November 2025 Tulsa Lawyer Magazine

A Message from the President Michael P. Taubman

Armistice, Veterans and a Common Bond

The capacity of our society to unite in times of great conflict repeats frequently, especially in times of war. My October article made reference to the 24th memorial service of 9/11, and the decline of civility since 9/12/2001. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, November 11, 1918, brought an end to what society back then believe was the war to end all wars, World War I. Known as The Great War, the political conclusion ended in the Palace of Versailles in France with the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919; however, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice pact silenced hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany.

The first commemoration of Armistice Day took place on November 11, 1919, with President Woodrow Wilson proclaiming: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" It took approximately eight years for the United States Congress to officially recognize the end of World War I, passing a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, yet another twelve years passed before Armistice Day became a national holiday in May 1938 to honor our veterans of The Great War.

While Armistice Day honored veterans of World War I, The Great War was not our last war. Approximately a decade after World War II in 1954, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 Act of commemorating Armistice Day, substituting the word "Veterans" in place of “Armistice” to honor American veterans of all wars. The Tulsa County Bar Association continues to uphold support for our veterans. Many of our members served. They are joined by others who did not serve by donating their time in support of the

TCBA’s Veteran’s Committee programs and by offering pro bono representation of veterans on a wide number of legal issues. Tulsa County and Municipal courts established model Veteran’s Court programs, and our Oklahoma Bar Association established a legal aid program for veterans as well.

Applying a principle from Letters from a Birmingham Jail of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., war anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere. Today, crafting peace often does not make it past the first stage, leaving the core political disputes unresolved. Our modern cease-fire is not unlike the Armistice Pact of November 11, 1918, but our modern, online-driven world captures in real time when a cease-fire is broken, followed by another, and in turn another. That is to say, it took more time for the peace to break out in 1918, than it does to fan the flames of aggression now.

Our soldiers and our attorneys swear an oath founded upon a common core belief: to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. By way of an example, my friend, colleague, and law partner, Travis Barnett, first swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States at age 17 before boarding his first flight ever for his indoctrination and boot camp at Ft. Sill, OK. Ten years later, he took the oath of attorneys as a young man and 28 year old soldier. Recently on September 13th, my wife and I attended his retirement ceremony at Camp Gruber after 31 years of dedicated service to our Nation, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major in the Oklahoma National Guard. Serving as a lawyer and a soldier, Barnett exemplifies both professions, showing reverence to our principles of Equal Justice Under Law and Liberty. “While it is the solider who is the protector of our liberties, it is the attorney who is the defender of justice.” Thank you, Travis, for your dedication, leadership, and service on both fronts.

More than a decade ago, I urged Travis Barnett to pen an article for Tulsa Lawyer about Veteran’s Day. I reviewed his words, and, after discussing his article with him, he reiterated that he stands by it to this day. “Is it not courageous to zealously advocate for your client, so the Supreme Court can say separate but equal is unconstitutional and not American? Where would be the justice in this country had not our fellow attorneys stood up and said this is wrong? I submit that such brave action is no less in the defense of our American principles as a soldier going forth in battle, in a foreign land, to raise a rifle in defense of his fellow countrymen.”

As Barnett remarked back then and reiterated today, “I am both an attorney and a fighting soldier. I believe in both there is courage and a dedication to the defense of our great nation. I believe that this dedication to those principles, which are higher than ourselves, is the place where our professions cross and the mutual respect and admiration lies. This is why we among the bar take action for those who have taken action for us.”

Thank you to all of our veterans and their families who sacrifice for our liberties and justice. Thank you to all of our attorneys who are veterans, who put themselves in harm’s way to preserve our Constitution, our liberties and the principle of justice. Finally, thank you to all of our TCBA attorney members and our staff who give their time to help our veterans.

Join us on Tuesday, November 11th, to walk with our TCBA Veterans Committee in the Tulsa Veterans Day Parade. Watch your emails from TCBA or contact our membership director, Heather Heck, or the chair of our TCBA Veterans Committee, Diana Cupps, for details on where and when to meet up to walk with our float in the parade.

Sincerely,

Michael P. Taubman TCBA President, 2025-2026

Law Library: Inspiration, Direction, Collaboration

Have you hit a mental roadblock and you can’t seem to find the right way to respond to the opposing party’s arguments? Come find renewed inspiration at the Tulsa County Law Library! The law library, located on the second floor of the Tulsa County Courthouse, provides a quiet and focused environment to all patrons.

The environment you find yourself in is important to the cultivation of inspiration. Surrounding oneself with resources like the Oklahoma statutes, Pacific Reporter, and other legal treatises can help unlock a new perspectives and “spark” the creative legal arguments needed to respond effectively to an opposing party.

