Vol. 3 No. 48 | Nov. 29, 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
"As the 2SLGBTQIA+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual plus other self-identification classifications) community becomes more widely accepted, we are seeing an increase in the comfort level of children expressing a desire to explore their place on the gender spectrum. As a result, our court system is being hurled head-on in addressing custody issues involving gender-expansive children. Many members of the bar and bench have little to no experience in serving clients with gender-expansive children. Many may be unaware of what the phrase 'gender-expansive' even means – which will be explained in this article. As a result, courts often ask the wrong question, and attorneys address the wrong issues in addressing custody with these children. We should not be first questioning whether or not a child’s desire is necessarily 'real' but rather examining the psychology of gender expression and fostering a custodial relationship for the parent that best follows the science. Given the current legislative treatment of gender-expansive children in Oklahoma, it is more important than ever for attorneys and judges to have a true understanding of the importance of asking the correct question."
"As the daughter of a combat Marine, I have had many bits of sage advice passed to me – usually in the form of warnings to defend against enemy attacks and strategic maneuvers. The passage of time has taught me just how many of these gems are relevant to the practice of law. However, recent events have brought a particular one into focus: 'Whether it be in marriage, friendship or business, find people you want to be in a foxhole with. Find the people who will lay on a grenade for you. Once you find them, don’t let them go.'"
"The Oklahoma Bar Foundation is excited to announce that $1.2 million in grants will be awarded to 45 nonprofits for fiscal year 2024 program funding. This is the largest amount of grant funding ever given through the annual IOLTA Program. The newly named grantees anticipate helping more than 66,000 Oklahomans next year. How the 45 grantees achieve their individual missions is unique, but they all have one thing in common: a major need for client access to legal representation.
'Every year the OBF receives grant requests from nonprofits that provide crucial law-related services throughout our state to those most in need,' said OBF Grants & Awards Chair Jim Dowell. 'Providing essential funding for these organizations is at the core of the OBF’s mission. Hearing the impact of the OBF’s IOLTA grants on the lives of Oklahomans is one of the most rewarding aspects of serving on the OBF board.'”
Member Dues Are Due
Member dues statements are available online. In an effort to save money and cut down on the cost of printing and postage, the OBA Membership Department has posted member dues statements online in MyOKBar. As a follow-up, a paper statement will be mailed around the first of December to members who have not yet paid. Please help the OBA in this effort by paying your dues today! Members can pay their dues by credit card online at MyOKBar or by mailing a check to the OBA Dues Lockbox, P.O. Box 960101, Oklahoma City, OK 73196. Dues are due Tuesday, Jan. 2.
The call for 2024 Law Day student contest entries is now open! If you know an Oklahoma student who loves to write, draw or create, encourage them to enter their work! Have a teacher in your life? Feel free to forward the information to them to share with their students. This year, the theme is "Voices of Democracy." The deadline to submit entries is Friday, Jan. 19.
The annual OBA Law Day Art and Writing Contest is designed to stimulate discussion and understanding of the law among young Oklahomans. Categories include art and writing for grades pre-K through 12th, with cash prizes up to $500 and plaques for winners, plus participation certificates to honor every student's hard work.
In addition to the annual Law Day student contest, the OBA Law Day Committee will celebrate Law Day by producing educational videos that can be viewed on the OBA's social media. In the spring, hundreds of Oklahoma lawyers will also donate tens of thousands of dollars in legal services by giving free legal advice to the public for Ask A Lawyer. The date for the 2024 celebration of Law Day will be announced soon!
Featured CLE
By OBA MAP Director Jim Calloway
Many lawyers use Facebook for marketing or personal use. The Facebook “Violations Detected on Your Page” scam is proliferating this fall. It begins with a message like the one you see below telling you your Facebook page has been suspended, and if you do not respond within 24 hours, your account will be permanently suspended. The unreasonableness of the 24-hour deadline should be a warning to cautious internet users. But if you click on the link to reinstate your account, you find yourself on pages that look like Facebook but are operated by scammers. Once they get your login information, they will immediately change your password and set up two-factor authentication so that you cannot change the password back. Attempting to recover from this will be a long, painful journey – but necessary as you don’t want this account trying to scam your friends.
If you enjoy Facebook, you are urged to set up two-factor authentication to protect your account. Facebook will show you how. Read more about this scam on MalwareTips: "Beware of Facebook ‘Violations Detected On Your Page’ Scam."
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.