Committees and task forces provide Oklahoma attorneys with the means to become involved in a meaningful way with their Bar Association and to be on the leading edge of the latest in information and technology to better serve their clients. Committees and task forces provide attorneys with new tools to aid their practice and to assist the OBA in providing help to all our attorneys.
Access to Justice Committee
Tiffani Armendariz – Chairperson
Edmond
405-594-0805
Brian T. Candelaria – Vice Chairperson
Norman
405-943-6457 (116)
Blayne Norman – BOG Liaison
Wewoka
405-683-2709
Julie Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Julie A. Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Awards Committee
Stephen Beam – Chairperson
Weatherford
580-772-2900
Josh Edwards – Vice Chairperson
Ada
580-332-5579
Benjamin J. Barker – BOG Liaison
Enid
580-234-5144
Lori Rasmussen – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
- The Oklahoma Bar Association annually recognizes those lawyers who represent the best of the best in the legal profession as well as those law-related organizations and non-lawyers who support our members and communities. The OBA Awards Committee works to identify those individuals and entities to be honored during the association’s Annual Meeting. More information about the OBA Awards including a list of all awards, nomination rules and OBA Awards history is available at www.okbar.org/awards.
Bar Association Technology Committee
Collin R. Walke – Chairperson
Oklahoma City
405-553-2322
TBD – Vice Chairperson
Lucas Michael West – BOG Liaison
Norman
405-579-3739
Chris Jones – BOG Liaison
Durant
580-924-1444
Cody Cooper – BOG Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-235-4100
Lori Rasmussen – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Robbin Watson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Chris Brumit – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Julie Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Beverly Petry Lewis – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
Committee will monitor the technology needs for the OBA including computer acquisition, programming needs, software purchases and advanced technology required of the bar association to ensure that the needs each department in the bar association are adequately being met. Further, the committee will work with the Budget Committee to assure that adequate funding is in place to meet the continuing needs of the association.
Bar Center Facilities Committee
Cody J. Cooper – Chairperson
Oklahoma City
405-235-4100
TBD – Vice Chairperson
Chris Jones – BOG Liaison
Durant
580-924-1444
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Gina Hendryx – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Chris Brumit – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Julie Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Robbin Watson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
- The committee will monitor the needs for the OBA building and its respective facilities to ensure that the needs of each department in the bar association and its members are adequately being met. Further, the committee will work with the Budget Committee to assure that adequate funding is in place to meet the continuing needs of the association.
Bench and Bar Committee
Judge Richard C. Ogden – Co-Chairperson
Oklahoma City
405-713-1403
Leah T. Rudnicki – Co-Chairperson
Oklahoma City
405-445-7422
Judge Thad H. Balkman – Co-Vice Chairperson
Norman
405-329-2400
Patrick Hayden Lane – Co-Vice Chairperson
Oklahoma City
405-701-6977
Jana Knott – BOG Liaison
El Reno
405-262-4040
Kate N. Dodoo – BOG Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-270-6057
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Julie Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Richard Stevens – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
- Actively support adequate funding to meet the requirements necessary for a modern and efficient Oklahoma Judicial System.
- To marshall the influence of the Bar to secure adequate resources for use by the judiciary.
- To marshall the influence of the Bar Association to secure fair and competitive salaries for all members of the state and federal judiciary and their staff.
- To continue to study and survey the present state judicial system in Oklahoma, its administration and operations, the methods of selection, tenure and removal of judges, and report thereon to the Board of Governors and House of Delegates, with such recommendations as appear desirable.
- To make recommendations to the Board of Governors on matters affecting the Oklahoma Judiciary.
- To encourage an atmosphere of civility and courtesy in the court room.
- To foster continued good relations between the state and federal judiciary and all other members of the bar.
- To continue to assist in the implementation of a system to reduce scheduling conflicts between the state and federal judiciary.
- To assist in the establishment of Bench and Bar Committees on a county or judicial district level.
- To identify problems common to the Bench and Bar and collaborate on ways to resolve them.
Clients' Security Fund Committee
Micheal C. Salem – Chairperson
Norman
405-366-1234
Peggy Stockwell – Vice Chairperson
Norman
405-321-9414
Molly Aspan – BOG Liaison
Tulsa
918-694-6970
Bryan Lynch – YLD Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-553-2310
Ben Douglas – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Gina L. Hendryx – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
- The purpose of the Client Security Fund Committee is to consider the claims of clients of former Oklahoma attorneys and within the discretion of the Committee and the Board of Governors under the Rules of the Committee to reimburse clients’ losses caused by the dishonest conduct or acts of the very few lawyers who violate their oath of office to safeguard client property. The Committee consists of members of the Oklahoma Bar Association and nonlawyers both appointed b the President of the Oklahoma Bar Association.
