Courts and More: Nov. 3, 2021

Vol. 1 | No. 44 | November 3, 2021

Oklahoma Supreme Court

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.

Click for Calendar

Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals

Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals

Dispositions Other than by Published Opinions

Annual Meeting Highlights

The OBA’s Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program is sponsoring the Wellness Matters program on Thursday, Nov. 11, during the Annual Meeting. With a special focus on wellness, mental health and substance abuse, attendees will discover best practices for self-care while earning three hours of Ethics MCLE credit. The cost of this program is included in the $25 registration fee.

• Judge Kenneth M. Stoner, Oklahoma County District Court
• Rhiannon Baker, Holden Litigation, Tulsa
• Scott B. Goode, Military Law Group, Tulsa

“My Mental Health Story”

He calls it his “lucky mental illness.” Read OBA member Tom Hird’s essay in the November Oklahoma Bar Journal.

“I came out of the mental illness closet earlier this year in a talk I gave to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. A co-worker told me I was brave, but considering I was diagnosed with manic depression (bipolar disorder) in 1984 and am just now talking about it in public, I feel the opposite.”

Register for “Every Lawyer” Annual Meeting

The most important association business of the year takes place Friday morning – OBA award presentations, updates from judicial and OBA leaders and elections. See the Bar Business page of the Annual Meeting website, and click the links below for more information.

2021 Title Examination Standards Rules of OBA House of Delegates (Redline)

November Ushers in New Oklahoma Laws

“Since lawyers are in the business of the law, each new law is important, and staying informed in changes in the law is incumbent to remain professionally competent. The OBA takes very few positions, if any, on pending legislation. However, bills throughout the session are monitored so members can be aware of potential or actual changes in the law,” said Williams.

Helpful links:

Oklahoma Bar Foundation | Trustee Nominations Announced

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 2 of the Bylaws of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation (OBF), the following OBF members have been nominated by the 2021 Nominating Committee to serve as Trustees: Brett Morton, Ardmore, for a first three-year term and Eddie Valdez, Lawton, for a first three-year term.

Any group of twenty-five or more Partners for Justice (formerly Fellows) may submit the name of a member of the Foundation as an additional nominee, by submitting a petition duly signed by said Partners and submitted to the OBF Executive Committee on or before November 10, 2021. Nominating petitions can be mailed to Renee DeMoss, Executive Director, Oklahoma Bar Foundation, P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036, or delivered to 1901 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK  73105-4901.

NOTICE OF HEARING ON THE PETITION FOR REINSTATEMENT
OF SIDNEY WADE JONES, SCBD # 7126
TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION

Notice is hereby given pursuant to Rule 11.3(b), Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings, 5 O.S., ch. 1, app. 1-A, that a hearing will be held to determine if Sidney Wade Jones should be reinstated to active membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Any person desiring to be heard in opposition to or in support of the petition may appear before the
Professional Responsibility Tribunal at the Oklahoma Bar Center at 1901 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 9:30 a.m. on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021. Any person wishing to appear should contact Gina Hendryx, General Counsel, Oklahoma Bar Association, P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152, telephone (405) 416-7007.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TRIBUNAL

LawPay Launches “Buy Now, Pay Later” Option

By Jim Calloway, Director
Management Assistance Program

Dru Armstrong has been CEO of LawPay for just a few months and it was a pleasure to meet her when we interviewed her for our Digital Edge podcast: A Conversation with LawPay’s CEO – and Introducing ClientCredit. She was fun, engaging and it clearly wasn’t her first rodeo as far as being interviewed. Armstrong covered a lot of topics, but she was most excited about introducing ClientCredit, a “buy now, pay later” financing option to be rolled out next year. Clients who are unable to pay a retainer or a larger bill, will have a quick option to finance the payment, allowing the client to stretch out their payments over time while the lawyers receive their fees now. Certainly, after the last year and a half, most lawyers are convinced of the benefits allowing clients to make electronic payments. Listen to Dru discussing this new “buy now, pay later” option and many other aspects of managing digital financial transactions.

As most lawyers reading this are probably aware, LawPay has been providing payment processing services to the legal profession for a long time and is an OBA member benefit. They have many offerings related to lawyers getting paid. Even non-subscribers can get some great forms from LawPay’s Resources Center.