Poor Calls Affect More Than Just the Game
By Dan Murdock, OBA General Counsel

But our errors involve more than a loss in a game that may soon be forgotten. Our actions have a demonstrable impact on the lives of our clients and shape the way in which our profession is viewed since our misdeeds are so well reported to all throughout the world and are cause for more jokes about our profession. Our profession, and it is a profession, is held to a higher standard of conduct and to a greater degree of accountability.

The young boy’s desire for accountability is not unusual in our time. As a parent, I try to impress upon my children that their acts have consequences. Referees are not suspended or banished from their profession because the crowd disapproves of the decisions which are made in a game. They continue on, another game, another crowd. Lawyers are different. We don’t have that luxury because of the faith and trust placed in us by our clients and the knowledge and integrity demanded from us by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

That young boy in Section C of Allen Fieldhouse that day will never have an idea of what resulted from his comment that day. A simple comment that expressed so much more about what people want, expect, and in our profession, deserve.

Accountability. What does your balance sheet look like these days?