MARCH 2014 Vol. 46, No. 3 A Publication of the OKLAHOMA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION WWW.OKCBAR.ORG Oklahoma City Real Property Lawyers Association Makes Donation to Oklahoma County Law Library By Barbara G. Bowersox In April of 1971, the Title Lawyers Group For OCBA members familiar with the and the Oklahoma City Society of Title Oklahoma County Law Library, they may Attorneys merged to form the Oklahoma have come across the library’s treasure City Title Attorneys Association. In 1996, trove of real property related papers from the Oklahoma City Title Attorneys the Oklahoma City Real Property Lawyers Association changed its name to the Association (OKCRPLA). The library has Oklahoma City Real Property Lawyers. been the designated repository of the paper Today OKCRPLA has approximately 100 presentations made to the association for members. Membership is open to attor- several decades. OKCRPLA is a group of neys in central Oklahoma who are interest- attorneys from the Oklahoma City area ed in real estate law. OKCPRLA operates with a seven member board which rotates interested in real property, which meets into the officer positions. monthly to exchange ideas and provide In appreciation of the Law Library’s continuing legal education to its members. keeping the several decades of presenta- The group traces its beginning back to the tions, the OKCPRLA recently donated Title Lawyers Group of Oklahoma City, funds to help underwrite furnishings for which established in 1943. The Title the Law Library’s new media room. Lawyers Group limited its membership to “We’re pleased that the OKCRPLA can forty; however, other attorneys wanted to assist the Law Library in acquiring fur- be part of an active title group. This even- Sarah Schumacher, Venita Hoover, Judge Bryan Dixon, Barbara Bowersox, Saul Reid, E. Parker Lowe and tually led to the formation of the Gretchen Crawford. Oklahoma City Society of Title Attorneys. See DONATION, PAGE 12 Profiles in Professionalism Pro-Bono Haven Tobias Opportunity: By Alisa White We’ve never had a tradesperson before.” moved to Norman and Tobias began law 3rd Saturday Legal Clinic Haven Tobias describes herself as “a Hailing originally from Chicago, school in 1969. previously stressed out lawyer, living on Tobias attended the University of New When Tobias entered as a first year law By John E. Miley cigarettes, martinis and black coffee” Mexico and obtained a BA in 1964 and student, there were only three women in General Counsel, Oklahoma who is now a vegetarian, Buddhist, an MA in 1967. She planned to pursue a the graduating class, two women in the Employment Security Commission instructor of meditation (not to be con- doctorate in American History at UNM; second year class and three women, If your practice will not permit fused with mediation). She is as unique however, when she violated the universi- including Tobias, in the first year class. you to accept traditional pro-bono cases that require appearances in and compelling as her name. ty’s non-fraternization policy and started But the lack of women didn’t bother court and on-going service over a dating her professor, she chose to leave. Born to a family of musicians and Tobias. “I loved law school. I should period of time, there is another artists, Tobias was the first lawyer in her “Love wins every time,” laughed Tobias have stayed in law school forever,” states option. I have been fulfilling my pro- family. Her grandfather was a conductor as she remembered having to make her Tobias. But Tobias also vividly remem- bono obligation for many years for the Chicago Philharmonic, her grand- choice between marrying her love and bers the gender inequality of the time. through the 3rd Saturday Legal mother a philharmonic voice instructor, pursuing her goals. Tobias’ husband For instance, at the end of her first year Clinic sponsored by Legal Aid her mother a poet and writer and her accepted a job at OU as a Russian of law school, Tobias became pregnant. Services of Oklahoma, Inc. The clin- father an art gallery owner. When Tobias History professor, and on the advice of Her grades had qualified her to be on law announced she was going to law school, another respected professor, Tobias See PRO-BONO, PAGE 22 her mother said, “How interesting! applied to the OU School of Law. They See PROFILES, PAGE 13 Inside Irish Memories for Ceremony to be From The President . .2 Stump Roscoe . .12 And the Court Said . .4 A.J. Seay: Territorial Supreme St. Patrick’s Day Held in Honor of Events and Seminars . .5 Court Justice (1890-1892) . .16 A Personal Account of the Robert D. Dennis, Retiring The Protective Effect of Exercise... .6 Book Notes . .19 Loss of President J.F. Kennedy U.S. District Court Clerk iBar Definitive Playlists . .7 Old News . .19 Page 5 Page 11 Bar Observer . .10 OK County Bar Auxiliary . .22 OKLA CITY OK CITY OKLA PERMIT# 59 PERMIT# PAID US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT 2 