Vol. 4 No. 41 | Oct. 9, 2024
Courts
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
OBA Welcomes Newest Members
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, new bar members took their Oath of Attorney in the Oklahoma state Capitol House Chambers. The oath was administered by Chief Justice M. John Kane IV. More than 300 new attorneys were among a group who passed the bar exam this past July. 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.
Oklahoma Bar Association members are encouraged to register to provide pro bono legal services to victims of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene following an Oct. 1 order by the North Carolina Supreme Court allowing out-of-state lawyers to temporarily register with the North Carolina State Bar. Lawyers interested in providing pro bono services under the order are asked to fill out an online registration form and return it to the North Carolina State Bar using the instructions provided.
Celebrate New OBA Members With the YLD
The OBA Young Lawyers Division is celebrating our association's newest attorneys, who were just sworn in, with two exciting events. Food and fun are included for all attendees at no cost! There are two events to choose from:
Oklahoma City | Friday, Oct. 11 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Topgolf | Chisholm Creek, 13313 Pawnee Dr.
Tulsa | Friday, Oct. 18 | 6 p.m.
Gridiron Sportsbar | River Spirit Casino (with access to Topgolf Swing Suites), 8330 Riverside Pkwy.
There is still time to register for next week's Opening Your Law Practice seminar. This is a free semi-annual seminar for new lawyers, those returning to private practice or those venturing out on their own. The program will address resources for starting a law practice, building client service and satisfaction systems, client development and marketing, client file management, professional liability insurance, professionalism, trust accounting and legal ethics, law office software and equipment and accounting and tax for law firms.
Email Nickie Day or call 405-416-7050 to register for this seminar.
"How much do you know about banks or other lenders loaning money where aircraft equipment is being offered as collateral for a loan? If you were not aware that the Federal Aviation Administration Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, located in Oklahoma City, is home to the FAA Aircraft Registry, you are among the majority of lawyers in the U.S., not to mention our colleagues right here at home. You’re not alone if you did not know that the FAA Aircraft Registry is where all mortgages, leases, liens and title documents are filed any time aircraft, engines or spare aircraft parts are accepted as collateral to perfect the security interests of a lender. In this article, our objective is to provide the reader with basic information that should be thought about anytime aviation assets are being considered as collateral for a loan."
"Fall is always an exciting time in Oklahoma. The cooling temperatures signal the change of seasons, college football, harvest festivals, the list goes on. This year, we have the additional excitement of election season. With the November presidential election at the top of many minds, our state’s biennial judicial retention ballot may be somewhat overshadowed in the course of public discussion. As lawyers, though, we have a responsibility to enhance public understanding of this unique facet of Oklahoma’s third branch of government.
As most Oklahoma lawyers know, voters in our state chose, in 1967, to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to establish governor-appointed judges and create the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC). This change in the method of judicial selection came in the wake of a massive bribery scandal. Historians, such as Oklahoma lawyer Bob Burke and retired Judge Lee Card, have written very compelling books on this dark moment in our state’s history."
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.
Featured CLE
By OBA MAP Director Jim Calloway
“Legal pros understand the importance of efficiently managing long and intricate documents.” That is how Catherine Reach of the North Carolina Bar Association begins a recent blog post on the many tools available in the View tab of the Microsoft Word ribbon that many legal professionals do not use.
Lawyers appreciate that it is more challenging to deal with reviewing and editing a 30-page document than a three-page document, especially if the document is heavily formatted. For time-challenged lawyers, once the basic features of Word are learned, it is often back to work with no time to learn advanced features. Upgrades often add new features, but many lawyers often skip the “new features added” popup due to working on a client matter with a deadline.
"Unlocking the Power of the View Tab in Microsoft Word" is a great post by Ms. Reach. I expect that almost every lawyer reading this learns something new. Ms. Reach also helpfully suggests which operations are so useful that they should be added to the Quick Access Toolbar so that they are always available even if you are using a tab other than the View tab.
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.