Is there a legal phrase that is on the tip of your tongue, but you just can’t seem to remember its phrasing? Then ask the staff of Tulsa County Law Library! The staff can help patrons locate physical research materials, and effectively utilize our computerized legal research program offered by Westlaw. This direct guidance can sometimes save valuable time and quickly resolve research hurdles that you may be facing.

Beyond the law library's official resources, the environment offers a unique opportunity for informal collaboration. Practitioners can connect with other legal professionals who frequent the space to discuss legal questions and share their individual insights. This communal aspect of the Tulsa County Law Library facilitates collegial exchanges of valuable information that can offer fresh perspectives and help solve challenging legal problems.

Summary ReportAccess to Civil Fee Waivers in Oklahoma

Katie Dilks, Esq.* Executive Director, Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation

Filing fees. This basic entry point to our legal system doesn’t often cause concern for lawyers, but they can often act as a bar to many Oklahomans struggling to make ends meet.

This summer, the Oklahoma Access to Justice Foundation team wrote our 4th annual summer research report on a simple but under utilized tool in our courts: the civil fee waiver. Often referred to as a “pauper’s affidavit,” the fee waiver was designed to ensure Oklahoma courts meet their constitutional duty of being “open to every person … without sale.”

Unfortunately, our research, in partnership with the Civil Court Data Initiative at Legal Services Corporation, found that this tool is rarely being used. Despite our state facing a rate of nearly 16% of all Oklahomans living in poverty, fee waivers were filed in just under 2% of cases we studied, most of which were divorce actions.

Through extensive interviews with stakeholders across the state and profession, we identified several obstacles to the effective use of fee waivers, including:

1. The name itself. Calling a civil fee waiver a “pauper’s affidavit” is alienating and archaic. We heard from one partner who shared that a client refused to file a fee waiver despite qualifying for one, saying “Well, I’m not a pauper. I don’t have the money, but I’ll figure it out.”

2. No consistent form. While many people can effectively use a form offered by Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, it is not consistently accepted by courts across the state. Even between Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties the form differs in appearance but not content, yet the expectation is that people will file the “correct” form for the jurisdiction.

3. No consistent criteria. Unlike in criminal spaces, such as qualifying for a public defender or eligibility to waive fines and fees, there is no statutory or court rule guidance on when someone should qualify for a civil fee waiver. This leads to vast discrepancies county to county on the rates of fee waivers being filed, varying from less than 1% to nearly 8%.

By examining best practices from other states and consulting with national experts, we were able to put forward several common-sense recommendations. We are optimistic that with the support and engagement of lawyers, judges, and court staff across the state, some of these may become reality. At a minimum, we recommend changing the name from “pauper’s affidavit” to something clearer and less fraught, such as “civil fee waiver” or “request for a waiver of court

fees.” Additionally, there should be one single, consistent, statewide form that is written in plain and understandable English and only requires as much information as is needed to make the determination. (Many current forms include space for unnecessary personally identifying information creating an identity theft risk by their public availability). Finally, there should be clear, consistent guidance for when waivers should be granted – for example, many states tie eligibility for fee waivers to the receipt or eligibility for certain income-qualified benefits such as food stamps or qualifying for legal aid representation.

Our profession bears an ethical obligation to guarantee that our legal system is accessible to all, regardless of financial resources. I hope our work will inspire collaborative change to ensure this aspiration is a reality in Oklahoma.

Read the full report at bit.ly/OKFeeWaiversReport

Community Corner

TCBA Community Outreach Committee Events, Opportunities and Success!

Santa Brings a Law or Leisure Suit

Accepting donations of gently used business, casual, and leisure attire

Oct 1 to Dec 12

Lindsey House Volunteer Activity

Sat, Nov 8, 10am to 11:30am

Volunteers will serve breakfast and participate in a craft activity with families.

Paper Goods Drive for Lindsey House

Accepting donations of Kleenex, toilet paper, paper towels, or cash for these items through Fri, Nov 7

Eat Out for a Cause at Dalesandro's -Benefitting Fostering Connections

Thu, Nov 20 5pm to close

Join us as we work to make our community a better place and in thanks to those partnering with us! Event details are available at www.tulsabar.com.

November Community Outreach Committee Meeting

Tuesday, November 18 at noon

Meetings are held in person at the bar center with a virtual option to attend.

Volunteers Bring the Holiday Spirit to the Food Bank

With the holiday season fast approaching, a dedicated group of our members recently spent a rewarding afternoon volunteering at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Focused on the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, they successfully packed 153 meal kits, ensuring families facing food insecurity will receive everything they need for a celebratory meal.

This volunteer day reflects our ongoing commitment to community service. We extend our deepest gratitude to every person who contributed their time and effort to this essential cause. Their dedication has helped bring the spirit of Thanksgiving to those who need it most.

Volunteers, from left to right, are Emilee Morris Ratcliff, Doug Inhofe, Tami Williams, Katy Inhofe, Mary Clement, and Jakob Dodson.

