This was another busy year for the OBA Bench & Bar Committee. Historically, the Bench & Bar Committee has been one of the most active OBA committees working on behalf of our association. This year proved no exception. Committee meetings were held monthly at the Oklahoma Bar Center with video teleconferencing with the Tulsa County Bar Association. The monthly meetings often required a two or three hour commitment by the committee members. A substantial amount of work for the Bench & Bar Committee occurs through its many subcommittees which are project and/or task oriented. However, this year the committee committed the resources of the entire Bench & Bar Committee to complete review of the proposed Model Code of Judicial Conduct. The committee has successfully completed this task.

Oklahoma Model Code of Judicial Conduct Subcommittee. This subcommittee was Co-Chaired by Cathy M. Christensen and Jack Brown. A third “unofficial Co-Chairman” and the committee member doing the yeoman’s share of the intellectual analysis was David Swank. This committee is indebted to Professor Swank for his assistance. In 2006, the subcommittee began their review of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) preliminary report from the Joint Commission to evaluate the Model Code of Judicial Conduct. The OBA committee reviewed the ABA proposed code for approximately three years, discussing each suggested revision by the American Bar Association. The committee can confidently assure Oklahoma attorneys and judges that each and every provision in the ABA proposed Model Code has been analyzed.

The Bench & Bar Committee and the Model Code of Judicial Conduct Subcommittee will present its final recommendations to the OBA Board of Governors at the November 2008 Board of Governors meeting.

Chair Comments: Jack Brown and I are most appreciative to OBA President, Bill Conger, for allowing us to co-chair the Bench & Bar Committee for a third consecutive year. This committee is comprised of a very distinguished group of jurists and veteran Oklahoma attorneys. The committee is indebted to Professor Swank for his leadership and editorial skills. The substantive work and accomplishments of this committee would not be possible but for the extremely dedicated committee members who work diligently in advancing the work of the committee. Jack Brown and I invite and encourage all OBA members interested in becoming a member of the Bench & Bar Committee to attend the next committee meeting November 20, 2008 at 10 a.m. in conjunction with the OBA Annual Meeting. Please contact incoming President Elect Jon Parsley, for appointment to the Bench & Bar Committee.

Cathy Christensen,
Co-Chairperson

Jack Brown,
Co-Chairperson