Vol. 3 No. 28 | July 12, 2023
Courts
No published opinions this week.
No published opinions this week.
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
"The Murdaugh Murder Trial: Ethical Violations to Murder" will challenge your understanding of legal ethics while leaving you spellbound by the events that unfolded. During this OBA CLE-produced program, notable CLE presenter Joel Oster takes you on a unique exploration of the Murdaugh murder trial, providing a fresh perspective on this high-profile case and offering invaluable insights into the ethical violations that unfolded.
Also featured during this CLE are esteemed guest speakers OBA President Brian Hermanson and substance abuse nurse Pamela Turner. President Hermanson shares his firsthand knowledge of trying a high-profile criminal case, shedding light on the immense pressure and ethical dilemmas faced by attorneys in such circumstances. Pamela Turner explores the profound impact of addiction on an individual's behavior and decision-making process.
This 116-minute CLE is available on-demand and is worth 1 ethics and 1 general MCLE credit.
Time's almost up! The deadline for OBA Awards nominations is 5 p.m. this Friday, July 14. Don't forget to submit your award nomination!
It is a long-standing tradition for the OBA to honor lawyers and law-related organizations that show exemplary service and leadership with these prestigious awards.
Nomination Rules and Tips
- Nominations can be as short as a one-page letter to the Awards Committee; however, the entire nomination cannot exceed five single-sided, 8 ½ x 11-inch pages (including exhibits and support letters).
- A nomination form is not required, but it is available.
- Be sure to include the name of the person being nominated and the person (or organization) making the nomination.
- If you think someone qualifies for awards in several categories, pick one award and only do one nomination. The OBA Awards Committee may consider the nominee for an award in a category other than the one in which you nominate that person.
- You can email, mail or fax your nomination or fill out the online nomination form (pick one):
Email: awards@okbar.org (you will receive a confirmation reply)
Mail: OBA Awards Committee, P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK 73152
Fax: 405-416-7089
This month is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month honoring Bebe Moore Campbell, helping to bring awareness to the struggles of minorities regarding mental health and ending the stigma surrounding mental health.
Recently, The American Lawyer broke down the results of the ALM’s 2021 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Survey, highlighting the increased rates of isolation, depression and suicidal thoughts faced by minority attorneys compared to their white counterparts – particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mental health struggles do not end with attorneys. It is also important to have an awareness of our clients' unique experiences. Mental Health First Aid put together a curriculum that helps increase awareness of others' perspectives. Here are a few tips they've included in their curriculum to help promote connection and understanding of others' lived experiences:
- Take time to learn about the impact of mental health and substance abuse on other cultures
- Respect other cultures when connecting with others
- It is okay to ask questions
- Shift mental health conversations from "illness" to "well-being" and "recovery"
If you are an attorney who is feeling overwhelmed or is struggling with severe stress, anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts, the OBA offers all bar members up to six hours of free short-term, problem-focused or crisis counseling. The service is strictly confidential. Call the Lawyers Helping Lawyers hotline (800-364-7886) to be referred to a counselor in your area.
An opportunity to lead awaits. Service to the community is the goal of the OBA Young Lawyers Division, and all OBA members in good standing who were admitted to the practice of law 10 years ago or less are members of the OBA YLD. Eligible members are encouraged to apply for the YLD Board of Directors. Click here to learn more about this year's election season.
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. 11, 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.
Nominating petitions, accompanied by a photo and bio of 350 words or less for publication in the Oklahoma Bar Journal, must be sent to derwin@holladaychilton.com no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11. Results of the election will be announced at the YLD meeting at the OBA Annual Meeting Nov. 1-3 in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma Bar Journal is back after a short break this summer! Look for the next issue to go online Aug. 1. The topics for the remainder of the year are listed below. If you would like to write an article on these topics, contact the editor for that month's issue.
SEPTEMBER: Corporate Law
Editor: Jason Hartwig
OCTOBER: Access to Justice
Editor: Evan Taylor
NOVEMBER: Agricultural Law
Editor: David Youngblood
DECEMBER: Family Law
Editor: Sheila Southard
Featured CLE
By OBA Practice Management Advisor Julie Bays
Have you ever wanted to turn your paper into a presentation without spending hours on formatting and design? Avoid many hours of copy-pasting your Word document content into PowerPoint slides with the new, improved Export to PowerPoint feature. With it, you can transform your paper into a presentation with just a few clicks. Let Microsoft do the hard work for you and avoid spending hours on formatting and adjusting content to fit each slide.
This feature works best with Word documents that have headings, subheadings and bullet points. It automatically creates slides based on the structure and content of your paper and applies a suitable theme and layout. An outline format with headings assists organization, but this tool works with any Word document.
You may want to edit and customize your slides or use them as they are.
To use this feature, follow these simple steps:
- Open your Word document in Word online (not the desktop version)
- Click on the File tab and select Export.
- Choose Create PowerPoint Presentation.
- Wait for a few seconds while Word converts your paper into slides.
- Save your PowerPoint file to your OneDrive or download it to your device.
Voila! Your paper is now transformed into a PowerPoint presentation, populated with free stock images from Microsoft. With the new Export to PowerPoint feature in Microsoft Word Online, you have now effortlessly transformed your document into a presentation, allowing you to save time, maintain consistent formatting and collaborate seamlessly with the power of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint combined.
A Few Words about Microsoft Stock Images
You can use Microsoft stock images and other creative content from Microsoft however you see fit, as long as it is used in any Microsoft 365 app or SharePoint site pursuant to the Terms of Service. For commercial purposes, this includes selling PowerPoint slide decks, Excel workbooks or Word documents that include this content. However, you cannot use the image within other formats outside of Microsoft products, such as your law firm website.
For more details on content use, see "What am I allowed to use premium creative content for?"
The Oklahoma Bar Journal is a publication of the Oklahoma Bar Association. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2023 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.