BRIEFCASE • March 2014 BRIEFCASE From the President March 2014 Briefcase is a monthly publication of the Oklahoma County Bar Association 119 North Robinson Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Winds of Change (405) 236-8421 Briefcase Committee at the Oklahoma County Juvenile Center and Judge Jim Croy, Jim Drummond, Michael Duggan, Justin Hiersche, Scott Jones, Matt the Oklahoma County District Courthouse Kane, Teresa Rendon, Bill Sullivan, Rex Travis, Alisa White, Chris Deason, Judge Don Deason By Judge Patricia Parrish In deprived cases, the Judges are tact Tsieno Bruno-Thompson at tthomp- and Judge Allen Welch. OCBA President involved at every juncture of the case [email protected] or call 405.232.4453. Editor Judge Geary L. Walke from the initial pick up of the child to In addition to the countless hours vol- In case you haven’t felt them, the permanent placement. Until the child is unteered by OLFC volunteer attorneys, Contributing Editors Dean Lawrence Hellman “Winds of Change” have occurred at the permanently placed, the CASA (Court Appointed Bill Gorden Oklahoma County Courthouse. Recently, Judge is faced with one Special Advocates) vol- Warren Jones eight judges have taken new assignments overriding concern - unteers also work tire- which are listed below. Trying to explain determining what is in lessly for the children. Oklahoma County Bar Association who’s in what office is like reciting the the best interests of that CASA volunteers advo- old Abbott and Costello act “Who’s on OFFICERS: particular child. cate for the best interests first?” Good luck on being on time for President Judge Patricia Parrish The Court has three of the deprived child in your next docket! President-Elect Jim Webb Case Managers to assist the juvenile court sys- • District Judge Kenneth Watson, Vice President Angela Ailles Bahm the Judges in more expe- tem. This advocacy Juvenile docket Past President John Heatly ditiously moving cases includes advocating not • District Judge Lisa Davis, Juvenile Treasurer Robert D. Nelon through the system. In only for the best perma- docket Bar Counsel Brandon Long each case, an Oklahoma nent home for the child • District Judge Tim Henderson, STAFF: County Assistant District but also for services pro- Criminal docket Executive Director Debbie Gorden Attorney is appointed to vided through DHS, such • District Judge Bernard Jones, Civil Legal Placement Director Pam Bennett represent the State’s as tutoring, clothing Membership Services Connie Resar docket interest. Parents either vouchers and healthcare. • Associate Judge Richard Kirby, Judge Patricia Parrish hire or are appointed CASA volunteers cur- Journal Record Publishing Co. Inc. Probate/Guardianship docket legal counsel. An Oklahoma County rently assist between 26 percent and 28 • Special Judge Larry Shaw, Publisher Mary Mélon Public Defender is appointed to represent percent of the children in need, therefore, VPO/Mental Health docket Director of Sales the child. the need for additional CASA volunteers and Community Relations Sunny Cearley • Special Judge Don Andrews, When a conflict of interest in repre- is great. CASA volunteers do not need to Art Director Gary L. Berger Domestic docket senting the child occurs, Oklahoma be an attorney to serve the childrens’ Creative Services Tiffany English • Special Judge Cassandra Williams, needs. To volunteer for CASA, contact Velvet Rogers Juvenile docket Lawyers for Children (“OLFC”) plays an Alex Corbitt at jjalecor@oklahomacoun- Advertising Acct Exec Jessica Misun Attorneys may be familiar with the instrumental role in providing pro bono ty.org or call 405-713-6607. Oklahoma County Courthouse but per- representation for the children. In 1997, There are currently over 1,700 juvenile haps not as much with the Oklahoma Don R. Nicholson, II, and D. Kent For advertising information, County Juvenile Justice Center. At the Meyers co-founded OLFC which cur- deprived cases pending in Oklahoma call 278-2820. Juvenile Center, District Judge Lisa rently has over 1,100 volunteer attorneys County with over 3,000 children in the Davis serves as Presiding Judge. Also on who represent deprived children in all of system. Postmaster: Send address changes to OCBA If it is true that it takes a village to raise Briefcase, 119 North Robinson Ave., Oklahoma the Bench are District Judge Kenneth the various stages of a case from the ini- City, Oklahoma 73102. Watson, Special Judges Gregory Ryan, tial show cause hearing through reunifi- a child, then I submit to you that it takes John Jacobsen and Cassandra Williams. cation or adoption. an army of volunteers to address the Journal Record Publishing produces the Briefcase These judges handle both delinquent and If you have an interest in volunteering needs of these 3,000+ abused and neg- for the Oklahoma County Bar Association, which is deprived cases. for Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, con- lected children in our county.