Lynne Miller Law Day Book Club 2026

Lynne Miller Law Day Book Club in 2026 is taking form, looking interesting. As always, a little something in the way of noteworthy literature for everyone is desired. We'll rove about with several author events including a discussion with author Connie Cronley about her biography of Kate Barnard, an Oklahoma woman with a meteor-like trajectory. In collaboration with University of Tulsa law school and Magic City Books, author Stephen Vladeck will discuss his book about the Supreme Court, Shadow Docket. As of this writing, efforts are on-going for another author event.

January 27 - Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes

The new year commences with a book about a multi-talented and creative author who took stock and determined how to live better. From the dust bowl to fictional friends, to a mysterious and enigmatic writer of mysteries, and even a vampire set within an historical period, 2026 will keep us reading and thinking.

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

November & December - off

The 2025 Law Day Book Club will conclude in November with participant’s choice of reading one of H.W. Brands’ American history books. Brands is the 2024 Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award recipient who is scheduled to be in Tulsa for a book signing on December 5. His Pulitzer Prize Finalist is about Benjamin Franklin’s life and times. Learning why Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a traitor to his class would be fascinating reading as well.

• November 25 - Book by H.W. Brands, American historian

September's Book Review

September's book, Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, engendered a lively discussion and laughter for the Lynne Miller Law Day Book Club. A clever plot, including a clever twist or two, was enriched with well-developed, diverse characters.

Backman takes strangers visiting a residential open house on a wild ride when they are taken hostage by a desperate would-be bank robber. Readers, beware of tripping on assumptions. Be ready to reflect on the sadness and joy of life while basking in the humor of Backman and our human connection.

Contact heatherh@tulsabar.com or visit www.tulsabar.com

Not even the critical readers of the Law Day Book Club could find fault. It's not too late to join in the fun of reading. October's book is When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson. Read any book of historian H. W. Brands you choose for November.

The Bar Center will be CLOSED for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Wednesday, Nov. 26th through Friday, Nov. 28th

TCBA November & December CLE

VP's Corner Shena Burgess Time to Reengage

The last few years have brought the same theme to continuing legal education from Inns of Court to the ethics presentations. How can we bring back civility? I think I have the answer. The world should run like a trial court. Everyone comes dressed in their best. Whether that is a suit or their best shirt and khaki pants. There are introductions and announcements of everyone present. Everyone has a turn to speak and, in turn, listens to everyone else. Statements must be supported by evidence and/or law. If no evidence or legal objections are lodged, the statements are not allowed or stricken. Opinions not based on reality are not allowed. There is no name-calling. Since everything is on the record, people

are mindful of what they say. At the end of the encounter, everyone shakes hands, no matter what the outcome.

Now apply this to real life. People greet each other and shake the other person’s hand. People are in the same room and not behind words on electronic devices. People must listen to others. People are allowed to be heard. When you part, you shake the person’s hand and wish them a safe journey.

My hope this month is you each take the time to reengage with our brethren. Remember we are more alike than different.

Shena Burgess TCBA Vice President, 2025-2026

Voices of the Tulsa County Bar Association Diana Cupps

The Soldier. The Nurse. The Lawyer.

In my recent interview with Diana Cupps, I learned that she served on active duty in the United States Army from 1993 to 1997, and then she served in the Texas Army National Guard, first with a unit in Austin, Texas, and then in a unit in Dallas, Texas, before finally being honorably discharged in 2004. I also learned that when Diana decided to launch her own solo family law firm in 2021, it was only natural that she looked to her military background for leadership and organizational guidance. She knew that she wanted to pay homage to her time in the U.S. Army and to all the military men and women who have served, continue to serve, and who made the ultimate sacrifice. Because of this, a clear military presence is felt throughout the firm. The firm’s logo is red and blue. The office showcases U.S. flags, military art, and American pride. The receptionist and support staff are trained to use the phonetic alphabet used by the military to verify spelling on phone calls with potential clients. The firm’s letterhead boasts “Quality. Integrity. Respect.”

At the firm, I saw that specially designed T-shirts are worn on Fridays to remember military personnel who are deployed. There are white shirts with a red circle and a “D” in the center as well as red polo shirts featuring the same logo, but

By Ralph Schaefer

which also have the letters R.E.D. either on the sleeve or on the collar. This stands for “Remember Everyone Deployed.” “We just think this is a nice tribute to our military folks,” Diana said. “It also allows the staff to have a casual day, as jeans are allowed to be worn on Fridays as well.”

Diana shared with me that probably the most impactful idea that she borrowed from the military to use at the firm is the idea of the after-action review (“AAR”). An AAR is an opportunity to Diana to share with her team “the good, the bad, and the ugly” after a motion hearing or a trial. The value of this exercise is more than morale building and teaching. Diana said that she views this exercise as essential to her own learning as well as to her team’s confidence building.

