Vol. 6 No. 31 | Aug. 5, 2026
Courts
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
No published opinions this week.
Court of Criminal Appeals
- 2026 OK CR 19: MEEKS v. STATE OF OKLAHOMA
Court of Civil Appeals
- 2026 OK CIV APP 26: ARNOLD et al. v. OKLAHOMA TAX COMMISSION
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
August Bar Journal Now Online
The Oklahoma Bar Journal is back after a short summer break! The August issue is now available online and focuses on legal potpourri, featuring articles on hearsay in family law matters, Oklahoma's Trust Code, insurance law, negligence per se claims and more. The August issue also features information about the 2026 OBA Annual Meeting, 2027 Board of Governors vacancies and YLD leadership elections. Check it out!
FEATURES
The Use and Abuse of Hearsay in Family Law Matters
By Jessica Tueller and Monica Dionisio
What Trustees Need to Know About Oklahoma’s New Trust Code: Key Changes and Practical Applications
By Amanda Swain
Why We Are All Insurance Lawyers
By Paul Kouri
Tax Stamp as Drug Law in Action
By Kat Albrecht, Corey Boyd, Samuel Galoob and Stephen Galoob
Reservation Realities: Oklahoma Taxation of Tribal Members Post-McGirt Under Stroble and New Challenges to Tribal Sovereignty Including Hunting and Fishing Regulation
By Jeff D. Trevillion Jr. and Mike McBride III
Objective Versus Subjective Standards in Negligence Per Se: How To Craft Viable Negligence Per Se Claims and How to Challenge Improper Claims
By William “Alex” Orr
From the Chief Justice | America's 250th Anniversary
"On July 4, 1776, Thomas Jefferson’s powerful words became the blueprint of America’s promise:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
This year marks our nation’s Semiquincentennial – the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I recently visited Independence Hall in Philadelphia and stood in the very room where the Declaration of Independence was signed. I was reminded that at the time it was written, the ideals of the Declaration of Independence were not fully realized. The Declaration of Independence reflected a promise of what America would become."
Big Changes Ahead for OBA CLE
"Over the past year, the CLE Department has been listening closely to our members. We're excited to share two changes that reflect that feedback, along with a straightforward update on pricing.
LIVE CHAT IS COMING TO LIVE WEBCASTS
One of the most consistent requests we've heard from members is the ability to interact during live webcast programming: to ask questions in real time, get quick clarifications from speakers, and engage with the material as it's happening, rather than after the fact.
We heard you. Starting Sept. 15, live chat will be available for all live webcast CLE programs. This feature will let attendees submit questions and comments directly during the presentation, giving speakers the chance to address them live and giving attendees a more dynamic, engaged learning experience, even from behind a screen. This has been one of the top items on our members' wish list, and we're proud to say it's no longer a request. It's a rollout date.
A NEW COLLABORATION EXPANDS WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO YOU
We're also pleased to announce a new collaboration with Berkeley Law School that will give OBA members access to a broader library of CLE programming beyond what our department produces in-house. This means more variety, more perspectives, and more flexibility in how members meet their continuing education requirements."
Submit Nominating Petitions for
2027 YLD Leadership by Aug. 14
The 2027 OBA YLD leadership election season is here! Dedicated young lawyers are encouraged to participate in elections. Article 5 of the division bylaws requires that any eligible member wishing to run for office must submit a nominating petition to the Nominating Committee. The petition must be signed by at least 10 members of the OBA YLD and must be submitted by Friday, Aug. 14, at 5 p.m. A separate petition must be filed for each opening, except a petition for a directorship shall be valid for one-year and two-year terms and at-large positions. A person must be eligible for division membership for the entire term for which elected.
All OBA members in good standing who were admitted to the practice of law 10 years ago or less are members of the YLD. Membership is automatic – if you were first admitted to the practice of law in 2016 or later, you are a member of the OBA YLD.
DEADLINE
Nominating petitions, accompanied by a photo and bio of 350 words or less for publication in the Oklahoma Bar Journal, must be sent to lrtalbert@gmail.com no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. Results of the election will be announced at the YLD meeting at the OBA Annual Meeting Nov. 11-13 at the Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City.
Benefits in Brief | OBA Management Assistance Program
Your OBA membership includes access to practice management and technology assistance. Get answers about technology issues, time management, law office software and more from the OBA Management Assistance Program! Members get free over-the-phone information about technology issues and management, as well as a free 45-minute consultation for those setting up a new practice or in need of a more detailed discussion.
Featured CLE
The First Call Matters, and So Does the Next One
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
Lawyers often think about client communication as something that begins after the lawyer is hired. But for a prospective client, it begins with the first telephone call to the office.
People looking for a lawyer frequently call several law offices. If they reach voicemail, an automated menu, or a phone that simply rings, they may not leave a message. They may just call the next lawyer on their list. The first office where they reach a helpful live person often has a significant advantage, and the other lawyers may never know they lost a potential client.
Once someone becomes a client, communication takes on even greater importance. Every year, around 40% of the OBA’s formal grievances against lawyers involve allegations of neglect. Some involve a genuine failure to act, but many are caused or made worse by poor communication. When clients cannot get a return call or learn what is happening, silence can easily be mistaken for neglect.
Rule 1.4 of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct requires lawyers to keep clients reasonably informed, promptly comply with reasonable requests for information and explain matters sufficiently for clients to make informed decisions. Even when there is no real news, a short update can help: Nothing has changed, this is what we are waiting for, and this is when you can expect to hear from us again.
Take a few minutes to consider communication from both perspectives. What happens when a prospective client calls your office? Once someone hires you, do they know how and when they will receive updates? Simple communication systems can improve the client experience, preserve trust and support the delivery of quality legal services.
For more practical suggestions, see Attorney at Work’s Client Communications Checklist for Law Firms.
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.