Tulsa Lawyer Lawyer Magazine
January 2026
Faces of the Courts
1903
A Message from the President
Michael P. Taubman 2025-2026 TCBA President
TULSA LAWYER
In this Issue
January 2026
Pg. 2
2
Mind Your Wake! Michael Taubman
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TCBA Diversity Committee Matt Ingham, Chair
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Law Library - We Can Help! Lawyers Fighting Hunger Hosts 16th Annual Thanksgiving Event
Voices of the Tulsa County Bar Association By Ralph Schaefer
Judges Jason Robertson & D. Edward Snow
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VP's Corner Shena Burgess
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Judicial Dinner - January 29th
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Auction Wish List
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Lynne Miller Law Day Book Club 2026 Animal Law Committee - Adoption Spotlight
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Judicial Spotlight - Gary L. Davis, II Special Judge, Tulsa County District Court Judicial Spotlight - Mike Esmond Special Judge, Tulsa County District Court Judicial Spotlight - Janay Clougherty Special Judge, Tulsa County District Court
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Voices of the Tulsa County Bar Association Judge Jason A. Robertson United States Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Oklahoma
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2026 TCBF Annual Charity Golf Tournament
18
TCBA Happenings...
20
Voices of the Tulsa County Bar Association Judge D. Edward Snow United States Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Oklahoma
23
Grapevine
24
Classifieds
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A Message from the President
Michael P. Taubman Mind Your Wake! We turned the page on another year, and I hope everyone had pleasant holidays with as much family and festivities as desired. This time of year, we renew our focus on Professionalism. Recently on The Way I Heard It, the podcast hosted by Mike Rowe of TV’s Dirty Jobs fame, he interviewed Johnny Joey Jones, a retired U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant who lost both legs above the knee due to an IED during his service in Afghanistan. To hear Jones’ story and his focus today, he keeps going, self-described as like the Energizer Bunny, going, and going, and going, improvising, adapting, and overcoming his circumstances to provide support for Veterans, becoming a sought after news commentator on Veterans’ issues, and authoring several books, including: Unbroken Bonds of Battle and more recently, Behind the Badge. It was his discussion on Rowe’s show, in the episode titled Mind Your Wake, that caught my attention, and it spoke to me about our own professional endeavors. Mind Your Wake was attributed by Jones to his grandfather, who employed this phrase to remind his grandson to think about the wake you leave, and its effects on others. “So if you’re on a boat – if you’re in the middle of a lake, when you’re driving through that lake, that wake goes all the way to the shore.” Simple enough right? Jones went on to discuss how that wake will produce effects on the surrounding bodies, whether that be the person swimming, another boat, and at the shoreline. Employing Jones’ approach, we as licensed attorneys possess the means to create a large wake. The wake we create in our efforts on behalf of clients
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is plain enough, but consider the corollary effects of our wake on our colleagues, on the staff, both in the courts and our offices, and the public at large. Thus, it remains incumbent on us to approach the operation of our craft on this lake of legal process ever mindful of the wake we create and its turbulence upon others. Monthly, the TCBA board meeting opens up with a professionalism moment, as has been our tradition for many, many years now. It’s a moment of reflection upon those times when perhaps an attorney or party in the case has created an experience of excessive turmoil that otherwise did not need to be employed to achieve their advocacy goals. Certainly, each of us has ignored our wake at one time or another, peppering discussion of legal issues with invective, shouting down colleagues or being dismissive of the other side’s interest. Failing to act in the utmost professional manner at all times is human. Self-reflection is likewise human, but the latter leads to growth and the former a coarse life, which unexamined may lead to suspension or termination of ones license as we see reported in the bar journal. In the book, Let My People Go Surfing, Yvon Chouinard wrote “[h]ow you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.”1 Chouinard, a self-avowed student of Zen philosophy,
1 Chouinard, Yvon. Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman--Including 10 More Years of Business Unusual, p.211, Penguin (2016).
could be applied equally to our profession. When traversing the face of the mountain in an effort to summit, the path is entirely yours to choose, but the manner in which you choose to climb it may make all the difference in the time required, the difficulty of the climb, and the risks involved. Sometimes, the negotiation of the climb may be achieved without the use of a safety belay rope if the rock is solid, but some surfaces conceal loose, blocky, or overgrown areas where it’s prudent to tie in lest you slip and that downclimb becomes a free fall. In our profession, this would be akin to the implosion of a professional career. Author Douglas Adams is attributed with the quote “the single raindrop never feels responsible for the flood.” All raindrops are part of a larger body of water. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us as we profess the practice of law, or in any field of endeavor, that we take responsibility and accountability for our actions, knowing full well that not only what we do matters but the manner in which it is done. I likewise found attribution to Adams for the quote “it’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the sudden stop at the end.” As you begin this new calendar year, be mindful of how you serve yourself, your profession, and the wake you create in this life and the lives around you that you will most certainly impact in ways big and small. Endeavor to bring out the best practices in yourself, your colleagues, and the courts in which you appear. Reach for the summit as you climb the professional mountain. Sincerely, Michael P. Taubman TCBA President, 2025-2026
January Community Outreach Committee Meeting
Tuesday, January 20 at noon Meetings are held in person at the bar center with a virtual option to attend.
