Vol. 5 No. 10 | March 5, 2025
Courts
- 2025 OK 14: RE SUSPENSION OF CERTIFICATES OF CERTIFIED SHORTHAND REPORTERS
- 2025 OK 15: OKLAHOMA GAS AND ELECTRIC CO. v. STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA CORP. COMMISSION
- 2025 OK 16: IN THE MATTER OF THE REINSTATEMENT OF McTEER
- 2025 OK 17: POPPINGA v. WALLACE
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 March edition of the Oklahoma Bar Journal is now online. The theme this month is "Alternative Dispute Resolution," featuring articles on the topics of arbitration, mediation and more. The March issue also features the annual reports for the Professional Responsibility Commission and the Professional Responsibility Tribunal.
FEATURES
Arbitration When You Least Expect It
By Michael W. Johnston
The Case for Family Law Arbitration in Oklahoma
By Edward G. Lindsey
Mindful Dispute Resolution: Enhancing Alternative Dispute Resolution Through Mindfulness and Restorative Justice Techniques
By Zana L. Williams and Kathryn R. Wilson
Effectively Mediating Construction Disputes
By Marvin Laws
Resolving Disputes That Arise in Family Law Matters: Looking at Alternatives From a Judicial Perspective
By Judge Jequita H. Napoli
Oklahoma’s Agriculture Mediation Program: Specialized Statewide Farmer and Rancher Assistance
By Mike Mayberry
Early Settlement Mediation: Making Oklahoma a More Peaceful State
By Phil Johnson
"The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” – Dick Butcher to Jack Cade in William Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 2, Act 4, Scene 2, Lines 71-78
"In context, Jack Cade was describing to his henchmen all of his plans for England if he could overthrow and replace the king. Some of Mr. Cade’s ideas were for the king to set the prices for basic necessities – like food (cheap bread) and beer (making it illegal to drink small beers) – to do away with the existing monetary system and to dress all the people in the king’s mandatory clothes (so all the people would be like brothers and worship the king). Mr. Butcher’s statement about killing all the lawyers was either 1) a comedic quip to the effect that getting rid of all lawyers would be another benefit to the citizens of the revolutionary kingdom of which Mr. Cade wanted to be king or 2) a serious suggestion to Mr. Cade as a way to advance his revolution by removing supporters of the existing legal system. My interpretation is that Shakespeare intended for his audience to understand that Mr. Cade was making a joke with a core concept that everyone disliked lawyers, which tells me that lawyers have had public relations problems for a very long time!"
OBA Solo & Small Firm Conference
Returns for 2025
The OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference is back for 2025! Save the date for Wednesday, July 16, through Friday, July 18, at the brand-new OKANA Resort near downtown Oklahoma City. This mid-year event offers CLE and networking opportunities related to solo and small firm practice management, all in a fun, relaxed, resort-casual environment. Don't miss out! Registration and more details about the 2025 event are coming soon.
OBA Day at the Capitol | March 25
Plan to join us for the annual OBA Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 25, at the Oklahoma Bar Center, 1901 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City. During the event, OBA members will learn about legislation that impacts various practice areas. Attendees will also hear from judges and bar leaders. Lunch will be served at the bar center before attendees head to the Capitol to meet with legislators. Stay tuned for registration and more information!
The national and statewide celebration of Law Day is Thursday, May 1. The OBA Law Day Committee encourages every county bar to join our efforts and plan its own Law Day events – whether it’s coordinating student visits to the courthouse or giving free legal advice for at least one hour. The goodwill generated for the profession by offering this community service makes the effort worthwhile, regardless of the number of activities or calls received.
Please email your county’s Law Day chairperson by Friday, March 14, to communications@okbar.org. If you intend to answer calls as part of Ask A Lawyer, please provide your Ask A Lawyer information, including the phone number, using this form.
Featured CLE
Tightening Up Text Message Security With Signal Private Messenger
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Jim Calloway
Digital interactions form the backbone of lawyers’ daily communications, as is true for many businesses. Let's discuss security for sensitive text messages.
APPLE IMESSAGE
Most readers are aware that Apple iMessage provides end-to-end encryption. That encryption was upgraded in 2024. Apple’s improvements are significant as Apple iMessage is encrypted, but if the recipient isn't registered with Apple iMessage (e.g., an Android user) or if data connectivity issues occur, it will fall back to send via SMS, which lacks encryption.
If lawyers want to use Apple iMessage and avoid sending unencrypted SMS messages at all costs, you must ensure that both you and your recipient have iMessage active and functioning when you send a message – and consider disabling “Send as SMS” in Settings, though that may mean your message just won’t send at all when iMessage fails. For most lawyer users, this is too much, as we have many friends, family and lawyers we text who use Android phones. Knowing this option exists means you can set it for a limited time if you have a need.
Now, let’s discuss what many believe is the most secure messaging tool: Signal Private Messenger, which stands out as a beacon of privacy and security.
AN OVERVIEW OF SIGNAL PRIVATE MESSENGER
Signal Private Messenger is an encrypted messaging service developed by the Signal Foundation. Launched in 2014, it quickly gained a reputation for strong security features and commitment to user privacy. Unlike many other messaging platforms, Signal is open-source, which means its code is publicly accessible and can be reviewed by anyone. This transparency builds trust, as users and experts alike can verify the app's security claims.
You can only use Signal to communicate with others who have installed Signal. This is like WhatsApp Messenger.
Signal features end-to-end encryption. The encryption keys are stored on users' devices, not on Signal's servers, making it virtually impossible for third parties, including Signal itself, to access the messages.
The app collects minimal user data. Unlike many other messaging services that mine user data for advertising purposes, Signal does not store metadata about users' communications. There are no ads, no trackers and no data monetization. The only information Signal needs to function is a phone number, which is used only for account creation and authentication.
Signal voice and video calls are also end-to-end encrypted. Signal also includes features such as disappearing messages, which automatically delete messages after a set period. Group chats in Signal are also encrypted, making sure group conversations remain confidential.
Signal includes a screen security feature to guard against other apps and services capturing screenshots of your conversations.
SHOULD YOU TRY SIGNAL?
Signal Private Messenger is easy to install and is free. It is a powerful tool for lawyers attempting to secure clients’ confidential data when communicating via text. We judge it a reliable, secure and user-friendly solution for those who want to protect their privacy and their client confidences.
ADDITIONAL READING
"How to Use Signal App: 12 Must-know Tips for Beginners"(2021)
"iMessage gets a major makeover that puts it on equal footing with Signal"
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.