Vol. 5 No. 24 | June 11, 2025
Courts
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
"Among the many risks associated with business operations in the medical marijuana industry is the threat of federal civil asset forfeiture and the possibility of seizure by the U.S. Department of Justice for violation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
In each fiscal year since 2015, Congress has included provisions in its appropriations acts that prohibit the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration from using federal funds with respect to states that have legalized medical marijuana, including Oklahoma, 'to prevent any of them from implementing their own laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.' While such activity remains criminal under federal law, many federal courts have interpreted the appropriations rider, often referred to as the 'Rohrabacher-Farr amendment,' to prohibit investigation and prosecution of the CSA in relation to the use, possession and distribution of medicinal cannabis that is in compliance with state law."
Don't forget! June 13 is the early-bird deadline for Solo & Small Firm Conference registration and the day the OKANA Resort room block closes. After June 13, registration will be $350 for members and $300 for guests.
To take advantage of the OBA room rate at OKANA Resort, book online or by phone at 800-547-3928 by June 13. When booking by phone, mention the OBA room block and the code OK State Bar – OBA 1.
The Nominating Petition deadline for Judicial Nominating Commission candidates was 5 p.m. on May 16. Ballots were mailed June 6 to active attorneys in good standing in Congressional Districts 3 and 4.* Ballots must be received at the Oklahoma Bar Center by 5 p.m. June 20, 2025. Election results will be posted June 23.
It is important to the administration of justice that the OBA members become informed on the candidates and cast their votes.
ABOUT THE COMMISSION
The Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) consists of 15 unpaid volunteer members. Of the 15 members, only six members are lawyers. Lawyer commissioners are elected by their fellow Oklahoma Bar Association members, each representing one of six congressional districts across the state, as they were in 1967 when the commission was established.* They each serve a 6-year term. Elections are held each odd-numbered year for members from two districts.
If you haven't checked out Smokeball Bill, now is your chance! Join Smokeball at noon on June 24 for a free webinar teaching members how to use this new software to optimize billing and trust accounting in their practices.
Smokeball Bill, one of the OBA's newest member benefits, is valued at $588/year. Key Features include:
- Trust Accounting: Ensure compliance with three-way reconciliation and reporting
- Billing: Invoice with flexibility, including time-based, flat-fee and contingency invoices with customizable professional templates
- Payments: Get paid faster with online payment options for clients
- Time and Expense Tracking: Accurately record all matter-based time entries, fees and expenses
- Accounts Receivable Management: Monitor accounts receivable and know what's owed, overdue and paid
Featured CLE
By OBA Practice Management Advisor Julie Bays
Scammers don’t take a summer vacation, but they may count on you taking one.
Each year, as temperatures rise, so does scam activity targeting small businesses, and that includes law firms. Employees are out of the office, firms run leaner operations and distracted professionals are more likely to click, trust or process without full review.
Last fall, we warned Oklahoma lawyers about a check scam targeting law firms, especially those handling collections, real estate and other transactions involving client funds. Unfortunately, this scheme is back. Several attorneys have recently reported receiving counterfeit cashier’s checks from fraudsters posing as new clients.
As before, the scammers engage the firm for help collecting or transferring funds, then send a fraudulent check and request that the firm disburse funds before it bounces.
HOW THE SCAM WORKS
- Initial Contact: A scammer reaches out, often via email, posing as a potential new client needing legal help with a collection, debt resolution, divorce settlement or real estate transaction.
- Engagement Letter: The scammer may complete a legitimate looking engagement process, including signed documents and even photo IDs to appear credible.
- Delivery of Funds: They send a cashier’s check or other official looking instruments and ask the lawyer to deposit it into the trust account.
- Urgent Instructions: Soon after, they request a disbursement or refund (typically a wire transfer) claiming urgency due to a business deal that didn’t go through, overseas move or a similar excuse for a refund.
- The Bounce: Days or even weeks later, the bank notifies the firm that the cashier’s check was fraudulent. At that point, the wired funds are no longer available, and the firm is responsible for the loss.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF THIS SUMMER:
- Slow down fund disbursement: Never release funds from your trust account until the check has fully cleared – not just posted.
- Verify client stories independently: Use known good contact info, and verify identities by phone or secure channels.
- Strengthen internal controls: Use a two-person review process for any trust account disbursement involving new clients or unusual amounts.
If you believe your firm has been targeted or defrauded, report the incident at www.ic3.gov, and alert your bank immediately.
We’ve posted more information on how these scams work on our Scams page. And if you missed last week’s tip on phishing, it’s worth reviewing. Many scams start with an email before they ever hit your bank account.
The Oklahoma Bar Journal is a publication of the Oklahoma Bar Association. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2025 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.