Vol. 6 No. 40 | Oct. 7, 2026
Courts
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
- 2026 OK 70: MERIT HOLDINGS et al. v. INTERNATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE et al.
- 2026 OK 71: BROOKS et al. v. REYNOLDS et al.
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
October Bar Journal Is Now Online
The October issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal is available online now. This issue focuses on Government & Administrative Law Practice, featuring articles on charter municipalities, public construction, the Open Records Act and more. You'll also learn more about the upcoming Annual Meeting, including event highlights, leadership elections and the 2026 OBA Award recipients.
FEATURES
Charter Authority
By Gunner Briscoe
Disability Benefits: Navigating the Procedural and Substantive Processes
By Deirdre Dexter and Jessica Tait
Public Construction Under the Oklahoma Public Competitive Bidding Act: Municipal Compliance from Bid to Completion
By Chase McBride
Efficiency and the Open Records Act
By Christian Rinehart
Due Process and Requests for Affirmative Relief Within the Oklahoma Tax Commission
By Marina Wise
Function Over Form: Oklahoma’s Errant Functionalist Separation of Powers Approach
By John Tyler Hammons
From the President | Pro Bono: A Promise of Justice for All
"As lawyers, we are fortunate to practice in a profession built on the principle that the law should serve everyone – not just those who can afford an attorney. Yet for too many people, access to justice remains out of reach simply because they cannot afford legal representation. That is why pro bono service is not merely an admirable contribution to our communities. It is an essential part of ensuring that our justice system works as it should."
OBA Honors Annual Award Winners
Every day, Oklahoma attorneys make positive and noteworthy contributions in their communities. And each year, the Oklahoma Bar Association proudly recognizes those Oklahoma attorneys and law-related organizations who are making a difference through their meaningful service. Please plan to join the OBA during this year's Annual Meeting as we honor those among us who demonstrate excellence, professionalism and an ongoing committment to the highest ideals of the legal profession.
View the Annual Meeting Agenda
This year's Annual Meeting will feature a wide variety of CLE offerings alongside our traditional business meetings, OBA Awards presentations, section and committee meetings, networking events and more. Join us to learn and stay abreast of the latest in legal education, get involved in bar business and leadership and help build the long-lasting legacy of the legal profession in our state. A complete schedule of meetings and events is available for viewing online.
YLD To Host New Lawyer Events
On Friday, Oct. 16, the OBA Young Lawyers Division is set to host "Been There, Filed That," a free event for young lawyers. During this event, speakers will answer some of the most nagging questions a young lawyer may have – such as "What do I do if I don't know the answer to a judge's questions?" or "How do you respond to an angry client?" This event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oklahoma Bar Center. Lunch will be included.
Following this event, the YLD invites all attorneys to come celebrate our new bar admittees at Chicken N Pickle in Oklahoma City. RSVP for this event at www.okbar.org/new-lawyer-event-rsvp/.
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
Thinking About Launching Your Own Law Practice?
By OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays
Twice a year, the OBA Management Assistance Program offers Launching Your Law Practice: A Hands-On Workshop, and our next program is coming up Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Oklahoma Bar Center.
This program is designed for new lawyers, lawyers considering private practice and, frankly, anyone who has discovered that knowing how to practice law and knowing how to run a law practice are two vastly different things. The workshop is free, although registration is required.
We are covering quite a bit in one day.
We’ll begin with the "Business Planning Lab," where participants will start putting together a basic business plan and a process and procedures manual. The goal is not to spend an hour talking theoretically about business planning. I want attendees to leave with something they can continue building when they get back to the office.
Then we’ll turn to artificial intelligence with “Cross-Examining Your AI: Sycophancy, Risks and Responsible Strategies for Legal Professionals.” We’ll talk about prompting for legal research, drafting and productivity, as well as why lawyers still need to question what these tools tell them.
Phil Fraim, president and CEO of Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Co., will cover "What You Need To Know About Malpractice Insurance," including what lawyers should understand when starting coverage.
After lunch, I’ll be back for “Building Your Law Firm Tech Stack: Tools with ROI in Mind.” We’ll look at practice management, document automation, communication systems and other technology with a particular focus on choosing tools that make financial sense for a law practice.
Finally, Jeff Trevillion of Crowe & Dunlevy will tackle a subject that new law firm owners cannot afford to ignore; "Tax Accounting Fundamentals for Lawyers," including financial statements, deductions, liabilities and other accounting considerations relevant to running a practice.
The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. It does not qualify for MCLE credit, but sometimes the most useful education for running a law office does not come with CLE hours attached.
Email Nickie Day or call 405-416-7050 to register for this workshop.
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.