Heroes: Who Are They?
By Dan Murdock, OBA General Counsel

When I was growing up, I had my heroes. They were usually professional athletes or the stars of the western serials I watched on Saturday mornings.

John F. Kennedy was an exception to the usual. I, like most of you, remember where I was at special times. I remember where I was on Nov. 22, 1963. I was sitting in my fifth hour English IV class on a cool overcast day when the announcement of his death came over the intercom. I, along with the rest of the world, was shocked. I had lost a hero. I first became acquainted with then-Sen. Kennedy when an older brother living in Boston sent me a copy of Profiles in Courage as a gift. I was fascinated by the tales of those men who did something that they thought was right while doing so cost them so much. Their deeds were heroic, but at the time, they were not considered heroes.

Today we hear much about heroes. The term is used frequently by many in a multitude of situations. In his book, Cowboy Ethics, What Wall Street Can Learn From the Code of the West, James P. Owen writes that we can all be heroes in our own lives. Most of us will never be presented with the opportunity to be considered a “real hero.” But that doesn’t mean that we are not. Each day lawyers are heroes to their clients. Each day, lawyers have a positive impact on the lives of others. All lawyers have that opportunity. If you question my statement, please read the preamble to the Rules of Professional Conduct.

The Rules of Professional Conduct are the “rules of the game.” Although not a game, the practice of law has guidance in those rules, and those rules outline the proscribed way in which to conduct ourselves while we practice our profession. The preamble begins as follows: “A lawyer is a representative of clients, an officer of the legal system and a public citizen having special responsibility for the quality of justice.” It ends by stating that lawyers play a vital role in the preservation of society. You cannot ask much more of a profession.

There are those who will demean our profession and tell us that lawyers are responsible for many of the ills of the world. I admit that there are problems and that lawyers do not always do the things that need to be done to honor the profession. Yet, if you look at the statistics, an overwhelming majority do so each day.

You will hear criticism of representing this particular client or defending those accused of heinous crimes. Lawyers are not only representing the injured or the criminal defendant, but they are representing the system of justice under which we live and are so fortunate to have the opportunity to do so.

In January 2000, new OBA President Joe Crosthwait paid tribute to a few of the presidents who had served previously in that role. Included, inter alia, were Jim Turner, Jimmy Fellers, Bill Paul, Neil Bogan and Mona Lambird. He said that individually and collectively they left a significant and abiding legacy founded upon individual integrity and relentless dedication to our profession, our association, and those common principles of a fair, just and accessible legal system. Each lawyer has that opportunity.

What will be your legacy to the legal profession?

Originally published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal Mar. 10, 2007 - Vol. 78; No. 09.