The Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors met at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008.

REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Vice President Mordy reported he attended the OBA annual convention, November Board of Governors meeting, OBF meeting, OBF 25th anniversary dinner and participated in several phone conferences with Governor Christensen.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

President-Elect Parsley reported he attended the OBA Annual Meeting, chaired the OBA House of Delegates, appeared before the Oklahoma Supreme Court for the budget hearing, gave opening remarks at the OBA Law School for Legislators and completed proposed appointments to OBA committees and other appointments.

REPORT OF THE PAST PRESIDENT

Past President Beam reported he attended the November Board of Governors meeting, Annual Meeting, House of Delegates meeting, Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting and the Custer County Bar Association Christmas party.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Williams reported that he attended the Annual Meeting and associated activities, Law School for Legislators, directors meeting, Supreme Court Conference to present the budget, meeting with the Administrative Office of the Courts on collaborative technology issues, Administrative Office of the Courts holiday lunch, staff appreciation lunch, OBF past presidents’ dinner, staff holiday party and Board of Governors holiday dinner.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

Governor Bates reported she attended the judicial conference reception for Chief Justice Winchester, November Board of Governors meeting, Board of Governors dinner, Annual Meeting and Oklahoma County Bar holiday reception. Governor Brown reported he attended the OBA Annual Meeting, Board of Governors meeting, OBA Bench and Bar meeting, OBA House of Delegates meeting, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma board meeting, Oklahoma Bar Foundation meeting, Oklahoma Bar Foundation office dedication dinner, Oklahoma Fellows of the American Bar Foundation dinner and meeting and University of Tulsa College of Law Annual Meeting luncheon. He also was a CLE presenter at the OBA Annual Meeting and the Tulsa County Bar Association. Governor Christensen reported she attended the November board meeting in Oklahoma City, OBA annual convention, General Assembly and House of Delegates, OBA Bench and Bar Committee meeting, Oklahoma County Bar meeting, Oklahoma Fellows of the American Bar Foundation meeting and dinner, Oklahoma Bar Foundation meeting and reception, Oklahoma County Bar holiday reception, Oklahoma City University Annual Meeting luncheon and the Thursday night dinner hosting the visiting bar presidents and representatives. Governor Dirickson reported she attended the judicial conference reception for Chief Justice Winchester, Annual Meeting, November board meeting and participated in the Solo and Small Firm Planning Committee teleconference. Governor Farris reported he attended the Tulsa County Bar Foundation meeting, OBA Annual Meeting, House of Delegates and Tulsa County Bar Association holiday dinner. He also hosted the Arkansas Bar Association president-elect at the Annual Meeting and gave a presentation at the Tulsa County Bar Association annual estate planning CLE. Governor Hermanson reported he attended the judicial conference reception for Chief Justice Winchester, board dinner on Tuesday night, November Board of Governors meeting, OBA Annual Meeting, Professionalism Committee meeting, Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, OBA Law-related Education meeting and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation’s Silver Anniversary of IOLTA dinner. Governor Hixson reported he attended the judicial conference reception for the chief justice, November Board of Governors meeting, Credentials Committee meeting, OBA General Assembly, OBA House of Delegates, Professionalism Committee meeting, Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, Canadian County Community Sentencing Planning Counsel, Clients’ Security Fund Committee meeting, Criminal Law Section annual luncheon, OBA staff appreciation luncheon and the Canadian County Bar Association Christmas party. Governor Reheard reported she attended the judicial conference reception for Chief Justice Winchester, OBA Annual Meeting, November board meeting, Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association annual meeting and participated in the Solo and Small Firm Planning Committee teleconference. Governor Souter reported he attended the November Board of Governors meeting, annual convention including General Assembly and House of Delegates. Governor Stockwell reported she attended the judicial conference reception for Chief Justice Winchester, November Board of Governors meeting, Annual Meeting, Cleveland County Bar Association Executive Committee regular meeting and Cleveland County Bar Association monthly meeting and CLE. Governor Stuart reported he attended the November Board of Governors meeting, OBA Annual Meeting, Board of Editors meeting, Resolutions Committee meeting and Thursday night dinner for out- of-state bar presidents and representatives.

YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION REPORT

Governor Warren reported she attended the OBA Annual Meeting, November board meeting, Tuesday night board dinner, November YLD board meeting and YLD Friends and Fellows breakfast.

SUPREME COURT LIAISON REPORT

Justice Taylor reported that Chief Justice Edmondson will be sworn in on Jan. 15, 2009, at 2 p.m. in the Supreme Court courtroom and invited all board members to attend. He advised that the court approved the 2009 budget presented by President-Elect Parsley, Executive Director Williams and Director of Administration Combs and that Executive Director Williams has two additional sessions set before the court to present amendments to the District Court Rules. He also offered the appreciation and thanks of all of the justices to the retiring Board of Governors for their service and work as well as to those who remain on the board. He welcomed the 2009 board members and thanked them for offering their service.