When Diana first began her firm, she worked as a true solo attorney for about a year. She then brought her husband,Troy Cupps, on as full time CFO and office manager. Six months after that, she hired her first legal assistant. Diana knew that by hiring a legal assistant who had not worked in the legal profession before, motivation and morale would be high on the list of needs, especially in the emotionally draining field of family law. This is why she built Winning Words on Wednesdays into the weekly routine even with her first employee. Winning Words on Wednesdays is an opportunity for everyone to share a quick “pick-me-up” from the past week. The rules are it cannot be work related and it has to be something that gave the sharer joy or happiness in the past seven days.

I learned from talking to Diana that her path into law was anything but straightforward. After leaving the Army, she obtained an associate’s degree in general studies in Texas, and then began the pre-medical program at Tarleton University to prepare for medical school. After some marital problems, Diana abandoned Texas and her medical school plans, opting to work on the marriage and eventually going to nursing school in Arkansas. Diana went on to become licensed as a registered nurse (RN) in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas as a Registered Nurse and worked in emergency rooms in all three states over a period of about eight years. When her marriage ended in 2012, Diana found herself in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

For the next several years, Diana found herself in court many times over custody of her children, non-payment of child support, and other disagreements regarding the children. She met and hired attorney Shane Henry to aid her in her proceedings. Diana recounted that Shane had allowed her to do some work on her own custody case to save money and that he was so impressed with the level of detail and organization in the work she turned in that he said, “Diana, you have prepared this better than some attorneys I train at my trial advocacy institute. You should go to law school.”

At the time Shane made the law school comment to her, however, Diana only held two associate’s degrees and not a bachelor’s, which would be required for admission to law school. Without skipping a beat, Diana enrolled at Oklahoma State University in the fall of 2016, earning thirty-three credit hours in one year with a 4.0 grade point average. She earned a bachelor of liberal arts with concentrations in psychology and sociology, took the LSAT, and was admitted into law school at the University of Tulsa the next fall. Diana earned her law degree just as the Covid Pandemic began in 2020.

Diana shared that after graduation from law school she went to work for an injury firm, doing mostly medical malpractice case reviews for Paul Boudreaux, who has since passed away. She worked closely with him on a medical malpractice case from start to finish which was settled for 2 million dollars after a year and a half of work. She also worked on dozens of other cases which resulted in smaller settlements. These experiences allowed Diana to use not just her law degree but also her nursing education and career. Diana also shared that due to a timing issue and then a technical issue, it took her three times before she passed the bar exam to become a licensed attorney. She described this experience as a “blessing in disguise,” however, because her third and final attempt was the year that Oklahoma first adopted the Uniform Bar Exam. She explained that each state sets the acceptable score to be licensed in that state. Diana passed with a high enough score to allow her to apply for licensure in all thirtyseven states which were accepting the exam in 2021!

Diana explained that she uses the “SOAP” method learned in nursing school as part of her detailed assessment of family law cases, where “S” is subjective information shared by client, “O” is objective information found in documents and other concrete sources, “A” is assessment where all information is processed together, and “P” is a plan for the case direction and outcome that considers what the client wants, what is attainable, what the judge assigned to the case is likely to do, and also, what the client is able to pay for as far as legal services. Diana also takes from nursing the idea that people need to be treated individually, even when the family law storylines are overly familiar. and they need to feel like they are heard.

Diana Cupps Law is a young firm. But its leader had a vision from day one, setting firm boundaries, having a plan for growth, insisting on structure, and prioritizing a work life balance for employees. Diana admits that she was “terrified of failing” when she made the leap to opening her own firm in 2021. But she shared that once, when she was a nurse, she asked one of her managers how to get rid of the fear of doing something wrong in a “code blue” in the emergency room. The manager shared that fear is actually a good thing, and went on to say “when you are scared, your senses are heightened and you perform better. If you’re not scared at all anymore, you probably should not be in the ER anymore because it may mean you don’t care enough.” Diana overcame her fear enough to hire her first employee (after Troy) in July of 2023. The firm is now twelve strong and growing. Diana is now among the top five attorneys as far as the number of family law cases filed per month in Tulsa County.

Diana is active in the Tulsa County Bar Association and shared that she values the Family Law Section for their continuing legal education (CLE) presentations and their social functions. She has been a co-chair for the Bench & Bar Committee previously and this year she has taken over the Military/Veterans Committee, where she plans to increase awareness of military legal issues through CLEs, panel discussions, and more. “I want to shake it up a little,” Diana said, “ I want to get more people involved, but people want to come to things where they know they will have fun. I am thinking about interactive things in the community and maybe doing some volunteer events.”

Voices of TCBA

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!

American Bar Association Announces Law Day Theme:

The Rule of Law and the American Dream

Please join the TCBA in planning our 2026 Law Day events!

