Vol. 6 No. 44 | Nov. 4, 2026
Courts
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
Court of Criminal Appeals
- 2026 OK CR 20: GUTIERREZ v. STATE OF OKLAHOMA
- 2026 OK CR 21: COX v. STATE OF OKLAHOMA
Court of Civil Appeals
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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Annual Meeting Event Highlight: President’s Reception and Trivia Night
Think you know your legal trivia? It’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Join Annual Meeting attendees and guests on Thursday, Nov. 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for an evening of legal trivia, where the questions are lively, the competition is friendly and the fun is guaranteed! Form a team, bring your competitive spirit, brush up on your historical knowledge and get ready to celebrate America’s 250th birthday during this all-new Annual Meeting event. Come for the camaraderie, stay for the competition and see who can claim bragging rights as our legal trivia champion! This event is free with your Annual Meeting registration.
November Bar Journal Now Online
The November issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal is available online now. This issue focuses on Appellate Practice, featuring articles on time limits, error preservation, the role of ethics in effective persuasion and more. You'll also get more information about the upcoming Annual Meeting, learn how to sign up for an OBA committee in 2027 and meet the OBA's newest members.
FEATURES
Triggering the Time to Appeal in Civil Cases: The Owens Decision
By Ann Hadrava
The Sovereign Virtue of the Appellate Bench: Why Ethos Outweighs Logos and Pathos in the Crucible of Appeal
By Rick Goralewicz
Unpreserved But Not Unreviewable: Fundamental Error in Oklahoma Civil Appeals
By Fenella J. Flanagan and Justin A. Lollman
Recent Amendments to District Court Rule 15, Disqualification of Judges: What You Need to Know
By Ann Hadrava
What Supp? Electronic Publication of the Official Oklahoma Statutes
By Bevan Graybill Stockdell
Navigating Municipal Court Appeals
By Gunner Briscoe
From the President | The Practice of Gratitude
"The practice of law demands much of us. It asks for our time, our intellect, our patience and, at times, our peace of mind. We navigate complex legal issues, manage demanding workloads, advocate for clients facing difficult circumstances, and shoulder the responsibility of helping others through some of the most impactful moments of their lives. As we respond to these demands, it can be easy to focus on what is wrong, what remains unfinished, and what we must do next.
That is where the practice of gratitude becomes part of the practice of law. Gratitude invites us to pause, look beyond our immediate challenges, and recognize the people, opportunities, and privileges that make our work meaningful."
House of Delegates Notice of Meetings
The 2026 Annual Meeting notice of meetings for the Credentials Committee, Rules and Bylaws Committee, Resolutions Committee and Tellers Committee has been posted. The Credentials Committee will meet Thursday, Nov. 12, at 9 a.m. The Rules and Bylaws Committee will meet Thursday, Nov. 12, at 10 a.m. The Resolutions Committee will meet Thursday, Nov. 12, at 10:45 a.m. The Tellers Committee will meet Friday, Nov. 13, at 11 a.m.
Volunteer Your Legal Expertise To Support America's Heroes
Make a difference this Veterans Day by volunteering to provide pro bono legal services to those who serve our nation and our communities every day. Volunteer registration is now open!
Heroes Day | Nov. 11 | Oklahoma City
The inaugural Heroes Day event, planned for Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City, will offer free, in-person legal assistance for military service members and veterans from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A wide range of legal services will be offered to address the varying needs of those who have honorably served our nation. Lunch will be offered and CLE will be available. Contact Tiffani Armendariz with the Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation for more information.
Sign Up for an OBA Committee
Committees are an important part of the OBA’s work, bringing lawyers together to share ideas, serve our profession and strengthen our communities. With more than 15 committees focused on a wide range of issues and interests, there is an opportunity for everyone to find a meaningful way to contribute.
Whether you’re passionate about access to justice, continuing legal education, professional development, legislative monitoring or other areas that affect our profession, your experience and perspective can make a difference. Committee service is also a great way to meet colleagues, expand your professional network and take part in projects that have a lasting impact.
Appointments for 2027 will be made soon, so get involved today. Your participation can help shape the future of our profession and the communities we serve.
Featured CLE
Law Practice Tips | Microsoft Brings Legal AI Tools to Word and Copilot
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
Legal AI is moving into the software lawyers already use every day. On Sept. 10, I discussed Google’s entry into the legal technology market. Now Microsoft is making its own move with the announcement of Copilot for Legal, bringing more than 20 legal-specific capabilities to its Microsoft 365 Copilot platform.
Unlike some legal AI products, Microsoft’s new capabilities are integrated into applications many lawyers already use, particularly Microsoft Word. The new legal tools can assist with reviewing contracts, drafting agreements, comparing documents, identifying obligations and deadlines, and proposing revisions using Word’s Track Changes feature. Lawyers can also review contracts against established templates or legal playbooks.
Microsoft’s new legal capabilities are included with commercial Microsoft 365 Copilot subscriptions, meaning lawyers who already subscribe may have access without purchasing additional software. However, these features may not appear automatically for every user. Depending on the firm’s Microsoft 365 settings, an administrator may need to enable or configure the legal plugins before lawyers can begin using them.
Microsoft also offers a separate Legal for Cowork plugin for more complex tasks involving multiple documents, emails, meeting records and other information stored within Microsoft 365. Unlike the legal capabilities included with Copilot in Word, Cowork requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and uses consumption-based billing through Copilot Credits, so it will generate additional charges.
Of course, these tools do not replace legal research, professional judgment or a lawyer’s responsibility to review AI-generated work.
The practical takeaway is clear: Legal AI is no longer confined to specialized platforms. As Microsoft and Google build these capabilities into familiar workplace software, lawyers should begin evaluating where the tools can improve their work.
Read Microsoft’s announcement, "Introducing Microsoft Copilot for Legal," to learn more about these new capabilities.
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.