THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 58 | MARCH 2026 Private Reprimands. Pursuant to Rule 5.3(c), RGDP, the Professional Responsibility Commission has the authority to impose private reprimands, with the consent of the lawyer, in matters of less serious misconduct or if mitigating factors reduce the sanction to be imposed. During 2025, the Commission administered private reprimands to 32 lawyers involving 45 formal grievances. Letters of Admonition. During 2025, the Professional Responsibility Commission voted to issue letters of admonition to 39 lawyers involving 43 formal grievances, cautioning that the conduct of the lawyer was dangerously close to a violation of a disciplinary rule. Dismissals. The Professional Responsibility Commission dismissed 61 formal grievances that had been received but not concluded due to the resignation pending disciplinary proceedings of the respondent lawyer, a continuing lengthy suspension of the respondent lawyer, death of the respondent lawyer, or disbarment of the respondent lawyer. Additional formal grievances were dismissed after the investigation confirmed that the allegation could not be substantiated by clear and convincing evidence. Diversion Program. The Professional Responsibility Commission may also refer respondent lawyers to the Discipline Diversion Program where remedial measures are taken to ensure that any deficiency in the representation of a client does not reoccur in the future. During 2025, the Commission referred 28 lawyers to the Discipline Diversion Program for conduct involving 53 grievances. The Discipline Diversion Program is tailored to the individual circumstances of the participating lawyer and the misconduct alleged. Oversight of the program is by the OBA Ethics Counsel with the OBA Management Assistance Program staff involved in programming. Program options include Trust Account School, Professional Responsibility/Ethics School, Law Office Management Training, Communication and Client Relationship Skills, and Professionalism in the Practice of Law. In 2025, instructional courses were taught by OBA Assistant General Counsels Katherine Ogden and Tracy Pierce Nester, OBA Management Assistance Program Director Julie Bays, and OBA Ethics Counsel Richard Stevens. As a result of the Trust Account Overdraft Reporting Notifications, the Office of the General Counsel is able to monitor when lawyers encounter difficulty with management of their IOLTA accounts. Upon recommendation of the Office of the General Counsel, the Commission may place those individuals in a tailored program designed to instruct on basic trust accounting procedures. This course is also available to the OBA general membership as a continuing legal education course. Through a new member benefit, all OBA members may receive free access to a comprehensive trust accounting and billing software program tailored to solo practitioners and small law firms. SURVEY OF GRIEVANCES To better inform the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the bar, and the public of the nature of the grievances received, the number of lawyers receiving grievances, and the practice areas of misconduct involved, the following information is presented.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTk3MQ==