Law Day Committee Meetings:

The first Wednesday of the month starting November 5th.

Ask A Lawyer - May 1

This is the 50th anniversary!

Law Day Luncheon - April 24 at the University of Tulsa

Voices of the Tulsa County Bar Association

Allen Smallwood

Allen Smallwood's legal career probably started in 1966, although he didn't realize it at the time.

The 19-year-old was having “too much fun” during his first year in college and realized he was about to flunk out.

He was facing the draft and learned that a college buddy had joined the Marine Corps under a three-month delayed entry program. So Allen joined his buddy and signed up and together, they hit boot camp together. Six months later Allen was in Vietnam.

His experiences in the combat zone “toughened me up emotionally,” he said. “It drained me of my ability to ignore some things, but the most central thing it did for me was not to be in a situation for someone with a two-digit IQ that has the power of life or death over me.”

It made him think about his career in civilian life.

That meant working for one boss - and one boss only.

Allen returned to the United States and after finishing college at Oklahoma State University with a degree in Political Science/History. He made his choice and attended the University of Tulsa College of Law.

By Ralph Schaefer

While in law school Allen interned at the Tulsa County Public Defender's office.

Graduating May 2, 1975, Allen hung out his shingle and stayed true to his promise never to “have an idiot for a boss again.”

Joe Hull rented a $400 monthly office space to the new attorney “which was nothing” at that time.

“My total overhead was under $1,000 per month,” he continued. “But I also remember that in December, 1975, I had been practicing law for eight months and my gross revenue was $52,” he said.

That issue has not been problematic since.

Allen stayed at his original office until 1979 when he and fellow attorney Paul Brunton bought a building at 1310 South Denver Ave. The former home, built in 1917, was converted into office space.

While they technically weren't in a partnership, the two attorneys shared overhead expenses and occasionally tried a few cases together.

The upside of that arrangement was Allen could “brain storm” with Brunton to get another opinion when working on cases. It also was possible to ask for help researching issues involving arrests or sentencing.

The reverse was true when Allen asked Brunton's opinion and did some research for him.

All that changed for Brunton when Allen purchased the office building from him.

Now, on his own, he doesn't have to share income, but on the downside, there is no one there to share expenses.

While office administration might be a concern, it was not a deterrent for Allen who celebrated his 50th year as a lawyer in 2025.

He has built a criminal defense practice over the last half century. Allen's clients have varied from being charged with public intoxication, vehicular manslaughter to first degree murder. He currently has two murder cases pending in smaller Oklahoma counties.

Client ages have varied from 16 years old to senior citizens.

These people are in one of the worst spots in their life, he said. They either are being investigated for or have been charged with a criminal offense. It could be a son, husband, spouse or a good friend who is in jail.

Dealing with client emotions, Allen found he needed empathy for the people and yet kept his distance to provide objective advice.

“Often it means telling clients things they didn't want to hear,” he said. “After 50 years of doing this, it tells me there are no legal solutions to every problem. Sometimes the solutions don't have a very upside resolution.”

One of the things I had difficulty doing as a new lawyer was telling clients hard facts and truths they didn't want to hear, particularly when they were paying you money for help. They want you to pull the knife out of their back so they can keep going,

Client discussions about vehicular manslaughter cases are the most difficult.

These are the cases where a person had just too many beers while attending a Super Bowl party. At a moment of misjudgment, they have a car wreck and kill someone. Now they are looking at a four-year to life prison sentence.

These cases are difficult to defend because data recording devices in cars with respect to speed and blood alcohol tests don't lie.

Prosecutors generally want a 15- year prison term known as 85 percent cases, Allen explained. That means the person will serve 85 percent of a term or 12 years in prison.

Consider the impact on a 20-year-old facing this charge.

Most young lawyers find it difficult to tell potential clients about their situation because the client goes to somebody else, he said. “I tell people the chances of keeping their son, husband or grandson out of prison in this case is remote. I know they are probably not going to be too happy with the outcome.”

Allen has had “a run of good luck” defending clients charged with sexual offenses.

Many times, the cases are overcharged in the sense that they did something wrong, whether intentional or unintentional, he added. But the charge needed to be adjusted more closely to the actual offense.

“Many cases I have won in the last 20 years, in my opinion, simply should not have been filed.”

Outside influences impact today's youth and Tulsa is no exception.

Allen said he heard a California psychologist discuss a study focused on the sexual content found on the Internet.

The psychologist, in her report, said the average 14-year old American male has seen more hardcore pornography than all of World War II combat veterans combines.

“When you introduce these 12 to 14-year-old kids to that kind of sexually explicit subject matter and violence in video games, you create a situation that can never be lived up to in the real world,” Allen said. “It skews their heads in all sorts of directions.”