The Bar Center will be CLOSED Jan. 19th Tulsa Lawyer 3
TCBA Diversity Committee Matt Ingham, Chair
A Great Day to Celebrate the Life of a Great American Colleagues, as you are probably aware, TCBA will participate in the MLK Parade Monday, January 19, 2026. The holiday MLK Day commemorates Dr. King’s birthday (January 15, 1929) which became federally recognized in November 1983. Later through an act of Congress, MLK Day was designated to be celebrated on the third Monday of January each year. MLK Day is a great day to celebrate the life of a great American. Dr. King was the chief spokesperson for ‘non-violent’ protests during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s & 1960’s. During his career of leading ‘non-violent’ protests, Dr. King was jailed at least 25 times (likely closer to 30 times), delivered one of the most famous speeches in our country’s history (‘I Have A Dream’ published August 1963), and was the recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. I urge each of us as legal professionals to follow the example set by Dr. King – I recommend we encourage our friends, family members, and colleagues to only engage in ‘non-violent’ protests
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when they voice opinions about societal issues. And as I say at the end of each one of my TCBA articles, I encourage us as legal professionals to strive on a daily basis to strengthen a Tulsa Legal Community that encourages civility towards each other & inclusion of individuals who come from diverse backgrounds. Sincerely, Matt Ingham TCBA Diversity Committee, Co-Chair
The next Diversity Committee meeting will be Monday, February 2nd. Details at www.tulsabar.com on the events calendar.
Tulsa County Law Library - We Can Help! Have you submitted an order to the judge for their signature, and now find yourself needing to remedy your filing by complying with the Local Rules? The Tulsa County Law Library can help you easily access the applicable Local Rules. Accessing these Local Rules is easy when you visit the Tulsa County Law Library. Use any one of our four computer terminals to visit the Court’s official website containing the Local Rules, and print a copy of them for $0.25 per page. Maybe you have filed an amended pleading, and now you would like to deliver it to the Judge for their signature. The Tulsa County Law Library’s email-based courier service can likely assist you. For a nominal fee, attorneys are able to submit pleadings and documents for delivery to a specific Judge’s inbox. Moreover,
attorneys may also submit a request to have the same pleading or document picked up from the Judge’s outbox once a Court Minute indicates it has been signed. The corresponding charges for these services are outlined in the Tulsa County Law Library’s E-File invoice, which may be obtained by contacting the Law Library via email at lawlibrary@tulsacounty.org. Another resource available to Tulsa County Bar Association is the wealth of information accessible at the Tulsa County Law Library. The resources available here are not limited to just scholarly articles, statutes, or case law. At the Tulsa County Law Library you can find helpful resources like a copy of the Oklahoma Legal Directory which is useful in locating an experienced attorney to serve as a mediator or for whom to refer a case. The Library is also a great place to charge your laptop or mobile phone in between hearings. Come visit the Tulsa County Law Library to explore all the information and resources available to you. We are conveniently located on the second floor of the Tulsa County Courthouse next to the Court Clerk’s Civil filing desk.
Lawyers Fighting Hunger- 16th Annual Thanksgiving Event Lawyers Fighting Hunger marked its 16th Annual Thanksgiving Distribution this year, once again mobilizing the Tulsa legal and business community to combat food insecurity. Held at Iron Gate, the event brought out over 70 volunteers who packed and delivered grocery bags loaded with 26 essential food items, along with a turkey and a five-pound bag of potatoes for each family. Since 2011, Lawyers Fighting Hunger has united local law firms, businesses, and community partners to fund, assemble, and distribute Thanksgiving meals to individuals and families facing hardship in the Tulsa area. This year, 20 partner agencies—including Iron Gate, EduRec, Tulsa VA, Parkside, Emergency Infant Services, and others—worked alongside volunteers to ensure that meals reached vulnerable households quickly and efficiently. The continued growth of this event reflects the rising need for food assistance across the community. While one initiative can’t solve hunger, Lawyers Fighting Hunger remains focused on meeting families where they are and addressing the most basic need—food. This year’s distribution was made possible through the commitment and generosity of more than 40 Tulsa-area law firms, businesses, and individual donors. Lawyers Fighting Hunger extends special appreciation to its platinum sponsors—Smolen Law, Sherwood & Robert, Boettcher Devinney Ingle & Wicker, Bradley & Loggin, Brandes & Yancy, Brewster & DeAngelis, Graves McClain, Holbrook Leavitt & Associates, and Laizure Law—as well as its gold sponsors, Sanders & Associates PC, Truskett Law, Bare Aesthetics, Biby Law Firm, GTLaw/GT Research, Ken Ray Underwood, Mercer Law Firm, Rankin Law, Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, Riggs Abney, and Wandres Law PC.
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VP's Corner Shena Burgess Happy New Year & Welcome to 2026! The new year always starts with hope and joy of what the new year may bring. I hope everyone was able to take a rest and hold your family and friends close to your heart.
This year is not only a milestone for our country but the opportunity for reflection of how our country has evolved and confronted profound challenges. The legal profession has been at the front of it all- defending civil liberties, shaping public policy and guiding our country toward a more just and equitable future.
This year is special. This is the start of the United States of America’s semiquincentennial ( 250th ) birthday. As our nation prepares this year’s celebration, I want to start this year with gratitude to the members of the Tulsa County Bar Association and your steadfast commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting constitutional freedoms and ensuring justice for all.
I hope to see all of you this year at the many activities and functions that the bar center has planned. Just a few are the Tulsa County Judicial dinner, YLD Bowling league, and the yearly golf tournament. This is a new year and new ways to get involved. Hope to see you at the Tulsa County Bar.