- The Rules of the Client Security Fund Committee were established by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma. They provide a procedure for the submission of claims to the Committee, the investigation and processing of those claims within the criteria for reimbursement as established by the Rules, and the submission to the Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors annually a report of that investigation and the recommendations by the Committee for the disposition of those claims.
Disaster Response and Relief Committee
Brian Candelaria – Chairperson
Norman
405-943-6457 (116)
TBD – Vice Chairperson
William Ladd Oldfield – BOG Liaison
Ponca City
580-762-1655
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Julie Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Lori Rasmussen – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
The Oklahoma Bar Association is critically aware of the need for implementation of a comprehensive program to effectively provide educational assistance to those victims of a mass disaster in an effort to prevent overreaching and inappropriate solicitation of those victims in their time of pain and sorrow.
- To prepare and implement a program to effectively respond to a mass disaster situation.
- To prepare the participating members of the Oklahoma Bar Association to effectively respond to disaster situations by the development of plans and procedures to be followed.
- To provide information during times of disaster to the public about the role of lawyers and the legal system to help build and preserve the confidence of the public in the legal system.
- To coordinate all activity in this area in cooperation with the various federal, state, and local agencies.
- To provide assistance after the disaster situation to insure that all victims of said disaster are protected from unethical conduct from any source.
Diversity Committee
TBD – Chairperson
TBD – Vice Chairperson
Kristy Loyall – BOG Liaison
El Reno
405-262-4040
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Beverly Petry Lewis – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Emily Buchanan Hart – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Lori Rasmussen– Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
- Identify, recruit, mentor and install in OBA leadership positions more lawyers of color, women, young lawyers, and lawyers practicing in the public and corporate sectors of our profession.
- Promote full and equal participation by minorities in all sectors of the legal profession (private, public, corporate, judiciary and academia) by creating increased opportunities in all aspects of lawyering, from recruitment by and graduation from the state’s law schools to bar admission to first employment to job retention to advancement in their legal careers.
Investment Committee
M. Joe Crosthwait Jr. – Chairperson
Midwest City, OK
405-733-1683
Kendra Robben – Vice Chairperson
Oklahoma City, OK
405-496-2607
D. Kenyon Williams Jr. – BOG Liaison
Sperry
918-594-0519
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City, OK
405-416-7000
Chris Brumit – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City, OK
405-416-7000
Law Day Committee
Ed Wunch – Chairperson
Norman
405-548-5087
Mary J. Clement – Co-Chairperson
Tulsa
405-805-2352
Philip D. Hixon – BOG Liaison
Tulsa
918-595-4800
Lori Rasmussen – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Lauren Rimmer – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
- To foster and promote the observance of Law Day USA as a time of celebration and re-dedication to the ideals of equality and justice under laws.
- To encourage and aid in the understanding and comprehension of the vital importance of law in our society, our system of government, the function of our courts, and the protections of life, liberty and property every citizen enjoys under the Constitution.
- To provide attorneys with the opportunity to raise public understanding about the role of the law and the lawyer as it relates to affairs of citizens.
- To sponsor a statewide Law Day program calling to the attention of citizens the need to preserve and strengthen our heritage under law.
- To provide and distribute to local Bar Associations material and information concerning Law Day for them to conduct meaningful Law Day programs reaching and educating all citizens.
Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program
Scott B. Goode – Chairperson
Tulsa
918-921-7376
Sheila Joanne Naifeh – Vice Chairperson
Tulsa
918-582-5444
Shea Bracken – BOG Liaison
Edmond
405-509-2000
Chad Locke – BOG Liaison
Muskogee
918-687-4900
Richard Stevens – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Gigi McCormick – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
- The goal of the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program is to provide appropriate referrals, support, intervention, mentoring and other assistance to those attorneys impaired by alcohol or drug use or having other mental health issues.
