Oklahoma

Man can challenge constitutionality of state’s ‘rain god’ license plate, 10th Circuit

An Oklahoma man can sue the state over its Indian ‘rain god’ license plate on First Amendment grounds, a federal appeals court has held. Keith Cressman, a Bethany pastor, claims that the license plate violates his religious rights as a Christian. U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton had dismissed the suit…

Jun 14, 2013 8:18 PM CDT

ABA offers help to those hit hard by Oklahoma tornadoes

The president of the American Bar Association has extended her sympathies to victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes and says the ABA is organizing relief efforts to provide legal help to survivors of this week’s storms. “There are no words to ease the pain of the families who lost loved ones…

May 24, 2013 6:13 PM CDT

Repeatedly tardy juror fails to appear for contempt hearing

Jailed for four hours last week after he was late to court two days running, a prospective juror failed to appear on Tuesday for a contempt hearing. Rickey Christopher had been dismissed from the jury pool after being late for the second time. And Oklahoma County District Judge Ray C.…

May 14, 2013 9:10 PM CDT

Lawyer who spent jailed client’s $48K without his permission loses license for 2 years

An Oklahoma lawyer who spent over $48,000 from a jailed client without his permission has had her law license suspended for two years. Lagailda F. Barnes didn’t suffer a more severe sanction because she repaid the money in full before an attorney discipline case got going, was cooperative in the…

Apr 4, 2013 6:32 PM CDT

Judge raises eyebrows after sentencing a teen to church

Millions consider church attendance a positive in life. Apparently, so does Oklahoma judge Mike Norman, who last year sentenced a minor involved in a fatal car accident to 10 years of church attendance. Norman, a Muskogee County district judge, imposed the sentence on 17-year-old Tyler Alred after he pleaded guilty…

Mar 1, 2013 10:00 AM CST

Barefoot man accused of firing gun outside courthouse pleads not guilty due to insanity

A man accused of walking barefoot onto the grounds of an Oklahoma courthouse last year and firing a handgun into the air pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on Monday to various charges he faces as a result of the March 2012 incident, according to Fox 23 News. Andrew…

Feb 26, 2013 7:10 PM CST

Lawyer asked for sex with client’s daughter, 13, in exchange for reduced legal fees, police say

An Oklahoma lawyer was charged with a felony Tuesday, accused of offering to cut a criminal defense client’s legal fees in exchange for sexual favors from the woman’s 13-year-old daughter. Sheriff’s deputies were with the woman when they say Jeremy Daniel Oliver texted her Sunday offering a discount for nude…

Feb 6, 2013 7:19 PM CST

Tax Commission Asks Judge to Close Law Firm, Says $180K Owed re Employee Tax Withholding

The Oklahoma Tax Commission has asked a judge to shut down an Oklahoma City law firm until the lawyer who operates it posts bond, contending that attorney Doug Friesen has failed to file required paperwork and owes nearly $180,000 in employee tax withholding he is supposed to send to the…

Dec 7, 2012 4:44 PM CST

Police Chief Says Sorry re $2,500 Ticket Given to Woman After Son, 3, Drops Pants in Front Yard

Dillan Warden is being potty-trained, so when he got the urge to go on Sunday, a teenage family member encouraged him to drop his pants and try to pee in the family’s front yard. But that resulted in a $2,500 ticket for public urination from Piedmont, Okla., police, to his…

Nov 9, 2012 6:50 PM CST

Wrong Turn En Route to Lunch with Sis Led Paralegal to 50-Year Career at Crowe & Dunlevy

A wrong turn en route to lunch with her sister led to a 50-year career at an Oklahoma City law firm for Jo Balding. Stepping off the wrong elevator, she found herself at the firm then known as Crowe, Boxley, Dunlevy, Thweatt, Swinford & Johnson, reports the Oklahoman. So, on…

Nov 5, 2012 7:34 PM CST

Divided Okla. Supreme Court Censures Lawyer After 3rd Booze-Related Driving Incident in 3 Years

After three alcohol-related driving incidents over a period of roughly three years, all of which resulted in either his arrest or the issuance of a citation, an Oklahoma attorney received a censure from the state’s top court. However, a divided Oklahoma Supreme Court declined in a 5-4 ruling to impose…

Sep 19, 2012 7:53 PM CDT

One Former Okla. Judge Resigns From Bar, Another Is Suspended From Practice for a Year

The resignation of a former Oklahoma judge from not only her job on the bench but the state bar association has been accepted by the state’s top court. Oklahoma County District Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure stepped down and gave up her bar membership after pleading guilty in March to two counts…

Sep 10, 2012 10:11 PM CDT

Death Penalty Is Sentence for Two Brothers Convicted in Separate Crimes, 25 Years Apart

Brothers Roger and Rodney Berget are a rarity in the criminal justice system. Both were condemned to die for murders. There are at least three other cases in which brothers got the death penalty, the Associated Press reports. But the Bergets are unusual because they were sentenced to death for…

May 30, 2012 2:56 PM CDT

2 Okla. Lawyers Temporarily Suspended After Taking Alford Pleas in Police Misdemeanor Case

Two Oklahoma City lawyers have been temporarily suspended from practice after taking Alford pleas earlier this month in a misdemeanor case involving alleged obstruction of a police officer. Robert Samuel Kerr IV, 33, and Josh T. Welch, 43, each paid a $500 fine and received two years of probation. Under…

Apr 20, 2012 5:35 PM CDT

What Happens to Your Facebook Page After Death? Nebraska Bill Gives Say-So to Estate Representative

A bill pending in Nebraska would make the state the second to give estate representatives the power to handle social media accounts after the death of state residents. The bill would treat Facebook, Twitter and email accounts as digital assets that would be managed by appointed representatives, according to the…

Mar 19, 2012 11:00 AM CDT