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Shena Burgess TCBA Vice President, 2025-2026
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Lynne Miller Law Day Book Club 2026
The Lynne Miller Law Day Book Club is pleased to announce a lecture program to kick off activities for Law Day, 2026. The 2026 Law Day theme is The Rule of Law and the American Dream. In a collaboration of the Bar with the Museum of Tulsa History - The MOTH, Dr. David H. Goldenberg will present the topic "A Closer Look at the Topic of Affirmative Action." The event is January 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Bar Center. Dr. Goldenberg became the CEO of the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum, subsequently changed to “The Museum of Tulsa History – The MOTH." He served as the Senior Dean of the University of Hartford in Connecticut for the previous 23 years. He has been a Chancellor, Provost, Dean, Department Chair and faculty member at universities across the United States. Dr. Goldenberg has academic credentials from Hartford, Illinois State, Cornell, Harvard, Oxford and the London School of Economics. His background in education law and economics enabled him to co-author numerous books and articles. His presentation is based on a chapter in his book Trials That Shaped America. In addition to these accomplishments, Dr. Goldenberg retired from NCAA Division One basketball coaching as the winningest percentage coach of all time while at Bradley University in Illinois. Pleas join us January 27, 2026 at 7:00 PM Tulsa County Bar Center. Register at www.tulsabar.com or the QR code
BOOK CLUB SCHEDULE January 27 - Dr. David H. Goldenberg, CEO of Museum of Tulsa History, Author of Trials That Shaped America See page 5 for details. February 17 - A Life on Fire, Oklahoma's Kate Barnard, Connie Cronley March 7 - Shadow Docket, Stephen Vladeck April 28 - Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Tool May 26 - The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl, Timothy Egen June 23 - My Friends, Fredrik Backman July 28 - North Woods, Daniel Mason August - off September 22 - Agatha Christie, A Hidden Life, Lucy Worsley October 27 - The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, Stephen Graham Jones
Contact frontdesk@tulsabar.com or visit www.tulsabar.com
Animal Law Committee - Adoption Spotlight
Does your new year need a friend to share it with? Visit tulsaspca.org for more details. To get involved with TCBA's Animal Law Committee contact Katy Inhofe at katy.inhofe@gmail.com Dip N Dots Two-year-old male Dalmatian Hi, I'm Dip N Dots! I love exploring every nook of my shelter home, always curious about the little things. My days are filled with playful moments, tossing my favorite toys and enjoying cuddles from anyone who stops by. I might be a bit shy at first, but give me a moment, and I'll be your loyal friend, sticking by your side through thick and thin. If you're looking for a sweet companion to share in your daily adventures and cozy nights, I'm your guy.
Cal Three-year-old male shorthair Hi there, I'm Cal! I spend my days exploring every nook of my cozy shelter home, always curious about the world around me. I love meeting new friends, whether they're humans or other cats, and I'm known for my sweet, friendly demeanor. I'm always up for a good chat or a quiet moment by your side. If you're looking for a companion who will bring joy and curiosity to your life, I'm your cat! Let's discover the joys of life together. Come by and meet me! I'm ready to start our adventure. Tulsa Lawyer 9
Judicial Spotlights Gary L. Davis, II
Special Judge Tulsa County District Court
the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” If you could spend the day with one attorney/judge, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Justice Marshall was a titan of legal jurisprudence. As a litigator, he fought cases all the way to the Supreme Court and won victories that we still live by today. As a judge, he built a legacy on leaving the legal field better than he found it. His lived experience as an attorney and judge is one of the most compelling in our Nation’s history. What is your favorite book, movie, or television show? The Count of Monte Cristo (unabridged edition of course), by Alexandre Dumas. A classic. It should be required reading for any person in the law.
Law School: The University of Oklahoma School of Law Family Info: Wife: Khara Davis; Children: Kaiden Davis (15), Elijah Davis (12), Genevieve Davis (7) How long have you been practicing law, and what were your practice areas before being appointed as a Special Judge? I have been practicing law since 2009. I began in the Tulsa County District Attorney’s office as an ADA. There, I prosecuted murders, violence against women, crimes against children, and ultimately worked my way into a supervisory role. I left the DA’s office to join the US Department of Justice where I represented the United States of America in prosecutions against bank robbers, drug smugglers, tax evaders, gun traffickers, and cyber criminals. I then started my own legal practice. My practice mainly centered around complex plaintiffs’ litigation, state and federal appeals, and criminal defense. How have your prior experiences prepared you to handle the complexities of being a judge? My past experiences, both professional and personal, have placed me near people navigating real issues with real consequences. In these moments that matter most, when people must make difficult decisions and outcomes can be life-shaping, I’ve had to be an advocate, a problem-solver, and a counselor. So, I approach every case on the bench knowing that it is a turning point in someone’s life. As a result, I give all parties the thought, attention, and deliberation they are due. What is your passion outside of work and the law? I am a car guy. I love taking a nice drive on a sunny day through the hills of Tulsa and Osage counties whenever I can. What is the best advice you have ever received? “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, 10 Tulsa Lawyer
Tell us a fun fact that no one knows about you! I’m nice on Call of Duty. What is your favorite food? Anything bar-b-que’d.
Mike Esmond
Special Judge Tulsa County District Court Law School: University of Tulsa How long have you been practicing law, and what were your practice areas before being appointed as a Special Judge? I practiced for 20 years with Moyers Martin, with a focus in business/ commercial litigation. How have your prior experiences prepared you to handle the complexities of being a judge? I appeared in front of a lot of great judges during my time in practice. In my first few months in the role, I’ve found myself trying to emulate the courtroom demeanor of those judges while still bringing my own personality to the bench. I’ve also leaned on my experience being a patient and willing listener as a lawyer (and as a dad). Listening and keeping an open mind are important parts of the job. I can’t control what parties think about a decision I make, but I can make sure they’ve had the opportunity to be heard.