- These goals and objectives are met through and by:
- Utmost confidentiality
- Statewide coordinated network of Committee members
- Immediate Response and intervention
- Personal assessment
- Toll-free 800 number
- Educational Programs
- Journal Articles
- Part-time Director
Legal Ethics Advisory Panel
Steven Kent Balman – Panel Coordinator
Tulsa, OK
918-293-1122
T. Chase McBride – YLD Liaison
Pryor, OK
918-825-3038
Richard Stevens – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City, OK
405-416-7000
2024
- Joseph V. Allen, Tulsa
- Susan Bussey, Norman
- Paige Masters, Edmond
- Mbilike Mwafulirwal, Tulsa
- Leonard Pataki, Tulsa
- Rex Travis, Oklahoma City
2025
- Steve Balman, Tulsa
- David C. Butler, Enid
- Brian K. Morton, Oklahoma City
- William Ladd Oldfield, Ponca City
- Jon Prather, Tulsa
- Bryon J. Will, Midwest City
Aims and Objectives
- The Oklahoma Legal Ethics Advisory Panel serves in an advisory capacity for members of the Oklahoma Bar Association seeking written opinions concerning the compliance of an intended future course of conduct with the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct in the manner set forth in this Article. Advisory opinions will serve to give guidance to lawyers on whether particular conduct will or will not violate the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct. View the Oklahoma Legal Ethics Advisory Panel Rules.
Legal Internship Committee
Rules of the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma on Legal Internship
Trent Hall Baggett – Chairperson
Norman
405-740-6963
Shandi Sue Campbell – Vice Chairperson
Fayetteville, Arkansas
405-760-6523
William Ladd Oldfield – BOG Liaison
Ponca City
580-762-1655
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Debbie Jenkins – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
Pursuant and in addition to Rule 11.2 of the Rules on Legal Internship:
- Maintain close liaison with law schools to take advantage of practical training programs in existence.
- Examine the legal internship program to determine the quality of supervision, and educational experience being received by the intern.
- Develop programs to improve the understanding by the student and supervising attorney of the objectives of the legal internship program, and their respective responsibilities in achieving those objectives.
Legislative Monitoring Committee
Teena G. Gunter – Chairperson
Oklahoma City
405-522-4576
Cooper Brett Robinson – Vice Chairperson
Oklahoma City
405-000-0000
Kristy Loyall – BOG Liaison
El Reno
405-262-4040
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Julie Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
The aims and objectives of the committee will be to monitor legislation, which affects the practice of law, and use electronic media to notify committee members around the state as to the status of said legislation. Committee members will work to coordinate both county bar associations and individual lawyers in an attempt to favorably affect the creation of suitable legislation. The committee chairman will work directly with the legislative liaison of the bar association and both the chairman and committee members will appear at legislative meetings as required.
Membership Engagement Committee
Timothy E. DeClerck – Chairperson
Enid
580-234-5144
April J. Moaning – Vice Chairperson
Oklahoma City
405-888-0491
Chad Alexander Locke – BOG Liaison
Muskogee, OK
918-687-4900
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Lori Rasmussen – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Robbin Watson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Lauren Rimmer – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City, OK
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
- To bring to bar members’ attention the activities of the Oklahoma Bar Association and its various committees and county bar associations;
- To promote the value of membership with the Oklahoma Bar Association;
- To serve as a source of useful and relevant information for Oklahoma Bar Association members;
- To promote membership engagement through the planning, development and distribution of targeted marketing and communications materials;
- To develop a pipeline program aimed at fostering communication and engagement between the Oklahoma Bar Association and law students;
- To develop a plan to assist county bar associations with improving membership engagement at the local level;
- To serve as a resource for Oklahoma Bar Association leadership, staff and other stakeholders in the development and review of the association’s communication tools.
Midyear Conference Planning Committee
Morgan Smith – Chairperson
Oklahoma City
405-445-7422
TBD – Vice Chairperson
Molly Aspan – BOG Liaison
Tulsa
918-694-6970
Allie Gage – BOG Liaison (YLD)
Tulsa
918-857-0921
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Julie Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Gigi McCormick – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Lori Rasmussen – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Military Assistance Committee
S. Shea Bracken – Chairperson
Edmond
405-509-2000
John P. Cannon – Vice Chairperson
Edmond
405-657-2323
Cody Cooper – BOG Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-235-4100
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Julie Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Julie A. Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Robbin Watson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Professionalism Committee
Chad Kelliher – Chairperson
Oklahoma City
405-510-0077
TBD – Vice Chairperson
D. Kenyon Williams Jr. – BOG Liaison
Sperry
918-594-0519
Gina L. Hendryx – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Richard Stevens – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
- Professionalism and Civility: To promote and foster professionalism and civility of lawyers in accordance with the OBA Standards of Professionalism and the Rules of Professional Conduct; to encourage county bar organizations and judges to call to the attention of lawyers the adverse effects of incivility on the administration of justice, on the well-being of lawyers and clients, and on the reputation of the Bar;
- Diversity: To promote diversity in the profession by discouraging the disrespect of insulting remarks and other incivility toward women lawyers and other minority lawyers, and toward lawyers representing low-income clients;
- County Bar Professionalism Committees: To promote the formation of, and continuation of, professionalism committees in county bar associations or, where population is sparse, the formation of multi-county or judicial district professionalism committees in Oklahoma;
- County Bar Professionalism Standards: To encourage county bar associations in Oklahoma to adopt County Bar Standards of Professionalism consistent with the OBA Standards of Professionalism;
- Information Resource: To gather information and be a resource for the Bar on the published professionalism standards and articles of county bars and state bars in Oklahoma and elsewhere, to stay informed and be a resource for the Bar on recent developments in professionalism and civility activities.
