Vol. 5 No. 47 | Nov. 19, 2025
Courts
- 2025 OK 81: IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LINZY HILL, DECEASED, BRIGHTWATER CAPITAL, LLC V. HILL
- 2025 OK 82: STITT V. DRUMMOND
- 2025 OK 83: IN RE: RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA ON LEGAL INTERNSHIP
- 2025 OK 84: FLORETTA FRANKLIN, AS MOTHER AND NEXT OF KIN TO LATOYA PERRY V. OU MEDICINE, ET AL
- 2025 OK 85: LARRY AUSTBO, SURVIVING SPOUSE OF MARILYN AUSTBO, DECEASED, V. GREENBRIAR, ET AL
- 2025 OK CR 23: TURNER v. STATE OF OKLAHOMA
- 2025 OK CR 24: HADDOCK v. STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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
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"Who would you want to decide if you could ever see your children again? Or whether you could ever see your parents again? Would you want a group of six strangers to choose? What about a judge who may have already decided once before to keep your children or parents away from you?
There are no simple answers to these grim questions. But parents and children must frequently answer questions like these in juvenile deprived proceedings. When a court places custody of a minor with the state, a time may come when the government (or child) wishes to permanently sever the parent-child relationship. In the parlance of juvenile deprived law, this permanent severance is known as 'termination.'"
"The closing argument is a lawyer’s final opportunity to give meaning, context and perspective to the evidence introduced during a trial. It is 'a finely crafted verbal work of art' that concisely incorporates all of the evidence from trial into one theory so that the evidence the jury hears is consistent with the attorney’s theme of the case. Because the argument is received by the juror’s ear and not read by the eye, the closing argument remains one of the highest forms of the ancient art of the true 'raconteur.'"
As we look ahead to 2026, the Oklahoma Bar Association invites you to make a meaningful impact by joining one of our many volunteer committees. There’s no better time than the present to connect, contribute and grow. Join your fellow lawyers in serving on an OBA committee to help shape the future of the legal profession.
With more than 20 active committees to choose from, different opportunities and connections are waiting for you. Whatever your passion, there’s a committee that needs your voice and perspective. This is your chance to get involved with the OBA, meet new lawyers and make a difference in your community.
From promoting access to justice and legal education to supporting lawyers facing personal challenges, OBA committees are making a difference. You’ll also build your professional network and work on meaningful projects that align with your values.
Ready to get involved? Look at the committee list and fill out the form at www.okbar.org/committees/committee-sign-up. Appointments for 2026 will be made soon, so don’t wait!
"During my 17 years as a white-collar crime prosecutor, I can count on one hand the number of jury trials I actually conducted. Most cases were resolved through plea negotiations, motions or other settlements. As a result, when a jury trial finally arrived, I never felt entirely prepared.
Recently, my friend, Steve Embry, captured this point in an article urging lawyers to 'be unpredictable, look out the window, and turn off ChatGPT.' His words reminded me that persuading a jury is not about rigid adherence to a script. It is about connection, adaptability and authenticity."
If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to sharpen your leadership skills and create connections, now is the time. This year, the OBA YLD is sponsoring application fees for all candidates, so there is no cost to apply!
The ninth class of the OBA Leadership Academy represents an outstanding opportunity for committed attorneys to enhance their leadership capabilities while contributing to the continued excellence of Oklahoma's legal profession. Don't miss this chance to join a distinguished group of legal professionals dedicated to advancing the bar and serving their communities. Apply today! The application deadline is Nov. 21.
Featured CLE
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
Have you experienced a rise in scam calls to your personal phone recently? Do these callers often leave identical voicemails, such as, "Hello, I have been trying to reach you. Please call me back as soon as possible."? If you pay attention, you might notice the voice is likely generated by advanced artificial intelligence.
AI has made it easier than ever to clone a person’s voice from just a few seconds of audio. What used to require specialized equipment can now be done with consumer tools. Unfortunately, scammers have taken notice. Reports are increasing nationwide of law firms receiving calls from someone who sounds exactly like a client, a staff member or even a fellow attorney requesting sensitive information or urgent action.
Law firms are at particular risk because lawyers handle client funds, confidential data and time-sensitive matters. A well-timed impersonation can be extremely convincing.
HOW THESE SCAMS WORK
Scammers pull audio from voicemail greetings, recorded webinars, social media posts, podcasts or even a short Zoom meeting clip. They feed that recording into a voice-cloning tool and generate a near-perfect imitation. Once they have the voice model, the scam usually involves:
- Asking for trust account transfers
- Requesting immediate payment of a "bill"
- Changing wiring instructions
- Pressuring support staff for confidential information
- Posing as a distressed client who needs help "right now"
These calls are difficult to identify by sound alone.
WARNING SIGNS
Even a flawless voice usually comes with behavioral red flags. Watch for calls that:
- Create a sudden sense of urgency
- Ask you to bypass ordinary procedures
- Come from unusual numbers
- Sound like the person but include odd pacing, tone or phrasing
- Feel "off" despite sounding correct
Scammers rely on pressure and speed. Slowing things down is often enough to stop the attempt.
WHY LAWYERS SHOULD PAY ATTENTION
These attacks are growing because they work. Law firms routinely handle client funds, financial instructions, sensitive data and urgent matters. A well-timed impersonation can undermine trust, compromise confidentiality and cause significant harm before anyone realizes what happened.
AI is improving rapidly, which means impersonation will only become more convincing. Awareness is the first safeguard. Encouraging staff to trust their instincts, pause when something seems unusual and follow established procedures can prevent costly errors.
For a deeper look at how these impersonation scams work in real-world legal settings, as well as examples of recent incidents, you may find this analysis helpful. For more information on scams targeting lawyers, visit the Scam Alerts page on the OBA website.
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.