I have been practicing law since September 25, 2018, and have served my community as an Assistant Public Defender for Tulsa County. I have practiced mainly criminal defense. I have done 15 jury trials, three of which were acquittals. I have also done some juvenile deprived and protective order work. In 2023, my colleague and I filed dozens of lawsuits against the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health, trying to get folks deemed “incompetent to stand trial” out of jail and into treatment at Oklahoma Forensic Center. This is a project I worked on until my last day at the PD’s Office. What is your passion outside of work and the law? Family, faith, OU football, and Gonzaga basketball. What is the best advice you have ever received? “Go talk with a recruiter.” That’s what my dad told me when I was ending my time at OU and wasn’t sure what to do next. I took his advice and ended up earning an appointment to USAF Officer Training School and serving five years on active duty. It was a great experience. If you could spend the day with one attorney/judge, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Jack Santee. I had the privilege of practicing with Jack at the beginning of my career. He was a great lawyer with tremendous practical wisdom, quick wit, and great stories. I would enjoy spending some more time with him. What is your favorite book, movie, or television show?
How have your prior experiences prepared you to handle the complexities of being a judge? As an Assistant Public Defender, I handled a high volume of clients, many of whom were suffering from mental health and addiction issues. I learned quickly how to deal with a lot of difficult issues at one time. Through the course of several jury trials and hundreds of various hearings, I learned how to think and make decisions quickly. This has served me well, especially on my current docket (protective orders), which is a high-volume docket that requires quick decisions. What is your passion outside of work and the law? My favorite hobby is drawing, which I do almost every day. I also enjoy cooking. My passions include mentoring law students, raising awareness for mental health issues in our community, and traveling to new places.
Ted Lasso
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Tell us a fun fact that no one knows about you!
“Be yourself.” It sounds trite, but it is so important. Judges and juries can tell when you are not being genuine, and can hold it against you. It is important to be professional, but to also be authentic.
I’m a big fan of the NY Times Games app. I start most days with Wordle and the crossword. What is your favorite food?
If you could spend the day with one attorney/judge, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Barbecue
Janay Clougherty
Special Judge Tulsa County District Court Law School: University of Tulsa College of Law Family Info: I live in Tulsa with my wife, BB Boyer (also a lawyer), and I am a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. My parents are Lea Clougherty, a counselor, and Robert Clougherty, a professor. I have two brothers, Bob and Patrick. How long have you been practicing law, and what were your practice areas before being appointed as a Special Judge?
Felix Cohen. His advocacy and scholarship helped shape Federal Indian Law as we know it. I would love to sit down and discuss the evolution of Federal Indian Law from when he began writing the Handbook of Federal Indian Law until today. I would love to hear his opinion on the McGirt ruling, as well. What is your favorite book, movie, or television show? Book: Dracula by Bram Stoker Movie: Thelma & Louise Television Show: The Sopranos Tell us a fun fact that no one knows about you! I love video games and collect consoles, hoping to one day have a setup that allows one to play any game, regardless of the platform. I have been gaming since 1991, when my dad introduced me to the Super Nintendo. I own and play on a variety of consoles, but I believe the Nintendo 64 is the best console ever made. What is your favorite food? Cajun. (New Orleans is my favorite place in the world. Who Dat!)
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Voices of the Tulsa County Bar Association
Judge Jason A. Robertson
United States Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Oklahoma
By Ralph Schaefer
Noelle had a job at St. Francis Hospital, and since they were both from the Tulsa area, it was natural for them to return there. Jason, waiting for the bar results, got his first job with the Federal Probation Office in the Northern District of Oklahoma. A boy was playing with toy cars on the "beautiful marble stairs” of the Eastern District Federal Courthouse in Muskogee. He didn’t know it, but he eventually would climb those stairs first as a lawyer, then as a Magistrate Judge. Jason Robertson, waiting for his father, who worked at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, was focused on his toys when a man in a suit sat down next to him and asked what he was doing. “I am playing with my cars,” was the reply, and being seven or eight years old, boldly asked the man what he was doing. The man said, “I am an attorney, and I am here to fight for what’s right.” That comment stuck, and Jason, a Wagoner High School graduate, went on to earn degrees in Criminal Justice and Political Science from Northeastern State University. “I never forgot that at the very bottom of what attorneys do is fight for what is right,” he continued. He graduated from the Oklahoma City University College of Law in 1997, focusing on defending clients in court. Jason married his wife, Noelle, while in college, and many said the odds were against their succeeding in life or as a couple.
“I worked in the pre-trial services division,” he said. “During that time, I got to know United States Magistrate Judge Frank McCarthy.” One day, Judge McCarthy called the young attorney to his office and asked what the young attorney was doing at the probation office. Learning that Jason was waiting for his bar results and that he wanted to be a trial attorney, Judge McCarthy said to let him know when he passed the bar. A few weeks later, Jason learned he had passed the bar and let Judge McCarthy know. Judge McCarthy immediately called Pete Silva, his friend, and said there was a young attorney in his office he should talk to. Jason interviewed with Silva, Tulsa County Public Defender, and was hired as an assistant public defender. Since the Tulsa County Public Defenders’ offices were moving to the Silvey Building at 5th and Main in late 1997, Jason had to wait a short time before going to work. It was “sink or swim” time for the new attorney assigned to the felony team in 1997. There were 10 felony attorneys in the public defender’s office Continued on next page...
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serving five Tulsa County District Judges, Jason said. “I was assigned to one of the more experienced attorneys, and during my first trial, he told me I was doing fine. Then he announced that he was leaving, that he had taken a job with the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office.”
of law school absolutely put me in the chair in the federal court where I am today.”
With only six months of experience, Jason became the lead public defender on Judge Jesse Harris’s docket.
“I honestly never thought about it when I started practice,” he said. Federal judgeships seemed to be on another level.
By that time, he had tried many cases, including a murder trial.
Things changed in 2022 when an email went out to everyone in the eastern district announcing Judge Steven Schrader's retirement.
