2007 Officers: J. Lisa Impson, chairperson; Matthew L. Morgan, chairperson-elect; O. Joseph Williams, secretary; Debra E. Gee, treasurer.

Bar Review Scholarships: Each year, the section solicits applications from 3rd or 4th year students from the three in-state law schools and awards up to three bar review scholarship of $500 each. Recipients are awarded based upon merit, need, participation in Indian law related activities while in law school, and demonstrated intent to practice in the area of Indian law in Oklahoma upon passage of the bar. The scholarships are normally awarded in late May during the Sovereignty Symposium.

This year, the Indian Law Section was honored to award one scholarship to Amanda O’Quinn, a recent graduate of Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Highlights: The section was a sponsor of a Guardian Ad Litem conference presented by Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Inc. and held on June 2, 2007, at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City.

The section is an annual sponsor of the Sovereignty Symposium. This year’s symposium was held in Oklahoma City at the Skirvin Hilton on May 30-31. In addition, the section was a sponsor of the gala held in connection with this year’s symposium.

The section has been working toward the re-establishment of a newsletter. It is currently seeking relevant information to include in an upcoming issue.

Areas of Special Interest: Indian law is ever-evolving and expanding. The section supports and is actively working to give publicity to the issue of the inclusion of Indian law on the Oklahoma bar exam. A number of states which have Indian tribes located within their boundaries have already included Indian law as an area of law to be tested on their respective bar exams. With such a large number of tribes located within the state, the section desires to see Oklahoma be the next state to follow suit.

Upcoming events: The annual section meeting will be on Nov. 9, 2007, from 9:30-11:30 during the OBA Annual Conference in Oklahoma City. A business meeting and elections will be conducted. Additionally, Professor Stacy L. Leeds, University of Kansas College of Law and former Cherokee Nation Justice, will be our keynote speaker and discuss Cherokee Nation Judicial Appeals Tribunal case, Allen v. Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, involving the issue of the tribal membership of Cherokee freedmen.

Message from Chair: It has been my privilege to serve as chairperson of the Indian Law Section. I have enjoyed my term as chairperson and am appreciative of my fellow officers and their willingness to serve. I look forward to seeing the section grow as it strives to become more visible and active within the legal community and the community at large.

J. Lisa Impson
Chairperson