“But the major problem with youthful offenders right now is the unbelievable availability of firearms to them,” he continued. “I recently read about downtown kids getting together, probably doing drugs and getting mad at each other. It only takes one or two with firearms and you have two or three dead kids.”

“That doesn't happen in Europe. You might have a broken nose, a tooth knocked out at a rugby or soccer match brawl, but firearms are not available to them.”

“There are twice the number of firearms in this country as we have citizens. Citizens don't want them taken from them.”

Allen called himself a hypocrite and he won't give up his personal weapons.

But the availability of firearms to children and the lack of training they receive with them creates the problem.

Kids are exposed to video games and internet images and see someone get shot at close range with a high-powered handgun. These images show people just falling down, not someone getting cut in half or pieces of skin and bones blown against the wall. “Kids don't see this until they actually are involved with it on the street” he said. “They are playing with fire and it is our fault and the adult's fault that has allowed this country to get to that point.” Turning from his role as a defense attorney, Allen also has been actively involved in the Tulsa County Bar Association (TCBA) and the Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA).

There is no downside to the membership, he continued. The upside is that those getting out of law school will get to know older lawyers.

If the new lawyers will do some dirty work, that is hard work for the bar association for no money, they will get a reputation among older lawyers who will send business their way. Older lawyers also will be mentors and available to answer questions.

A simple word of advice to young lawyers is to under promise clients and over deliver, Allen said.

Looking back at his military service, Allen said there is a relationship between the Marine Corps and attorneys.

There was a camaraderie with those guys in the Corps, he said. That camaraderie also is found among attorneys.

To Our Veteran Members and All Who Served

ARMY

Brad Baker

John Barker

Craig Blackstock

Austin Bond

Ken Brune

Paul Brunton

Lawrence Chambers

Diana Cupps

Robert Curry

Sidney Dunagan

Barry Epperson

Joe Farris

Robert Gifford

R.H. Harbaugh

James McCann

Bob McCoy

Allen Pease

John Sharp

David Winslow

ARMY & NATIONAL GUARD

Travis Barnett

William Grimm

AIR NATIONAL GUARD & AIR FORCE

Judge Michelle Keely

ARMY & NAVY

Kelly Smakal

ARMY RESERVE

Larry Yadon

COASTGUARD

Jonathan Eagle

MARINE CORP

Roland "Terry" Funk

Mitchell Garrett

Logan Hartz

Allen Smallwood

MARINE CORP RESERVE

Craig Hoster

MARINE CORP & ARMY

Lloyd Palmer

NATIONAL GUARD

Valerie Evans

NAVY

Brian Huddleston

Angelia Folks

Harry Rouse

AIR FORCE

Keith Bartsch

H. Wayne Cooper

Lonny Davis

Judge Michael Esmond

Phil Frazier

Judge David Guten

Judge Sharon Holmes

Skipp Holtmann

Harlan Pinkerton

Thomas Reynolds

Mickey Wilson

AIR FORCE RESERVES

Lonny Davis

Charles Sublett

Daniel M. Phillips

TCBA HAPPENINGS...

CLE is Underway!

TCBA's first CLE of the membership year was a joint CLE presented by the following Sections: Business/ Corporate Law, Energy & Mineral Law, & Litigation on Legislative Updates. Presenters were Adam Doverspike of GableGotwals and Jeff Starling, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy & Environment. The CLE was held at the Bar Center on Tuesday, September 9th

Have you attended a TCBA Member Event, CLE or Bar Center activity?

If so please share a pic or two with us and short caption! We'd love to share what the TCBA is up to in our community! Send to tulsabarnews@yahoo.com

Stormwater Solutions: Preventing Leaks and Protecting Property

Heavy rains often bring challenges, particularly when concrete surfaces settle and cause water to pool. This was the issue at the Bar Center and Trainer's buildings, where a twoinch settlement in the parking lot led to recurring leaks into the Trainer's building.

Addressing such critical maintenance needs for our facilities is one of the vital duties of the Tulsa County Bar Foundation. Trustees undertook a targeted concrete repair, raising settled sections and creating a subtle lip along the sloped section of the lot. This new lip now directs rainwater efficiently towards the storm drain, preventing pooling and seepage towards the building.

This adjustment has made a significant difference, protecting the Trainer's building from water damage and resolving the leak issue. This project highlights how proactive maintenance and effective concrete repairs, made possible by the Foundation, safeguard our properties and offer peace of mind, even during heavy rainfall.

We encourage all members to support the Tulsa County Bar Foundation. Your donations are deeply appreciated and directly enable us to maintain our facilities among the essential work we do. Please consider participating in the Fund the Foundation campaign to help us continue these important efforts. See below for details. Here are some images from the repair work:

FUND THE FOUNDATION

Before2 inch settlement along the building

By being a member of the TCBA, you are also a member of the Tulsa County Bar Foundation. As a general rule, the funds that come into the Foundation are the result of a fundraising event for our community, and the monies raised are immediately distributed back out into the community through non-profit organizations.