“I always like to tell people that being at the public defender’s office is almost like dog years,” he said. “When it comes to experience, one year at the public defender’s office is seven years of actual legal experience.” Jason loved standing up and making arguments in court. “That was why I went to law school,” he said. “I will never forget Pete and the trust to be on the felony team. It literally was the foundation and springboard for the rest of my career.” A career change occurred about two years later when Dan Sullivan asked Jason to join the Best & Sharp Law Firm. They said they needed a young attorney with trial experience. “I had already tried nearly two dozen felony cases as a public defender,” Jason continued. “I started as an associate attorney, assisting partners in medical malpractice trials.” Luckily, there were other litigation, car wrecks, and slip-and-falltype cases the partners did not try. “I stepped in as lead attorney,” he said. “I worked with Dan Sullivan and Tim Best. Not only that, I worked with the firm's original partners, Mr. Joe Best and Mr. Joe Sharp. I think I learned how to practice law the best way and the civil way under people like that.”
Becoming a Federal Magistrate Judge wasn’t exactly on Jason’s radar as a young lawyer.
It was the first time in 20 years that a position was open. Ironically, when Judge Schrader took the bench, Jason had a civil jury trial before him. It was Judge Robertsons' first trial in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and it was Judge Schrader’s first civil trial as a federal judge. Jason was considering the possible role when a friend called about five minutes after the email went out, telling him to apply. He responded, saying he also had that “crazy thought.” Named to the Federal Bench in 2022, Jason A. Robertson, now a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District, presides primarily over civil matters. He pushes Court Rule 73, providing for consent jurisdiction in civil cases. This procedure gives him the full power of a federal judge and allows cases to move more quickly through the legal system. Magistrate Judges also handle criminal matters, including initial appearances, arraignments, detention hearings, motions to suppress, and anything else to help district judges get to trial. Jason feels that the Eastern District of Oklahoma courts are among the top 5% of consent jurisdictions in the country.
Jason also worked with attorneys, among them Reggie Whitten, Jerry Green, Jim Seacrest, and “other lions of the bar.”
This is beneficial, he said, because it doesn’t stack cases up for years.
“I learned civility and had a gentleman’s agreement with many different attorneys,” he said. “We would fight and do everything we could to win our case while in court. When the litigation ended, the loser would buy lunch. We were still friends when we stepped outside the court. I hope that continues today.”
The courts had a perfect storm in 2020 when the first COVID cases delayed dockets across the country, Jason said. The Eastern District faced additional challenges with the U.S. Supreme Court's McGirt decision, which increased the court's criminal caseload by more than 400 percent.
Other opportunities presented themselves, and Jason went to several different firms before joining Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green, an Oklahoma City-based firm with a Tulsa office.
Despite his workload, Jason, a Tulsa County Bar Association member, says that attorneys, especially young attorneys, can build relationships and develop sounding boards among other lawyers.
Jason spent the next 12 years with the firm that recently celebrated its 100th birthday. He realizes his time as a public defender set the stage for the rest of his career. “Civil attorneys can become a bit spoiled,” Jason continued. “They may have a legal secretary, a paralegal, or an investigator. The public defender wears all these hats. Being a public defender taught me how to start a case and work everything in between until I see the results. I think being a public defender right out
Young attorneys can also build mentorships, learn, and get advice from those who have been there before. It’s a gateway to the past and a path to the future. “I think the practice of law is a very noble profession,” he added. “I am probably the one person in the world who does not like lawyer jokes. Frankly, I don’t like people making fun of the practice. I think it is a noble thing. It is something I have wanted to do since I was little. I got my dream job out of law school. The practice of law has been very good to me. “As a young attorney coming out of law school, if you pour your
heart and soul into that practice, it will give back and provide an absolute world of opportunities.”
So many times, these kids, especially from small schools, don’t see someone who has reached these goals.
Jason credits those in the legal field who gave him opportunities and experience.
“I try to make it a priority at least monthly to go to a high school to speak to the kids.”
But he gives special praise to his wife, Noelle, a speech pathologist at St. Francis Hospital for more than 25 years; his dad, Charles, “Charlie,” Mother Carolyn, and grandparents Marvin and Faye Johnson.
At the end of the day, there is just one message: “Dream bigger.”
Jason’s daughter, Darbi, recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and is an assistant district attorney in Garfield County.
This innovative project, by the TCBA Law Week Committee, aims to preserve and share the rich stories of our members and the history of the Association. Members interviewed are encouraged to contribute their unique experiences and insights, reflecting on their journeys within the legal profession and their connection to the TCBA. Through this initiative, we strive to highlight the diverse voices and histories that shape our community. Leading the project and interviewing members is Ralph Schaefer, retired senior editor of the Tulsa Business and Legal News. He has interviewed U.S. Supreme Court Justices and did a series on the Oklahoma Supreme Court Justices. The Tulsa County Bar Foundation and Oklahoma Bar Association honored him with the Liberty Bell Award, the highest recognition for a non-lawyer. Your voice matters, and we look forward to celebrating the legacy of the Tulsa County Bar Association. Let’s bring our stories to life!
Darbi’s husband, Isaiah Molaski, is a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Vance Air Force Base, Enid. Jason makes an effort to make monthly talks with students at his alma mater, Wagoner High School, and other area schools. “I grew up in Wagoner, sitting at the school desks, and graduated from Wagoner High School.” At that time, no one from Wagoner or from Northeastern State University had ever become a federal judge. “I was the first,” he said. “I like to go back and talk to those kids and tell them whatever your dreams are right now, to look ahead. “When I was sitting in those desks, I didn’t even think about becoming a federal judge. I thought that was beyond what I could ever accomplish.”
Voices of TCBA
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2026 TCBF Annual Charity Golf Tournament Dear Tulsa County Bar Association Members,
We look forward to hosting this year's event on Monday, April 6, 2026, at the beautiful Meadowbrook Country Club. We sincerely hope that, as you plan your 2026 philanthropic budget, you will recognize the value of partnering with TCBF.
