Vol. 6 No. 20 | May 20, 2026
Courts
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
- 2026 OK 36: ANDERSON et al. v. PARRISH et al.
Court of Criminal Appeals
No published opinions this week.
Court of Civil Appeals
- 2026 OK CIV APP 13: REGIER, REGIER v. THE CITY OF ENID and GARNEY COMPANIES, INC.
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
Join the OBA in Observing Memorial Day
The Oklahoma Bar Association will close at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 22, and remain closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Regular business hours will resume Tuesday, May 26.
From the May Bar Journal | The Tax Changes Americans Need To Know
"The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law on July 4, 2025, and it is a large sweeping rewrite of major portions of the tax code. This piece of legislation made more than 100 changes to the tax code, with some applying retroactively to the beginning of 2025. It is legislation that significantly affects federal taxes, credits and deductions. For ordinary Americans, this law affects paychecks, retirement planning, vehicle financing, health care decisions, charitable giving and what appears on your 2025 tax return and later tax returns. The IRS has also announced phased implementation in several areas, including transition relief for employers and payors dealing with tip and overtime reporting."
Law Practice Tips | Transforming Billing Into Effective Client Communication
"Earlier this year, I wrote a Courts & More tip about a legal technology startup that generated a great deal of interest at ABA TECHSHOW. The company, CollBox, focuses on a persistent challenge in law practice: getting paid.
Their solution is straightforward. They step in before accounts are sent to collections and follow up with clients through structured and consistent communication. It resonated with many lawyers because it addresses something we all recognize but often avoid. Most lawyers do not enjoy calling clients about unpaid bills."
Midyear Conference: Room Block Deadline Is May 26
You won't want to miss out on the first OBA Midyear Conference on June 17-19. This conference will offer sessions for every lawyer – including practice management, using AI in your practice, accessibility, ethics, substantive law updates and everything in between. During this conference, you can earn all of your MCLE credit for the entire year. Take a minute to check out the agenda, read more about our speakers and register today!
DON'T FORGET TO BOOK YOUR ROOM BY MAY 26
The conference will take place at the beautiful OKANA Resort in downtown Oklahoma City. All guests who book their room at the OKANA Resort under the OBA room block will receive four waterpark passes included with their stay. Book online or by phone at 800-547-3928. If booking over the phone, mention the OBA room block and the code "679 – Oklahoma Bar Association 2026." The hotel room block is available through Tuesday, May 26.
Featured CLE
Your Vacation Wi-Fi Is Not a Law Office
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
School is ending, summer schedules are changing and many lawyers will soon be working from places that are not their law offices. That may mean checking emails from a hotel room, reviewing a document at a ball tournament, answering a client from the lake house or joining a quick Zoom call while traveling.
That flexibility is one of the great benefits of modern law practice. But client confidentiality does not take a summer break.
A recent The Tech-Savvy Lawyer article, “Summer Vacation Cybersecurity for Lawyers,” suggests a practical pre-trip checklist for lawyers, including backing up devices, applying updates, confirming encryption and removing nonessential client data before traveling.
This does not need to become a complicated technology project. A few basic habits can reduce risk.
Before working away from the office:
- Update your laptop and phone
- Turn on multifactor authentication for email and cloud services
- Use a mobile hotspot or a trusted VPN instead of open public Wi-Fi
- Avoid downloading client documents to personal or shared devices
- Lock your screen when you step away
- Take confidential calls in private
- Be careful about reviewing client information where others can see your screen
Lawyers should also consider whether they really need to take every file with them. A better approach is to access only the information you need, when you need it, through secure systems. Less client data on a traveling device usually means less risk if that device is lost, stolen or accessed by someone else.
If you are traveling abroad, take extra care with client information. Bring only the devices and files you need, assume public networks are not secure and be mindful that border inspections, theft and different privacy rules may create added risk.
There is also a client service side to this issue. Before leaving town, lawyers should make sure someone knows how to handle urgent matters, court deadlines and client communications. A good out-of-office message, a backup contact and a clear plan for true emergencies can help lawyers enjoy some time away while still protecting clients.
Enjoy the trip. Watch the game. Visit the lake. But before logging in from vacation Wi-Fi, take a moment to protect the client information traveling with you. Or better yet, leave the work devices at the office and take a real vacation.
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.