In an effort to assist the Foundation, we have implemented a monthly “Fund the Foundation” program. To participate we are asking each member who has a birthday this month to consider making a donation to the Foundation. You can do so with the QR Code shown here.

If you are not currently a Fellow, please consider joining that program. As a thank you (and let’s be honest, an encouragement to other members), if you donate before the 10th of the month we will include a shout out to you in the next issue of Tulsa Lawyer Magazine.

Gr apevine News

GableGotwals is pleased to announce that four experienced Associates have joined the Firm.

Caleb Evans is a litigation Associate in the Firm's Oklahoma City office, where his practice focuses on business and commercial litigation. Prior to joining the Firm, Caleb served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable David L. Russell of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Tristan Reagan is a litigation Associate in the Firm's Tulsa office, where he focuses on general commercial and business litigation. Prior to joining the Firm, Tristan served as a law clerk to the Honorable Susan E. Huntsman and the Honorable Jodi F. Jayne, United States Magistrate Judges for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Bailey Tulloch is a litigation Associate in the Firm's Tulsa office, where she focuses on commercial litigation and other business disputes in federal and state courts. Prior to joining the Firm, Bailey served as a law clerk to the Honorable David Alan Ezra of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. She also worked as a litigation associate at a national law firm, where she handled a wide variety of matters in state and federal courts, including breach of contract, property disputes, employment matters, whitecollar investigations, collections, fiduciary litigation, and Fifth Circuit appeals.

Francesca Walentynowicz is a transactional Associate in the Firm's Tulsa office, where her practice focuses on banking and commercial law matters. She previously worked as an associate at a Tulsa-based law firm, where she handled a wide variety of commercial law and financial services matters. She also served as a legal intern to the Honorable Gregory K. Frizzell of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma and a legal extern with the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma while attending The University of Tulsa College of Law.

Bailey, Caleb, Francesca, and Tristan join more than a dozen other GableGotwals attorneys who have gained valuable experience through judicial clerkships, internships, and externships in federal and state courts.

The Tulsa law firm of Atkinson, Brittingham, Gladd, Fiasco & Edmonds announces that Holly M. Wyers has joined the firm as an associate.

Holly graduated with highest honors from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2025. While in law

school, Holly was the founder and President of the Education and Oklahoma Policy Law Club, an executive director of the Public Interest Board, and the Vice President of Phi Alpha Delta.

Prior to attending law school, Holly was an educator. She attended Northeastern State University where she earned a master’s degree in education and later earned her principal certification. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University in Journalism with an emphasis in public relations.

Holly is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and currently practices in civil litigation.

Foster Garvey is pleased to announce the arrival of Karly Fisher, Graham Fulton, Kenzie Kinsella, Jake Riggs and Arlington Schade as Associates* in the firm’s Seattle, Spokane and Tulsa offices.

Karly Fisher returns to Foster Garvey, joining the firm’s Litigation group with a focus on Indian and Tribal law. As a 2024 Summer Associate, she focused on Indian law and conducted research on federal case law regarding sovereign immunity, and drafted contracts and compliance plans for tribal entities. She also published an article in the Tulsa Law Review on the negative effects that mugshots have on the reputations of Native American individuals and communities. While in law school, Karly served as the Articles Selection Editor for the Tulsa Law Review and was an active participant in the Native American Law Student Association. She holds a J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics from Oklahoma State University.

Graham Fulton is joining the firm’s Litigation group. Graham holds a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from the University of Washington.

Kenzie Kinsella is joining the firm’s Commercial, IP & Technology group after gaining experience as a 2023 and 2024 Summer Associate. She holds a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Women's & Gender Studies from Pacific Lutheran University.

Jake Riggs joins Foster Garvey’s Business & Corporate Finance group. He holds a J.D. from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, an M.B.A. from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado.

Arlington Schade returns to Foster Garvey after serving as a law clerk in the firm’s Real Estate, Land Use & Environmental group. Arlington holds a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology.

*Pending bar admission.

MIDTOWN TULSA STANDALONE OFFICE

BUILDING AVAILABLE for immediate occupancy. Three stories, 6+ private offices, approximately 2,590 square feet, 12 parking spaces. Call Katie Sawyer with Keller Williams Realty Advantage (918) 510-9860. Agent related to owner.

TULSA OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE IN ESTABLISHED FIRM. Midtown Location with easy B.A. access to courts. Plush space with reception, copier, phone, internet available or office alone. Call (918) 583-8900 for more information.