As a leader in the Tulsa business community, you understand the power of a strong network and the importance of investing in local non-profits. The Tulsa County Bar Foundation invites you to partner with us for our annual event: the 2026 Charity Golf Tournament. This is more than just a day on Don't hesitate to get in touch with Tami Williams the links; it's a direct investment in the future of at the Tulsa County Bar Association for more vulnerable Tulsans. information or to secure your sponsorship package at 918-584-5243 or tamiw@tulsabar.com By sponsoring the tournament, your company will provide essential funding for four critical We appreciate your commitment to improving our beneficiaries that make a profound difference every community and look forward to welcoming you to day: a great day of golf, food, and fellowship. • • • •
City Lights Foundation Tulsa Lawyers for Children Tulsa Veterans Treatment Court Coffee Bunker
Your support ensures these organizations can continue their vital work, from providing legal advocacy for children to supporting our local veterans.
Sincerely,
Michael Thelen TCBF 2026 Golf Tournament Chairman
Partnering with TCBF offers a unique opportunity to position your brand directly in front of the legal and business community: •
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Premium Visibility: Your organization will be featured in the official Tulsa Lawyer magazine, reaching approximately 2,000 legal professionals and businesses across Tulsa County. Targeted Exposure: Recognition on our event signage, the TCBA website, and during the tournament program will ensure players, sponsors, and guests see your brand. Strategic Networking: Spend the day with top attorneys, judges, and local business leaders during a relaxed, high-engagement networking event.
The Bar Center will be CLOSED January 1st & 2nd
Register by March 2nd
TCBA Happenings... 2025 was a great year for Member Events, CLE & more. Be sure to join the TCBA for all the exciting events coming in 2026! Visit www.tulsabar.com.
Voices of TCBA Interview Judge Jason Robertson and Ralph Schaefer
Brown Bag CLE on Juvenile Court
“We don’t accomplish anything in the world alone and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry off one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that create something.” ~ Sandra Day O'Connor
December 4th CLE - Ethical Considerations Surrounding the Integration of Artificial Intelligence Into the Practice of Law: A Modern Land Run. Presented by Hamilton Spicer of the Adkison Law Firm.
November 18th CLE @ TU with Andrew Wright- UTulsa Law partnered with Tulsa County Bar Association to host Andrew Wright for an engaging program on the contours of congressional investigations, including his recent experience defending TikTok before Congress.
18 Tulsa Lawyer
November 14th Tours of Tulsa Underground
The TCBA Bench & Bar Committee hosted "an appellate masterclass" on Friday, November 14, 2025 with our friends at the TU College of Law. Six total judges from Divisions 2 and 4 of the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals came to speak to about 80 attendees about their experiences behind the bench. This CLE was moderated by one of the Bench & Bar Committee Chairs, Mbilike Mwafulirwa, and coordinated by the Committee Chairs, members and the TU and TCBA Staff.
Tulsa Lawyer 19
Voices of the Tulsa County Bar Association
Judge D. Edward Snow
United States Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Oklahoma
By Ralph Schaefer Edward applied to, and was accepted by, the University of Tulsa College of Law. But with his father's death, Edward lost his desire to focus on a particular legal discipline. “I liked law and what it had to offer,” he said. “But I wasn’t thinking about going into practice. I started law school and was going to see it through to the end.” While he enjoyed Torts and Constitutional Law, especially learning about the evolution of the Bill of Rights, the Constitutional structure, and equal protection laws, following the death of his father his heart was not in law school. “I was raised with the philosophy that if you go up for wrestling, you don’t just do that for one season,” he continued. “You are going to be wrestling every year for the rest of your life.” That philosophy also applied to law school. Graduating from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1995, he served as a Tulsa County assistant district attorney and then in a similar role at the federal level.
After graduating from the TU College of Law in 1995, Edward joined a law firm and practiced medical malpractice defense for a few months. He couldn’t see himself indexing and taking depositions for 35 years.
Becoming a lawyer actually was a second career choice, for Judge Snow.
Dissatisfied, he called a guy from his church and was asked to come to work for him.
Initial plans called for a career with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Law was a backup career just in case his first goal wasn’t possible.
That guy was Tulsa County District Attorney David Moss.
The 1986 Metro Christian Academy High School graduate started college at Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, but transferred to the University of Tulsa and earned a journalism degree. “I felt like I probably was going to work with the USAID during the Iran-Contra affair,” Edward said. “It was about 1991, and I needed to get my foreign language skills up to speed, so I moved to Guatemala. The timing coincided with the Gulf War, and he concluded that “it probably wasn’t a good time” to work for the State Department. Energizing that fallback plan, Edward applied to the “Wash U” (Washington University) Law School in St. Louis and a couple of other schools. Those plans abruptly changed when his father died in a plane crash. The decision was made to stay in Tulsa to look after the family business.
20 Tulsa Lawyer
“David was an amazing guy,” Edward said. “He was a man of few words who took the city bus to work daily.” “I enjoyed it (the work) from the moment I walked into his office. Which was surprising to me as I really felt like I was the guy who was going to be on the other side, defending people on the fringes.” “But, for whatever reason, I found my calling in prosecution. What I didn’t know at that time was when I went to work for David, he wasn’t going to pay me for 90 days.” Edward believes the 90-day trial period was the District Attorney’s way of determining whether someone had the required character for the job, someone who would stay rather than move on after two or three years. “There was a lot of fear and trepidation during those initial days”, he recalled. “It was also a huge confidence builder.” Everyone goes through an “imposter phase” after leaving law
school. That phase ends quickly when one is thrust into the deep end of the water, especially in the District Attorney’s office.”
“I have never reached the ability to be a good appellate lawyer. I have always struggled with it.”
