Vol. 6 No. 41 | Oct. 14, 2026
Courts
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
Court of Criminal Appeals
No published opinions this week.
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
More
Annual Meeting Early Bird Registration and Room Block Deadlines Approaching
The early-bird deadline for Annual Meeting registration is Wednesday, Oct. 21! There are only a few days left to save on Annual Meeting registration. Right now through Oct. 21, two-day tickets for Annual Meeting are only $249. With a two-day ticket, you can receive 11 hours MCLE including 2 hours ethics, allowing you to earn almost all your MCLE credits for the year. After Oct. 21, the price increases. Learn and earn MCLE credits, hear from dynamic speakers, network with colleagues and law school friends, and have some fun too!
And don't forget, Tuesday, Oct. 20 is the day the Annual Meeting room block closes at the Skirvin Hotel. To take advantage of the OBA room rate at the Skirvin, book online or by phone at 1-800-HILTONS and mention the Oklahoma Bar Association 2026 Conference (or group code 93R).
Welcome, New Bar Members!
More than 200 new bar members took their Oath of Attorney at St. Luke's Methodist Church in Oklahoma City on Oct. 8. The oath was administered by Chief Justice Dustin P. Rowe. Following the swearing in, individuals signed the roll of attorneys before joining their friends and families for photos. The Oklahoma Bar Association is proud to welcome this group of new attorney members!
The OBA encourages these new attorney members (and all members sworn in for the first time within the last 10 years) to get involved with the Young Lawyers Division. All members of the Oklahoma Bar Association in good standing who were first admitted to the practice of law in the past 10 years are automatically YLD members, regardless of age.
Don't forget, the YLD is hosting "Been There, Filed That," a half-day seminar on Oct. 16 at the Oklahoma Bar Center addressing real world challenges for new attorneys, followed by an event at Chicken N Pickle in Oklahoma City to celebrate those who are newly sworn in. All bar members are encouraged to attend the event at Chicken N Pickle. New attorneys can register for "Been There, Filed That" here, using the code YLD2026 for free enrollment. If you are planning to attend the event at Chicken N Pickle, please RSVP here.
Government & Administrative Law Practice | Charter Authority
"There are two categories of municipalities: those governed by statute and those governed by special charters. A 'charter municipality' is defined as 'any municipality which has adopted a charter in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and laws of Oklahoma and at the time of adoption of the charter had a population of two thousand (2,000) or more.' In contrast, a statutory city is one governed by Oklahoma Municipal Code. Charter municipalities are vested with considerable degree of autonomy: '[w]ithin the limitations prescribed by the Constitution, it was clearly the intent of the framers…to delegate local self-government to cities under a charter form of government in a larger measure and to a greater extent than is accorded cities existing under general law.'"
Government & Administrative Law Practice | Disability Benefits
"Disability benefits are separated into two types: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Title II of the Social Security Act, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Title XVI of the Social Security Act. The eligibility rules for each are different. Generally, to be eligible for SSDI, you must be 'insured,' meaning that you have earned at least 40 work credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years, although younger workers may qualify with fewer credits. Work credits are determined by your total annual wages or self-employment income from a job that is covered by Social Security and for which Social Security taxes have been paid. The actual threshold for credits is low, e.g., in 2026, you will earn the maximum four credits available annually by earning at least $7,560 for the year."
In Case You Missed It: Two Major Enhancements to Your OBA CLE Experience
"Over the years, one thing has remained consistent: OBA members are not shy about telling us what works, what doesn’t, and where we can do better. That’s exactly the kind of feedback we want because it helps us ensure that your bar association continues to deliver services that meet the evolving needs of Oklahoma lawyers.
In August, we announced two significant enhancements to our CLE program. These upgrades officially launched Sept. 15, and I want to take a moment to remind members about these changes and, more importantly, why they matter."
Register Now for Launching Your Law Practice on Oct. 29
Launching Your Law Practice is a free semiannual workshop for new lawyers, those returning to private practice or those venturing out on their own. This program, held Thursday, Oct. 29, will teach you how to build a client-centered practice, use AI to boost efficiency, understand malpractice insurance and choose the right tech tools for your practice. Plus, get hands-on practice with trust accounting and start drafting your business plan with guidance from OBA staff. This event is sponsored by Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Co.
Email Nickie Day or call 405-416-7050 to register for this workshop.
Featured CLE
Test-Drive Your Law Office Before Your First Client Arrives
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
Last week, a new group of Oklahoma lawyers took their oaths and began their legal careers. Congratulations to all of them! Some will join established firms, while others will begin the exciting (and occasionally overwhelming) process of opening their own law offices.
If you are among those planning to open a practice, here is one piece of advice: Before your first client walks through the door, pretend you already have one.
Ask a friend or colleague to play the role of a prospective client and walk through your entire intake process. Start with that first telephone call or email. How will you collect the information necessary for a conflicts check? Where will you record the prospective client’s contact information? How will you document the results of your conflicts check?
Assuming you can accept the representation, what happens next? Do you have an engagement agreement ready? How will the client sign it? How will you securely exchange documents? What is your procedure for calendaring deadlines, collecting fees and communicating with the client as the matter progresses?
You may discover that you have purchased excellent software but haven’t quite figured out how all the pieces work together. That’s a much better discovery to make with a colleague than with a paying client.
And if you have been practicing for years, when was the last time you walked through your own intake process? Sometimes the procedures we’ve used for years deserve another look.
These are exactly the kinds of issues we’ll be exploring during the OBA Management Assistance Program’s upcoming Launching Your Law Practice: A Hands-On Workshop on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Oklahoma Bar Center.
The program is free and designed for new lawyers and those entering private practice. Registration is required, and the program does not qualify for MCLE credit.
To register, contact Nickie Day at 405-416-7050 or nickied@okbar.org.
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.