Vol. 6 No. 7 | Feb. 18, 2026
Courts
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
No published opinions this week.
Court of Criminal Appeals
No published opinions this week.
Court of Civil Appeals
- 2026 OK CIV APP 2: POPULAR CONSTRUCTION v. SCISSOR-TAIL CONSTRUCTION, 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
From the February Bar Journal:
When Rights Aren’t Enough
"I became a crime victim long before I ever became a lawyer.
Before I understood the structure of a courtroom or the language of legal procedure, I knew what it felt like to sit in a courtroom, trembling and confused. I knew what it meant to be retraumatized by silence, delays and indifference. I learned the hard way that surviving the crime was only the beginning and that the criminal justice system could compound the trauma, even as it claimed to serve victims.
Years later, I would enter law school with that experience etched into my bones. I didn’t become an attorney out of academic curiosity or ambition alone; I became one because I wanted to understand the system that had failed me and to help shape a better one. That dual perspective, as both a survivor and an attorney, has shaped every part of my legal career, even though I don’t practice in the criminal arena."
From the February Bar Journal:
Admissible at What Cost? Senate Bill 607 and Its Constitutional Concerns
"In May 2025, the Oklahoma Legislature quietly enacted Senate Bill 607 (S.B. 607), to be codified at 12 O.S. §2803.3, in response to the state’s record-breaking domestic violence homicide rates and at the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board’s recommendation. S.B. 607 mandates the admissibility of certain victim statements made shortly after an incident of domestic abuse, including statements made to law enforcement officers, statements made on an application for a protective order and testimony made at a hearing on an application for a protective order.
Facially, S.B. 607 makes it easier for the prosecution to admit a victim’s statements alleging domestic abuse. Yet, by making such statements automatically admissible in certain stages of the prosecution, S.B. 607 walks a constitutional tightrope with a razor-thin margin for error. Specifically, S.B. 607 runs afoul of the Sixth Amendment’s confrontation clause, undermines due process, blurs the burden for proving domestic abuse and lacks recourse for the defendant, especially when protective orders are used in family and domestic matters for any purpose other than their intended purpose."
Law Practice Tips | Beyond the Inbox: Preventing Data Breaches Before They Begin
"Earlier this year, I wrote about changes to Oklahoma’s security breach notification statutes and what those updates mean for lawyers after a breach has already occurred. In my Jan. 7 Courts & More tip, I focused on the new post-breach obligations these changes create. Now, I want to turn to the part we often overlook: What measures can prevent a breach from occurring in the first place?"
A New Way To Earn MCLE Credit
Authors whose scholarly articles are published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are now eligible for 6 hours of MCLE credits for each contributing author. View the editorial calendar on the OBA website to learn what themed topics are planned for upcoming issues of the journal, and visit the submissions page to discover next steps. Contact OBA Communications Director and Oklahoma Bar Journal Managing Editor Lori Rasmussen to learn more about this opportunity.
Featured CLE
Supporting Lawyers in Challenging Times
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
Over the past few weeks, I have seen more lawyers openly talking about burnout. Not in abstract terms. In very real ones. Missed deadlines. Constant client demands. Staffing shortages. Financial pressure. Tension inside the office. The sense that you are always one step behind.
Burnout is often framed as a personal wellness issue. But for lawyers, it is also a professional responsibility issue.
When exhaustion affects your ability to return calls, supervise staff, manage deadlines or maintain accurate financial records, it is no longer just about stress. It directly impacts competence, diligence and communication.
Many of the pressures lawyers are experiencing right now are structural. Economic uncertainty has made clients more price sensitive and less patient. Firms are seeing inconsistent cash flow. Others are carrying heavier workloads with fewer people. In some offices, leadership transitions or unclear management expectations add another layer of strain. When communication breaks down at the top, the pressure tends to roll downhill.
Burnout rarely comes from one dramatic event. More often, it builds from inefficient systems, unclear roles, unmanaged workloads and financial stress that never quite resolves.
The encouraging part is this: Operational problems can be addressed.
Sometimes the issue is workflow. Sometimes it is the absence of a consistent intake process. Sometimes it is billing practices that create unnecessary financial anxiety. Sometimes it is a lack of delegation or unclear supervision. Often, small structural improvements can reduce significant daily stress.
The Oklahoma Bar Association Management Assistance Program exists to help lawyers strengthen the business and management side of their practices. MAP provides guidance on law office systems, workflow, technology selection, financial management, client communication and overall practice organization. We answer member questions, offer consultations and provide educational programming focused on improving law practice management and professional competence.
If your practice feels chaotic, financially unpredictable or harder to manage than it should be, that is something we can work on together. Strengthening systems is not just about efficiency. It protects clients. It reduces risk. It supports compliance with professional obligations.
If the stress you are experiencing feels more personal or overwhelming, the OBA also provides confidential support through the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Prorgam. That program is specifically designed to assist lawyers facing depression, anxiety, substance use or other challenges that can affect professional performance.
And if workload, supervision or client communication questions raise ethical concerns, Ethics Counsel is available to provide guidance.
There is no professional advantage in suffering silently.
The practice of law has always been demanding. Today’s economic pressures and workplace challenges can intensify that demand. Maintaining your ability to practice competently is not only good for you, it is also part of your obligation to your clients and to the profession.
If you are feeling burned out, pause long enough to examine your systems, your workload and the support structures around you. Reach out. The OBA has resources designed to help lawyers strengthen their practices and protect the quality of legal services provided to the public.
Sometimes, the most responsible step a lawyer can take is to ask for help.
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.