen retainers
- no automated reminders
- no clear process for addressing overdue accounts
If those pieces are not in place, outsourcing collections may help temporarily, but it will not solve the underlying issue.
For most solo and small firm lawyers, the better first step is to tighten up billing practices: set expectations early, bill regularly, make it easy for clients to pay and follow up consistently.
Once those systems are working, a service like CollBox may make sense as an additional layer of support, particularly for firms with enough volume to justify the cost.
The takeaway from Startup Alley is not just about a specific product. It is a reminder that many of the frustrations lawyers experience in practice management are shared and that new tools are being developed to address them.
Just make sure the tool is supporting a solid system in the first place.
The Oklahoma Bar Journal is a publication of the Oklahoma Bar Association. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2026 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.