Vol. 6 No. 16 | April 22, 2026
Courts
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
- 2026 OK 24: GANN v. STATE OF OKLAHOMA, et al.
Court of Criminal Appeals
- 2026 OK CR 15: STATE v. RUSSELL
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
From the April Bar Journal | Advising Oklahoma Businesses Under Existing Corporate Law in the Age of AI
"Oklahoma businesses are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence tools in their ordinary business operations. As a result, corporate lawyers must be equipped to advise clients when they inevitably ask, 'There are no AI provisions in the OGCA – what do we do?' Although Oklahoma has not yet adopted AI-specific legislation under the Oklahoma General Corporation Act (OGCA), the existing statutory and jurisprudential framework governing corporations provides sufficient guidance for advising Oklahoma companies on the lawful use of AI in relation to corporate governance, contract law and fiduciary duties. This article explains how Oklahoma lawyers can utilize the existing framework to provide responsible advice to clients during the AI era."
From the April Bar Journal | Berk v. Choy and Anti-SLAPP Statutes
"When Harold Berk fell out of bed during a trip to Delaware and ended up with a severely deformed ankle after an alleged botched hospital visit, he probably did not imagine that his malpractice lawsuit would become a vehicle for the U.S. Supreme Court to reiterate one of its most consequential principles about the nature of federal civil procedure. In Berk v. Choy, the Supreme Court held that Delaware’s 'affidavit of merit' requirement for medical malpractice lawsuits is inapplicable in federal court. Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s opinion is a study in unassuming simplicity; it is the kind of judicial writing that seems almost obvious in retrospect, until one realizes how much it likely, quietly, forecloses. But such is the irony and drama inherent in life. Again, on a seemingly unassuming day, a man fell out of his bed somewhere in Delaware, but the butterfly effect of that fall, this article contends, will likely reverberate in diversity jurisdiction cases in federal courts across America for years to come."
Don't Miss Herb Rubenstein at the Midyear Conference
The OBA welcomes attorney and PGA professional Herb Rubenstein as a featured speaker at the OBA Midyear Conference. He will speak during a plenary session on Thursday, June 18, on "Lawyering in the Here, Now and Tomorrow." Mr. Rubenstein's presentation is sponsored by Phillips Murrah.
Mr. Rubenstein is an attorney and the author of numerous books on the legal profession, leadership and business. He has taught courses on AI, negotiation, ethics, change management and leadership at several universities and online for organizations and has been an AI, ethics and organizational strategy consultant to law firms, nonprofit and educational organizations, government agencies and companies. He became a professional golfer at the age of 65 and was elected to the PGA when he was 67.
You won't want to miss Mr. Rubenstein and many other great speakers during this year's conference, held June 17-19 at the OKANA Resort! You can get all your MCLE for the year during the conference.
Don't forget, you can also apply for a scholarship to attend the Midyear Conference! These scholarships cover the cost of registration, including meals and events, and are sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Foundation and our Premium Sponsor, Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Co. Applications are due May 1.
Bar Foundation News | Retaining Experienced Court Reporters
"The Oklahoma Bar Foundation is proud to announce a new grant program beginning this year that will aid court reporters who live and work in Oklahoma. The exodus of court reporters from our state is creating a crisis in access to justice. This grant is designed to address that crisis, helping retain Oklahoma’s court reporters.
Along with much of the nation, Oklahoma is already facing a critical long-term shortage of court reporters – their number has declined dramatically in the last decade. Many are leaving as they reach retirement age; at the same time, the number of students enrolling in court reporting school every year is plummeting. For instance, nationwide, over 1,100 reporters are retiring every year, while only 200 new reporters are joining the field. The decline is acutely felt in rural Oklahoma. Twenty-five of the 77 Oklahoma counties have no court reporters on staff at all, and in one rural area, only one reporter is covering up to five counties, according to Tonya Reynaert, an official court reporter for the state of Oklahoma."
Celebrate Law Day | Sign Up To Volunteer!
On Friday, May 1, join us for the national and statewide celebration of Law Day! Lawyers across Oklahoma are encouraged to volunteer with their local bar associations. To find out what Law Day events are happening in your area, contact your county's Law Day chairperson or your county bar president. The OBA Law Day asks 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. If you are planning another type of event to celebrate, such as a luncheon, a CLE, an in-person legal clinic, an art contest or any other Law Day initiative, please let us know by emailing haileyb@okbar.org.
Featured CLE
Judges Are Running Out of Patience With AI-Caused Lawyer Mistakes
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason A. Robertson, who will speak on the ethics of AI at the Midyear Conference
For more than two years, courts have warned lawyers that artificial intelligence can be a useful tool, but it is not a substitute for professional judgment. Recent decisions suggest many judges have reached a new stage of frustration: They are tired of seeing lawyers submit inaccurate research, fabricated citations and unchecked AI-generated work products.
This month, a federal judge in Indiana sharply criticized an attorney’s use of AI-generated material in litigation against Walmart, describing the conduct as a “perilous shortcut.” The court emphasized a point that should now be obvious to every practitioner: Lawyers remain responsible for every authority cited and every argument presented, regardless of how the draft was created.
The frustration is not limited to the United States. Australia’s federal court recently issued formal guidance after repeated problems involving false citations and unreliable AI-generated filings. Lawyers are now expected to verify authorities, understand the limits of the tools they use and disclose certain AI use when appropriate.
Taken together, these developments send a clear message: Judges are no longer interested in hearing that “the AI made a mistake.” Courts expect competence. They expect diligence. They expect lawyers to know whether the authorities in a brief actually exist.
That expectation should not surprise Oklahoma lawyers.
Late last year, I wrote in the Oklahoma Bar Journal about an order from U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason A. Robertson and the lessons it offered regarding AI, advocacy and professional courage. The key takeaway from that matter was not simply about new technology. It was about trust. Courts rely on lawyers to present accurate law and truthful representations, and that duty does not change because a chatbot was involved. If anything, the recent national headlines only reinforce the importance of Judge Robertson’s message.
Oklahoma lawyers will soon have an opportunity to hear directly from Judge Robertson at the OBA Midyear Conference, where he will be speaking on "Ethics of AI: Optional Technology. Mandatory Integrity." It is a timely topic and one every lawyer should take seriously.
Artificial intelligence may help produce a draft. It may speed up research. It may improve efficiency. But it cannot exercise judgment, verify a citation or protect a lawyer’s reputation. That part is still our job.
Register now for the OBA Midyear Conference at www.okbar.org/midyear/.
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.