When David asked whether his new employee could either try a drunk driving case or a murder case the same day. The answer was always “yes.”
After some years in the Northern District United States Attorney’s Office in Tulsa, Edward transferred to a neighboring district. Edward found himself on the 40-mile “boulevard” between Muskogee and Tulsa and in 2010 began prosecuting in the Eastern District of Oklahoma United States Attorney’s office.
As a new Assistant District Attorney, Edward learned that all cases were important but the rape, robbery, and murder cases got priority over the bogus check cases. “You quickly learned that you had better swim and fight,” Edward added. “You had to fight like the third monkey trying to get on Noah’s Ark, and brother, it is a downpour.” While it was nice to get a check after the 90-day introduction to prosecuting, Edward also found himself in the world of unhappiness. “Victims are unhappy, defense attorneys are unhappy, and occasionally the bench is unhappy with you,” Edward said. “But I also knew I had the confidence to do the job, and it gave me selfworth and a direction in life.” Edward’s association with Moss was cut short when the District Attorney died from a heart attack in November 1995 at his home. Bill LaFortune and Chuck Richardson filled the leadership role in Tulsa County before Tim Harris won the position in election. Edward, who worked with Harris as an Assistant District Attorney, had been with the office for eight years and didn’t plan to leave. Fate stepped in when Harris received a call from David O’Melia, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District, seeking a special prosecutor. He specifically asked for Edward to be on loan for a couple of weeks. The federal government had a conspiracy case for which Edward had related individual cases in state court. The cases were combined into one package at the federal level. The attorney scheduled to handle the case had other obligations. Harris and O’Melia felt that it was important for Edward to try the case, and Edward “fell in love with how orderly and professional the federal office was run.” While he returned to the Tulsa County District Attorney’s office, when an Assistant United States Attorney position opened in the Northern District of Oklahoma, Edward applied and was hired. Making the transition, Edward found himself overwhelmed by his new job. While the workload was equally intense, he went from about 400 cases annually to between 30 and 40 cases. The workload was heavy despite fewer cases. The difference was that now he was practicing law the way he had envisioned it should be. It was also a new world in writing appellate briefs, something Edward had not practiced in his previous roles. Now he was defending his decisions before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. “Teaching an old dog new tricks is something I learned,” he said.
He was involved in prosecuting a 20-year-old murder case. The appellate court ruled the jurisdiction was wrong because the crime had been committed in Indian Country. This was before the McGirt ruling. Edward and other team members scrambled to find witnesses so the case could be prosecuted again. Working with that “very talented team of professionals,” Edward was among the recipients of the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Indian Country. While Edward was working in the Eastern District in Muskogee, it happened that recently appointed Northern District U.S. Attorney Trent Shores had an opening in his office focusing on child sexual abuse cases and specifically wanted Edward for the position. They had previously worked together. It was 18 years earlier that Shores, “just a kid,” and living in Washington, D.C., was doing detail legal work for the Department of Justice and was assigned to Tulsa. Edward and Shores became acquainted, and Shores knew Edward understood Indian Country sexual abuse cases. The minute Shores got the funding, he called Edward to take the post. Under Shores, Edward became a Senior Litigation Counsel for the United States Attorney’s office in Tulsa. This was after the McGirt ruling and the case load swelled. Overnight Shores’ office had to increase the staff size exponentially. “Suddenly I found myself advising 23 new attorneys.” Federal Magistrate jobs opened in the Northern and Eastern Districts, and Edward considered applying. But he had 23 “baby attorneys” in the Tulsa Federal Prosecutor’s office, and he felt that if he left, he couldn’t look them in the eye after he said he would be there for them. The second time a Magistrate Judge position opened in the Eastern District, and “after a lot of prayer and talking with his wife,” Edward applied. He didn’t get the job. “It’s rare to get a second invitation, so when it the position opened up once again, I was positive I would not be considered. But by the grace of God I did get an interview,” he continued. “All phones must have been down except mine, and that is the only reason I can see that God put me here.” Federal Court judges selected Edward for the eight-year position. Once again, there was an adjustment to a new job. Continued on next page...