Advertising information available at www.tulsabar.com

General Group Discussions

Lawyers Helping Lawyers

Second Thursdays of Every Month

5:30p - 7:00p Committee Member: Scott B. Goode

Email: scott@militarylawok.com

Women’s Group Discussions

Third Tuesdays of Every Month 5:30p - 7:00p Committee Members: Allison Martuch & Amber Peckio Garrett

Email: amartuch@martuchlaw.com

Meetings are Located At: Office of Scott Goode

1437 S. Boulder Ave, Ste 1200 Tulsa, OK 74119

Monthly meetings led by a Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee member. The small group discussions are intended to give group leaders and participants the opportunity to ask questions, provide support and share information with fellow bar members to improve their lives – professionally and personally.

REMAINING MEETING DATES FOR 2025

General Group

• November 13, 2025

• December 11, 2025

Women's Group

• November 18, 2025

• December 16, 2025

2025-2026 TCBA CONTACTS, COMMITTEE & SECTION CHAIRS

www.tulsabar.com

PHONE: 918-584-5243 FAX: 918-592-0208

1446 South Boston, Tulsa, OK 74119-3612

Executive Director

Tami Williams tamiw@tulsabar.com Ext. 1002

Membership Director CLE, Sections & Committees

Heather Heck heatherh@tulsabar.com Ext. 1001

Front Desk Coordinator

General Inquiries frontdesk@tulsabar.com Ext. 1000 Accounting accounting@tulsabar.com

Lawyer Referral & Community Resource Navigator

Jeril Haug jerilh@tulsabar.com Ext. 1003

Tulsa Lawyer Editors - Rhiannon Thoreson Madison Cataudella

Associate Editor - Milly Dunlap Tulsa Lawyer Submissions - tulsabarnews@yahoo.com

TCBA OFFICERS

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

FOUNDATION APPOINTMENTS

Law Day Chair ....................................................Tana Van Cleave

Community Outreach................................................ Ashley Webb

Community Outreach Co-Chair...................... Madison Cataudella

Golf Chair................................................................Michael Thelen

Scholarship Chair.....................................................................TBD

FOUNDATION

President....................................................................Kara Vincent

Treasurer...........................................................Catherine Hoopert

Trustee...............................................................Stephanie Jackson

Trustee.................................................Timothy Michaels Johnson

Trustee..........................................................................Rick White Trustee.........................................................................Lizzie Riter

Trustee ..................................................................Chad McLain

Trustee ...................................................................Kara Vincent

Trustee .................................................................Mike Esmond

Trustee ...................................................................Ashley Webb

TCBA President.................................................Michael Taubman

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

Access to Justice... .............Katie Dilks

Animal Law .................................................... ............Katy Inhofe

Animal Law Co-Chair..................................... .........Erica Grayson

Bench & Bar..............................................Austin Bond & Mbilike

Mwafulirwa

Children & the Law.......................................................Lexie Allen

Children & the Law Co-Chair .......Michael Nesser

CLE...........................................................................Morgan Smith

Diversity Development...............................................Matt Ingham

Diversity Development Co-Chair .......Marvin Lizama

Fee Arbitration.............................................................Scott Savage Law Related Education / Street Law Co-Chairs.............................. ............................... Trevion Freeman, Pierre Robertson, & JP Ray

Lawyer Referral ............Alan Barker

Mentor/Mentee....................................................Kevinn Matthews

Military/Veterans ...........Diana Cupps

Nominations & Awards........................................Stephanie Jackson

Pro Bono Chair...............................................................Eric Yoder

Membership.....................................................................Kara Pratt

Publications......................................................Rhiannon Thoreson

Publications Co-Chair ..................................... Madison Cataudella

Special Events ..........Natalie Sears

SECTION CHAIRPERSONS

ADR/Mediation................................................... .......Zack Brown

Bankruptcy ...................................................... ..Hon. Paul Thomas

Business/Corporate................................................Spencer Pittman

Criminal Law ...........Dustin Allen

Energy & Mineral Law.............................................Buford Pollett

Employment Law ..........Chris Vaught

Family Law ..........................................Anastasia Krich-Mahoney

Health Law................................................................Shelby Fields

Immigration ............................................................Maria Mattern

Juvenile Law. .......Michael Nesser

Juvenile Law Co-Chair..................................................Lexie Allen

Litigation Co-Chairs...........................Jake Pipinich & Don Smolen

Municipal Law............................................................Hayes Martin

Native American Law Section................................Hannah Scandy

Paralegals/Legal Assistant.......................................Danna Malone

Paralegal /Legal Assistants Vice Chair.....................Sabrina Kallam

Paralegals / Legal Assistant - Secretary..............Ashleigh Casebolt

Probate/Estate/Elder Co-chairs............ ..Linda Van Arkel-Greubel

......................................................................... ....... & Justin Munn

Solo/Small Firm .......................................................Mary Clement

Tax......................................................................Alexander Bratton

Technology ...............................................................Trevor Riddle

Workers Comp.........................................................................TBD

Workers Comp Co-Chair ................................ ................. ......TBD

* Section Chairs will be updated as positions are filled