Magistrate Judge Paul Cleary has had a distinguished career as a U.S. magistrate judge in the Northern District of
Oklahoma since 2002. His patience and fairness are admired by many – litigants who enter his courtroom know they will receive an impartial decision. He has exhibited excellence of character, quality job performance and service to the bench, bar and community. Magistrate Judge Cleary’s characteristics and hard work earned him an appointment as head of the Northern District’s Alternative Dispute Resolution program for many years. In this role, he recruited and appointed respected attorneys in the community as adjunct settlement judges and directly oversaw settlement conferences in complicated and contentious cases. He has also contributed to the legal profession with high-quality writing in his reports and recommendations, which were adopted in their entirety by U.S. district judges in the Northern District and the Oklahoma Bar Journal. His writing is repeatedly cited by judges across the country, particularly regarding pretrial matters, such as discovery practice. Although he has served on the bench for more than two decades, most recently in a senior role, Magistrate Judge Cleary never waivers in his support for the Northern District of Oklahoma
and other magistrate judges. His service and continued support have minimized the burden on other judges and ensured that litigants get their day in court in a timely manner. Judge Cleary graduated with honors from the TU College of Law in 1981. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1971 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.

With a legacy of unwavering commitment spanning over a century, the Tulsa County Bar Association has been a steadfast pillar of support for members of the legal profession and the community, earning a reputation for trust and reliability. The association provides its diverse members with educational and networking opportunities and free in-person and virtual CLE programs. It is also planting seeds for the future, recently launching the YLD Leadership Academy and reviving its mentorship program, ensuring everyone has a chance to grow and succeed. The association’s support extends far beyond its members, reaching out to the broader legal community. This includes law students, whom it supports with free membership, a mentorship program and scholarships. It also aids the judiciary by hosting a biannual judicial dinner fundraiser, which provides crucial funding for the Tulsa County District Court for expenses not covered in the court’s limited budget. The TCBA also supports residents of Tulsa County through various programs such as the Lawyer Referral and Information Services (LRIS) that offers over-the-phone assistance with legal resource navigation or, for $25, a referral to an attorney for a 30-minute consultation; Street Law, which provides legal life skill lessons to underserved youth while exposing them to careers in the law; Court Assistance Program (CAP), which connects volunteer attorneys with tenants facing eviction; Holiday Challenge, which brings cheer in the form of holiday gifts for families reunifying through the courts; and the First Responder Will Project, which provides basic wills at no cost for those who put their lives on the line daily. The Tulsa County Bar Association works tirelessly to educate, assist and empower its members and the Tulsa community. This dedication to helping members grow personally and professionally and creating solutions and assistance for the community is truly outstanding.