Call a Lawyer!
Every week I get a call with a variation on the same theme: “Something happened (legally related), and I did so and so (without calling a lawyer) and I am not happy with the outcome.” In the most recent version, caller was upset because they got a ticket for something they did not think they... Read More
OK Supreme Court Case Reviews: Milne v. Hudson and Johnson v. Snow
The OK Supreme Court decided two family law cases last week that are worth talking about. In Milne v. Hudson (2022 OK 84), Milne (Native American) applied for a Protective Order against Hudson (Native American) in McIntosh County (Indian Country). Hudson objected, citing the US Supreme Court ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma. The trial court... Read More
Case Review: State v. Hudson (2022 OK CR 28)
As followers of the Court of Criminal Appeals are completely non-shocked about, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals took away more rights of Defendants when deciding State v. Hudson. Experienced criminal defense lawyers have filed “Motions to Quash” in misdemeanor cases where there is serious doubt as to the crime alleged. In felony cases, these... Read More
OK Supreme Court Case Review: Hammer v. Oklahoma
Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that there has been significant upheaval in the law as a result of the U.S, Supreme Court ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma. McGirt had a significant effect on how criminal cases involving Native Americans on Indian land were prosecuted. While that ruling has been limited... Read More
Expungements Update
Since I last wrote about expungements in 2015, the legislature has made getting an expungement easier and made many more people eligible. Expungements are important because everyone makes mistakes, but it doesn’t mean that your mistake should follow you around the rest of your life and affect your job prospects, dating, personal relationships, and more.... Read More
Free the Nipple! (v. Ft. Collins)
There has been a lot of talk and posts regarding the (fairly) recent ruling from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding whether a municipality can enforce a ban regarding women’s breasts in public. Here is a basic explanation of what actually happened and how it will likely affect you, if at all. First, the... Read More
Why You Need a Durable Power of Attorney
Sadly, I often get calls from potential clients that goes like this: “Dad had a heart attack, and is in bad shape. He can’t take care of himself, what do we need to do?” In most cases, Dad does not have a will, a durable power of attorney, or an advanced directive. And because Dad... Read More
Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce
When you call my office regarding a divorce or custody matter, one of the first questions you will be asked by my staff, or me, is whether it will be “contested” or “uncontested”. I have found that people are not totally clear on what this really means, so this blog post will be devoted to... Read More
Prosecutorial Discretion in Oklahoma
A dirty little secret in Oklahoma is that WHERE you get arrested is almost as important as what you get arrested for. For instance, in a few counties in Oklahoma, if you get a first time DUI, it is likely you will spend at least a weekend in jail, even if you have no prior... Read More
Basic Facts You Need to Know About Oklahoma’s New Drug Laws
Q: Is simple Possession of Illegal Narcotics (Drugs, CDS) now a misdemeanor? A: As of July 1, 2017, YES. Possession of small amounts of drugs, including methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana are now considered misdemeanors. Q: Really? A: Yes. Q: How much does “small amount” mean? A: Any amount that is not an automatic trafficking... Read More