LAW STUDENT DIVISION LIAISON REPORT

LSD Chair Janoe reported he attended the Board of Governors November meeting, OBA Annual Meeting and Law Student Division annual meeting.

COMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS

LRE Committee Liaison Governor Hermanson announced that the “We the People” program will be presented at the State Capitol in January and urged the Governors to volunteer as judges if asked.

REPORT OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

A written status report of the Professional Responsibility Commission and OBA disciplinary matters was submitted for the board’s review.

CLIENTS’ SECURITY FUND REPORT

Chairperson Micheal Salem reviewed the recommendation of the committee to reimburse clients for the amount of $280,425.53, pro rated at a rate of 62 percent. The board adopted the report and voted to publish the results by sending out a news release. Chairperson Salem praised Governor Hixson and former Governor Caudle for their active participation on the committee. Governor Hixson praised Chairperson Salem for his leadership and hard work. President-Elect Parsley expressed concern regarding the definition of the term “income” and suggested that this matter be reviewed in the future by the Investment Committee.

OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL CONTRACT 2009-2010

Communications Director Manning described the process used to bid the two-year Oklahoma Bar Journal contract for preparation, printing and mailing. She reported only one bid was received from the current vendor, Printing Inc. of Oklahoma City. She noted that the price increases were almost entirely due to the increase in the price of paper. Director Manning advised the board that Stigler Printing had expressed some interest in bidding, but upon making contact with the company, she was advised that they will submit a bid in the future once they have purchased additional equipment. The board approved the contract with Printing Inc.

APPOINTMENTS

The board approved President-Elect Parsley’s appointments as follows:

Board of Editors Chairperson – reappoint Melissa DeLacerda, Stillwater, for a one-year term expiring 12/31/09.

Board of Editors Associate Editors - appoint Scott Buhlinger, Bartlesville, from District 1; January Windrix, Poteau, from District 2, and Emily Duensing, Tulsa, from District 6, each for a three-year term expiring 12/31/11.

MCLE Commission Chairperson – reappoint Margaret Hamlett, Tulsa, for a one-year term expiring 12/31/09.

MCLE Commission Members – reappoint D. Faith Orlowski, Tulsa; Charles F. Alden III, Oklahoma City, and Judge Lori M. Walkley, Norman, each for a three-year term expiring 12/31/11.

Professional Responsibility Commission – appoint Melissa DeLacerda, Stillwater, and Stephen D. Beam, Weatherford, each for a three-year term expiring 12/31/11.

Oklahoma Indian Legal Services – reappoint Tyson Branyan, Cushing, and Julie Strong, Clinton; appoint Casey Ross-Petherick, Oklahoma City, each for a three-year term expiring 12/31/11.

Clients’ Security Fund – appoint Donna Dirickson, Weatherford, and Luke Gaither, Henryetta; reappoint Lincoln Clay McElroy, Oklahoma City, and Micheal Salem, Norman, each for a three-year term expiring 12/31/11.

 Board of Medicolegal Investigations – reappoint Shanda McKenney, Oklahoma City, to a one-year term expiring 12/31/09.

Legal Ethics Advisory Panel Coordinator/Chairperson – reappoint Roger R. Scott, Tulsa, to a one-year term expiring 12/31/2009.

Legal Ethics Advisory Panel – Oklahoma City Panel - reappoint Timila Rother, Oklahoma City; Debra McCormick, Oklahoma City, and Micheal Salem, Norman, to a three-year term expiring 12/31/11.

Legal Ethics Advisory Panel - Tulsa Panel - reappoint Lynnwood Moore, Tulsa; John Woodard, Tulsa, and Allan E. Mitchell, McAlester, to a three-year term expiring 12/31/11.

Audit Committee Chairperson – appoint James T. Stuart, Shawnee, to a one-year term expiring 12/31/09.

Audit Committee – appoint James T. Stuart, Shawnee, to a two-year term expiring 12/31/10; appoint Charles W. Chesnut, Miami, to a three-year term expiring 12/31/11; and reappoint Cathy Christensen to a one-year term expiring 12/31/09.

YLD COMMITTEE LIAISONS

2009 YLD Chairperson Rose submitted his appointments of committee liaisons to the board for review.

COMMITTEE CHAIR- PERSONS, VICE CHAIRPERSONS AND BOARD LIAISONS

President-Elect Parsley submitted his appointments to the board for review and advised that he was appointing Governor Hixson to the Clients’ Security Fund as an additional board liaison.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

An executive session was held.

EMPLOYMENT OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL