Vol. 6 No. 2 | Jan. 14, 2026
Courts
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
Court of Criminal Appeals
No published opinions this week.
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
Oklahoma Bar Center To Close for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The bar center will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Oklahoma Court News | E-Filing Update
The Supreme Court of Oklahoma announced a major enhancement to its electronic filing (e-filing) system. Effective immediately, attorneys and approved filers may initiate new civil cases electronically through the existing e-filing portal on the Oklahoma State Courts Network website. This functionality is currently available for civil case types only in counties using the Oklahoma Court Information System.
E-filing, which was previously limited to filings in existing civil cases, now supports the electronic submission of case-initiating documents, streamlining workflows and reducing the need for in-person or mail-in filings at the courthouse.
KEY FEATURES
- File new civil cases electronically.
- Upload initiating documents, pleadings and exhibits.
- Add parties and attorney of record information during the e-filing process.
- Pay filing fees securely online.
- Receive electronic confirmation and case number upon court clerk acceptance.
- Track filing status via the “Search Your Filings” dashboard.
To access the system, visit www.oscn.net and select E-Filing. Registration is required, and attorneys must have an Oklahoma Bar number in good standing. All filings must comply with the Oklahoma E-Filing Technical Standards and applicable local court rules.
A New Year of Purpose, Connection, and Professional Growth
"The turning of the calendar offers more than a symbolic fresh start. It invites reflection, renewal, and a recommitment to the values that unite us as members of the legal profession. As we ring in the new year, I hope we are also taking time to celebrate the important role lawyers play in our society. Whether you are beginning your first year of practice or marking decades of service, it is always worth reminding yourself that the work you do matters."
Meet Your 2026 OBA Leadership, To Take Oaths on Jan. 16
Learn more about the lawyers serving on the OBA Board of Governors in 2026. New officers and board members took office on Jan. 1. A formal swearing-in ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the state Capitol.
From the January Bar Journal:
Family Law
Don't miss our featured articles from the January bar journal! This month's journal provides several articles on the topic of family law, including:
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act and In Re N.A.: Some Thoughts on Subject Matter Jurisdiction
By Robert G. Spector
"The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently decided a case concerning the jurisdictional underpinning of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (hereinafter UCCJEA), which raises questions regarding the role of the act. The case is In re N.A., a proceeding under the Children and Juvenile Code (the children’s code) to declare the children deprived. The children lived in Oklahoma, Kansas and Mexico. There was an issue as to whether Oklahoma was the children’s home state, a necessary determination under the UCCJEA in order for the state to make a determination as to their deprived status."
Thirty Years of Thielenhaus: The Dubious Origins of That Case’s Burden of Proof Requirement
By Ryan J. Reaves
"There are few, if any, cases in Oklahoma family law more frequently cited than Thielenhaus v. Thielenhaus. This decision was published (as modified) on Sept. 1, 1995 – just over 30 years ago. While Thielenhaus may be cited for a great many issues, its central and most enduring holding is the one related to in-marriage enhancement of a separate asset. After 30 years, it seemed only fitting to take a fresh look at Thielenhaus and consider whether there might be a need for a different approach."
A New Way To Earn MCLE Credit
Recently, the Oklahoma Supreme Court amended the rules for mandatory continuing legal education to include writing scholarly articles that are published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal. The MCLE Commission will award 6 credits per published article for each contributing author. Contact OBA Communications Director and Oklahoma Bar Journal Managing Editor Lori Rasmussen to learn more about this opportunity.
Featured CLE
Shaping the Future of Law: TECHSHOW 2026
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
For more than four decades, ABA TECHSHOW has brought legal professionals and technology together. That phrase has appeared on brochures and banners for years, but heading into TECHSHOW 2026, it feels less like a slogan and more like a statement of fact.
Technology is no longer a side conversation in law practice. It shapes how lawyers communicate with clients, manage files, handle billing, protect confidential information and, increasingly, how legal work itself gets done. From artificial intelligence tools to everyday practice management software, technology is now woven into nearly every aspect of competent and efficient lawyering.
That reality is what has always made TECHSHOW different. It is not about chasing shiny tools or predicting a distant future. It is about helping lawyers understand what technology can realistically do for them right now and how to use it thoughtfully in practice.
TECHSHOW 2026 continues that tradition. The conference will once again offer a mix of CLE sessions, hands-on workshops and an expansive expo hall where lawyers can actually see, touch and ask questions about the tools they hear so much about. Whether you are deeply immersed in legal technology or still figuring out where to start, TECHSHOW has always been designed to meet lawyers where they are and help them move forward.
This year is also a meaningful one for me personally. I had the privilege of serving as co-chair for TECHSHOW 2025, and 2026 marks my final year on the planning board after three years of service. Watching how carefully the board thinks about programming, balance and practical value has only reinforced my belief that TECHSHOW succeeds because it stays focused on real lawyers and real practice challenges.
If you attend TECHSHOW regularly, you already know the value of the conversations that happen in hallways, over coffee and during sessions that spark new ideas. If you have never attended, this is a particularly good year to consider it. The questions lawyers are asking about technology right now are more urgent and more practical than ever, and TECHSHOW remains one of the best places to explore those questions in a thoughtful, lawyer-centric way.
TECHSHOW 2026 takes place March 25-28 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago. As always, Oklahoma lawyers have access to a $100 discount on standard registration by using code EP2605 when registering. Additional details, updates and registration information are available at www.techshow.com.
Whether you come for the CLE credit, the technology insights or the chance to reconnect with colleagues from across the country, TECHSHOW continues to offer something that is increasingly rare: a space where legal professionals can step back, learn and think intentionally about how technology fits into the practice of law.
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.