Tulsa Lawyer 21
“The easiest way to describe it is that you are going 120 mph in the Tulsa County DA’s office, working seven days a week. When you become a federal prosecutor, you go about 55 mph and five days a week. When you get to the federal bench, there is a 25-mph speed limit.” “The decompression is enormous”, he continued. “The slower pace is necessary because everything must be methodical, and one must strive for perfection.” “When I was in the U.S. Attorney’s office, I would go in at 6 a.m., and my door was open until 9:30 a.m. Lawyers would be lined up to talk to me. They wanted to know about my screw-ups and what not to do in court.” With the new job, Edward goes to work at about 6:30 am and has limited human contact until 8:30 a.m. when his staff arrives, and he reviews the day’s schedule and previous day’s filings with them. He finds a lot of solitude and isolation in this role, but it allows for well thought out rulings. Edward admits that as a judge, he hears “very good arguments” and finds himself missing litigating cases. “It is really great to watch exceptional attorneys do their craft,” he said. “Yet, I get a tinge of jealousy occasionally when someone makes an argument that was absolutely brilliant. I know as Judge I will not get a chance to be that brilliant.” He compares the trials to watching a really good tennis match, a good football or soccer game, or an excellent baseball game. The influx of cases because of the McGirt decision changed the Magistrate Judge’s role. More cases are coming, and litigants are asked to sign consent decrees to allow the Magistrate judge to exercise jurisdiction over civil cases that would normally be assigned to a District Court Judge where, due to McGirt and criminal cases taking priority, the cases may take years to be heard. That process makes it possible to get cases handled faster, rather than waiting three or four years for them to be heard. Edward loves the people in the Eastern District. “They are the kindest folks. Even the criminal defendants are for the most part kind. While some people are clearly bad to the core, a lot of people have just made mistakes”, he said. “I think the citizens of the Eastern District get a bad deal with us becoming Indian Country because we don’t have enough judges to handle all those cases. All we can do is pray for the right thing to happen. Either we will get more judges or fewer cases — and I don’t see fewer cases.” Federal courts are operating despite the government shutdown, Edward said. Staff limitations are hindering the legal process. Looking ahead, Edward said that when the shutdown ends, some cases may be heard via video chats. “I generally oppose video chats especially in criminal cases. I think it is undignified when it comes to someone who has been 22 Tulsa Lawyer
accused of a crime, is a plaintiff, the victim of a crime, or a defendant wrongfully accused, civil or criminal, to not have their day in court,” he continued. As a lawyer, Edward has high praise for civility in the federal court. But he is concerned about that same discipline in other courts. He recalled a time as an Assistant District Attorney when an opposing counsel during the hearing called him an S.O.B., and then, almost in the same breath, suggested they go out for a beer afterwards. “I kind of miss that camaraderie,” he said. “We’ve gotten away from it. The stakes are high. You hate the attorney on the other side. It’s vile, probably a bit like that across the country. If someone disagrees with you, they are an idiot, and that’s just not the way it was.” Edward also expressed concern that older attorneys are not allowing younger counterparts to learn to practice law. “We need to let them fail on the $5,000 car wreck,” he continued. “I see senior counsel come in and handle these cases. We are running out of young attorneys who can try cases.” The Magistrate Judge recalled that as a young lawyer, he was grateful for the opportunity to be in court with senior lawyers standing by “with a life preserver” and ready to toss it if needed. “If changes are not made, especially in litigation, the legal system will pay a high price for its mistake in about 10 years”, he added. “Young people are interested in the legal profession”, Edward said. “I teach a class at the TU College of Law, and the students are really sharp,” he continued. “I am not sure how many want to litigate.” “Litigation is a herculean task until you are in it. Then it is exhilarating. Still herculean, just fun too.”
Grapevine News Kimberly Lambert Love and Ashley F. Vinson recently spoke at the annual TAHRA Employment Law & Practices Seminar. Attendees included Human Resources professionals and Employment attorneys. Ms. Love presented the topic of Employer Dress Codes and Religious Accommodations providing advice on responding to employee requests for religious accommodation. Ms. Vinson presented on Accommodating Religious Observances and Practices providing advice on an employer’s burden since the Supreme Court ruling in Groff v. DeJoy. Ms. Love focuses her practice on all areas of employment law including litigating class action suits and claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Ms. Love conducts internal investigations into employee workplace complaints as both a company advisor and a neutral investigator. She regularly advises clients on best workplace practices and conducts staff training covering a range of employment issues. Ms. Vinson focuses her practice on corporate litigation, and employment law. She assists employers in conducting internal investigations into employee complaints, providing thorough, impartial assessments to guide appropriate corrective action and mitigate potential liability. She also advises on other employment matters, such as OSHA investigations and citation proceedings.
GableGotwals is pleased to announce that Nathan A. Miramontes has joined the Firm’s Tulsa office as a litigation Associate. His experience includes representing healthcare providers, insurers, and public entities in complex medical malpractice, insurance defense, and civil rights litigation. Prior to joining the Firm, Nathan served as an Associate at a Tulsa law firm, handling all phases of litigation. He also brings experience from judicial internships with the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, the Tulsa County District Court, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, as well as an internship with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma while attending The University of Tulsa College of Law. Nathan graduated with honors and was inducted into the Order of the Barristers. He received a CALI Excellence Award for Secured Transactions, was a quarter finalist in the Brigadier General Wayne E. Alley 2023 Military Law Moot Court Competition, and was selected for the American Association for Justice Mock Trial Team. He also served as a staff editor for the ABA Environment, Energy, and Resources Law: The Year in Review and as Vice President of the Tulsa Law Board of Advocates.
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Tulsa Lawyer 23
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President...............................................................Michael Taubman Past President......................................................Stephanie Jackson President-Elect............................................................Billy Duncan Vice President...........................................................Shena Burgess Secretary................................................................. Jennifer Struble Treasurer.....................................................................John Gotwals Budget/Internal Operations..............................Madison Cataudella Director at Large (1) Large Firm...............................Sean McCalip Director at Large (2) Large Firm................................Natalie Sears Director at Large (1) Medium Firm.......................Jason McVicker Director at Large (2) Medium Firm................................Kara Pratt Director at Large (1) Small Firm...........................Spencer Pittman Director at Large (2) Small Firm..............................Mary Clement Director at Large (1) Public Sector................. Judge April Seibert ABA Delegate............................................................ Molly Aspan OBA Delegate.............................................................Philip Hixon Library Trustee (1).................................................Caitlin Getchell Library Trustee (2)...................................................... Julie Evans Presiding Judge ...............................................Hon. Dawn Moody Chief Judge, U.S. District Court ..................Hon. John F. Heil, III Chief Judge, Tulsa Municipal Court........Hon. Gerald Hofmeister TU Law Student Bar Representative.......................Lori Whitlock
YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION BOARD
YLD Chair......................................................................Kyle Trice YLD Past-Chair....................................................Lacy Williamson YLD Chair Elect........................................................Isaiah Brydie YLD Vice President.................................................Morgan Smith YLD Treasurer..........................................................Bryan Seaton YLD Secretary.................................................Nathan Miramontes
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Law Day Chair ....................................................Tana Van Cleave Community Outreach................................................ Ashley Webb Community Outreach Co-Chair...................... Madison Cataudella Golf Chair................................................................Michael Thelen Scholarship Chair.....................................................................TBD
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