Oklahoma

Judge checked Facebook and texted during murder trial, courtroom video shows

Courtroom surveillance video leaked to the Oklahoman shows a judge scrolling through Facebook and texting on her cellphone while presiding in a murder trial.

Jul 24, 2023 11:40 AM CDT

Sexual relationship between judge and prosecutor entitles murder defendant to new trial, court rules

The top criminal court in Oklahoma has ruled that a defendant convicted of murder in 2021 is entitled to a new trial because the judge and one of the prosecutors had a prior sexual relationship.

Jul 18, 2023 1:11 PM CDT

3 justices on this state’s top court targeted after deadlock prevents abortion ban from taking effect

Three justices on the Iowa Supreme Court who voted against reviving an abortion ban are being targeted by the leader of a Christian conservative group.

Jun 20, 2023 9:53 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: ‘Zero matrimonial knowledge’ judge gets reprimand; judge adopts AI policy

Judge sanctioned after disclaiming family law knowledge The New Jersey Supreme Court publicly reprimanded Judge Michael J. Kassel of the Camden County Superior Court in New Jersey on Wednesday for telling litigants that he was unfamiliar with their cases and with matrimonial law. In one case, he said he has…

Jun 2, 2023 3:16 PM CDT

The public defender approach to personal life

I started my legal career in the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office. During one of my 1L first-semester classes, the Oklahoma County public defender and the Oklahoma County district attorney spoke with my section. They conveyed the opportunities available in their offices and explained the application process. I knew from the beginning of law school that I wanted to practice criminal defense, so I showed up at the PD’s office the next day. The intern coordinator kindly told me to wait until I had at least finished my first round of final exams.

May 10, 2023 2:52 PM CDT

Supreme Court stays execution of inmate who won support from Oklahoma AG

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday stayed the execution of an Oklahoma inmate after the state attorney general said he supported vacating the conviction.

May 8, 2023 9:55 AM CDT

State constitution protects right to abortion to protect life of mother, top Oklahoma court rules

Women in Oklahoma have a state constitutional right to an abortion when needed to save their lives, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled.

Mar 22, 2023 3:09 PM CDT

Restaurant had no liability for death of patron who was overserved, challenged to drive in bet, state supreme court says

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that a restaurant in Weatherford, Oklahoma, was not liable for the death of a patron in a lawsuit claiming that he was served 12 beers and five tequila shots before getting behind the wheel of his car in an attempt to collect on a bet.

Feb 21, 2023 9:16 AM CST

‘Tulsa King’ and a look at organized crime

Tulsa King stars Sylvester Stallone as a New York mafia capo recently released from prison after serving a 25-year sentence. Finally free, he is caught from left field with news that he’s being sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Jan 23, 2023 8:43 AM CST

Former BigLaw associate gets suspension for inflating time spent on document review project

A former Dentons associate in Chicago has received a short suspension for his claim that he had reviewed 425 documents for a client, when in reality he had reviewed only 20 of those documents.

Jan 19, 2023 1:14 PM CST

Relax with our favorite long reads of 2022

Feel like curling up next to the fireplace with a good read? ABA Journal Managing Editor Kevin Davis has curated a selection of our favorite feature stories that ran in the magazine and online in 2022.

Dec 23, 2022 8:40 AM CST

Poll: Which ABA Journal magazine cover from 2022 was your favorite?

We covered a wide array of diverse, in-depth and hard-hitting legal topics at the ABA Journal in 2022.

Dec 12, 2022 8:47 AM CST

Supreme Court declines to block 4 executions in 2 days; 1 inmate spared, for now, because of vein issues

The U.S. Supreme Court this week declined to block four executions over the course of two days, rejecting petitions claiming incompetence for execution, difficulty inserting intravenous lines, lack of a clear policy on religious rights and new exculpatory evidence.

Nov 18, 2022 10:00 AM CST

Tulsa Reckoning: An ongoing lawsuit seeks justice for massacre victims

With the clock ticking, the stakes are high. This case could be the “last best hope” for the survivors to see some form of justice before they die. “This massacre impacted Black people around this nation. This is a win that we need as a people.”

Oct 1, 2022 12:00 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: SCOTUS justice’s wife stands by stolen-election views; district attorney’s daughter arrested in his stabbing

Ginni Thomas tells Jan. 6 committee about her stolen-election views Conservative activist Virginia “Ginni” Thomas told the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack that she still thinks that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Donald Trump, according to the committee’s chair, Democratic U.S.…

Sep 30, 2022 3:13 PM CDT