Vol. 4 No. 42 | Oct. 16, 2024
Courts
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
Now Live: Manage MCLE Compliance Through MyOKBar!
OBA members can now check their MCLE compliance and report exemptions through one single sign-on (SSO) to MyOKBar. This means Oklahoma lawyers will no longer need to log in with an additional password to a separate website for MCLE compliance. This simplified sign-on will be more convenient and result in increased time savings for our membership.
With the November elections just weeks away, Oklahoma voters will soon be asked to make choices about several of the state’s appellate-level judges and justices. Candidates for judicial retention – the “yes” or “no” selections Oklahoma voters make every two years about high-level state judiciary – will be on the ballot this election year. Voters may visit www.courtfacts.org to learn more about the 12 appellate judges and justices appearing on the ballot.
"On March 1, 2006, the United States adopted the Cape Town Treaty and Aircraft Protocol (CTT). Now a substantial number of countries (defined as 'contracting states') are parties to the CTT. This is a significant change in the area of aircraft financing. By adopting the CTT, the contracting states agree to recognize interests perfected pursuant to the CTT. Prior to that time, countries were not required to recognize interests perfected under the laws of other countries."
"Listening skills are essential for lawyers, as they need to accurately understand their clients, colleagues, judges, jurors and opposing counsel. Outstanding listening skills can help lawyers avoid misunderstandings and build rapport with clients. However, listening skills are not innate and can be improved with practice and feedback."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 41% of women and 26% of men have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime and reported a related impact. The ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence works within the legal profession to increase access to justice for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. A number of resources are available to assist lawyers who encounter these survivors in their practice, including publications, a pleadings database and "Five for Five" things all attorneys should know about a variety of domestic and sexual violence-related topics.
Celebrate New OBA Members With the YLD
The OBA Young Lawyers Division is celebrating our association's newest attorneys who were just sworn in. Food and fun are included for all attendees at no cost!
Tulsa | Friday, Oct. 18 | 6 p.m.
Gridiron Sportsbar | River Spirit Casino (with access to Topgolf Swing Suites), 8330 Riverside Pkwy.
Pursuant to Article VII, Section 1 of the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association, D. Kenyon Williams Jr., president-elect and Budget Committee chairperson, has set a public hearing on the 2025 Oklahoma Bar Association budget for 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21, at the Oklahoma Bar Center, 1901 N. Lincoln Blvd., in Oklahoma City. Budget details are available online. Click here to view.
The purpose of the OBA is to engage in those activities enumerated in the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association (the “Rules”) and the OBA Bylaws (the “Bylaws”). The expenditure of funds by the OBA is limited both as set forth in the Rules and Bylaws and by OBA policy in compliance with Keller v. State Bar of California, 496 U.S. 1 (1990). If any member feels that any actual or proposed expenditure is not within such purposes of, or limitations on the OBA, then such member may object by following the procedures set forth at www.okbar.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/OBA_KellerPolicy_March-2020.pdf.
In accordance with the Keller policy, an independent auditor will review and certify the "opt-out" amount for legislative activity. That will be reflected on the annual dues statement, and the certification and pro-rata calculation will be listed at MyOKBar prior to the budget hearing.
Enjoy easy communication with committees and sections with MyOKBar Communities. Communities is linked to your MyOKBar account, so your information is synced. Access it through the “MYOKBAR Communities (Sections and Committees)” link on your MyOKBar page.
Featured CLE
By OBA MAP Director Jim Calloway
Some email practices are potentially problematic. Lawyers may not always be able to avoid these potentially problematic areas, but they should be aware of what could potentially go wrong.
REPLY ALL
We all engage in group email discussions, which are facilitated by "Reply All," so we cannot avoid this practice. But many firm associates have made serious "Reply All" mistakes that impacted their relationships.
Here’s an example that happens more than one would suspect. A group of lawyers from various firms representing opposing parties are involved in an email discussion. Managing Partner Manny has asked a question in the group email, and his associate, Eager Beaver, knows the answer. He opens a Reply All and begins with “Partner Manny, I can explain this.” Then the phone rings or an emergency happens. When he returns to the email, he wants to quickly finish his communication with the partner before someone beats him to it. And then, focusing on his opportunity to shine in the partner’s eyes, he adds a sentence: “I can’t believe those bozos on the other side don’t understand this.” He clicks and sends it out to two dozen lawyers, including the ones he has insulted.
That lawyer’s day will likely not go well. The only way to avoid this is to recognize that "Reply All" is potentially problematic, and once you open an email intending to "Reply All," you need to finish it before moving on to another task.
USE BCC CAUTIOUSLY
BCC is inherently clandestine. You are emailing someone while providing someone else with a secret copy without letting the recipient know you’ve done so. The person you have BCC’d receives it in their inbox just like a normal email. If they decide to “Reply All” to that email, the original sender will receive the reply, as well as anyone else in the CC line. It can be slightly embarrassing – or worse. There is an easy way to accomplish the same thing without the risk. Send the email, and then go to your sent items to forward that email to whoever you might have been tempted to BCC.
One great use of BBC is available if you are a county bar official or have other reasons to send mass emails. Just send an email to yourself with all the county bar members included in BCC. People are now familiar with that practice and recognize it. If someone has a question, they can reply to the original sender, who will receive their question without creating an ongoing group email.
The Oklahoma Bar Journal is a publication of the Oklahoma Bar Association. All rights reserved. Copyright© 2024 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.