Rules of Professional Conduct Committee
Judge Thad H. Balkman – Chairperson
Norman
405-329-2400
TBD – Vice Chairperson
William Ladd Oldfield – BOG Liaison
Ponca City
580-762-1655
Gina L. Hendryx – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Richard Stevens – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Section Leaders Council
TBD – Chairperson
TBD – Vice Chairperson
D. Kenyon Williams Jr. – BOG Liaison
Sperry
918-594-0519
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City, OK
405-416-7000
2023
- Alternative Dispute Resolution. – (Ret.) Judge Linda G. Morrissey, Tulsa
- Appellate Practice – Bryan G. Cleveland, Oklahoma City
- Bankruptcy & Reorganization – Charles Greenough, Tulsa
- Business and Corporate Law – David S. Randolph, Tulsa
- Criminal Law – Mark P. Hoover, Norman
- Disability Law – Ryan Dexter, Yukon
- Energy and Natural Resources Law – Elizabeth D. Brown, Oklahoma City
- Environmental Law – Travis James Couch, Oklahoma City
- Estate Planning, Probate and Trust – Denis Rischard, Oklahoma City
- Family Law – Ronald M. Gore, Jr., Tulsa
- Financial Institutions and Commercial Law – Lori E. Eropkin, Shawnee
- General Practice/Solo and Small Firm – Ashley B. Forrester, Oklahoma City
- Government and Administrative Law Practice – Julie Tate, Oklahoma City
- Health Law – Cori Loomis, Oklahoma City
- Immigration Law – Jazmin G. Zaragoza, Tulsa
- Indian Law – Stephanie C. Hudson, Oklahoma City
- Insurance Law – TO BE DETERMINED
- Intellectual Property – Jessica John Bowman, Tulsa
- International Law – Katherine J. Trent, Norman
- Juvenile Law – TO BE DETERMINED
- Labor and Employment Law – Katherine R. Mazaheri, Oklahoma City
- Law Office Management and Technology. – Kelley Cornelius, Oklahoma City
- Litigation – Jason Reese, Oklahoma City
- Master Lawyers – TO BE DETERMINED
- Military and Veterans Law – TO BE DETERMINED
- Real Property Law – Jennifer S. Jones, Oklahoma City
- Taxation Law – John S. Wolfe, Tulsa
- Women In Law – Emily Harrelson, Oklahoma City
- Workers’ Compensation – Micah Joseph Felton, Broken Arrow
The mission of Section Leaders Council is to enhance the value of sections within the administrative and governing structure of the OBA, and to assist the sections in promoting the mission of the OBA. Purposes include but are not limited to:
- Advocating for the common institutional interests of the sections to the OBA President and Board of Governors;
- Advising the OBA President and Board of Governors on matters of interest, policies, and procedures that affect the sections generally, including the creation, consolidation and dissolution of sections;
- Coordinating information and activities among the sections;
- Working with OBA staff to develop, promote and implement cost-effective procedures for supporting the activities of the sections;
- Providing training to section leaders; and
- Generally assisting the sections in providing services to their members.
Strategic Planning Committee
Jana Knott – Chairperson
El Reno
405-262-4040
TBD – Chairperson
D. Kenyon Williams Jr. – BOG Liaison
Sperry
918-594-0519
Janet Johnson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Chris Brumit – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Julie Bays – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Gina L. Hendryx – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Beverly Petry Lewis – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Gigi McCormick – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Lori Rasmussen – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Richard Stevens – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Robbin Watson – Staff Liaison
Oklahoma City
405-416-7000
Aims and Objectives
To develop, revise, refine and update the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Strategic Plan and to undertake studies of major programmatic and administrative issues of importance to the Oklahoma Bar Association as from time to time may be referred by the Board of Governors.