OCBA Members Shine

[ DECEMBER 2009 – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK ] -Recently the Oklahoma Bar Association presented awards to several Oklahoma County lawyers, and the OCBA, at the 105th Annual Meeting of the Oklahoma Bar Association (held in Oklahoma City on November 4-6, 2009). The Oklahoma County lawyers who were honored at the OBA Bar Convention, and the awards they received, are:

Honorable Donald Deason – Recipient of the Alma Wilson Award

The OBA’s Justice Alma Wilson Award is presented to an individual who makes a significant contribution to improving the lives of Oklahoma’s children. Oklahoma County District Judge Don Deason, who presides over Oklahoma County’s always crowded domestic docket, was the 2009 recipient of the award. In his position as District Judge, Judge Deason saw a need for Guardians Ad Litem for children in families divided by divorce and child custody disputes who do not fall within the realm of representation by the Public Defender’s office, or meet the criteria for assistance by Lawyers for Children (adjudicated deprived/abuse cases). As a result, for the past two years, he was the driving force in developing the Model Program for Guardians Ad Litem in domestic cases. The program provides guidelines and training for, and lists of, pro-bono attorneys willing to volunteer as Guardians Ad Litem for children. As stated in the nomination letter: “He is committed to upholding the law, shows respect and even-handedness toward all attorneys and their clients, displays a calm, reasoned judicial temperament and his empathy for others is displayed by his attitude of making a difference.”

Before being appointed as a Special Judge in 1999, Judge Deason was an Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney and, for twenty years, prosecuted domestic violence, sexual assault and related homicide cases. In recognition of his compassion in dealing with people affected by those crimes, as well as his extraordinary success in those areas, Judge Deason received the 1997 Governor’s Commendation for Victims’ Rights. The OBA Family Law Section honored him as Outstanding Family Law Judge in 2007. In addition to serving as District Judge, Judge Deason is currently on the Advisory Board of the Downtown Oklahoma City YMCA and the Parish Council for St. Monica Catholic Church (Edmond). He has previously served on the Oklahoma Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advisory Council. He is a frequent CLE speaker on domestic violence issues and a Master in the Ruth Bader Ginsburg American Inn of Court.

In response to learning that he would be the recipient of the Justice Alma Wilson Award, Judge Deason humbly said: “I would like to give recognition and credit where it is due – to the family law attorneys who have made the Guardian Ad Litem Project a reality by giving their time, knowledge & dedication to assure that the children they represent have a voice in the legal process. Without them, the project would be meaningless.”

James Sharrock – Recipient of the Outstanding Service to the Public Award

James “Jim” Sharrock, an attorney with McAfee & Taft, was honored with the Outstanding Service to the Public Award. In addition to practicing law at McAfee & Taft where he represents entrepreneurs, emerging companies and established organizations in a broad range of business matters, Jim has found time to use the skills he’s developed in his thirty-six (36) year legal career in service to others.

Jim recently completed his second term as President of Leadership Oklahoma City (“LOKC”). LOKC is a nonprofit organization focused on providing leadership training for adults and high school students. With over 1,000 adult and nearly 900 youth graduates of its programs, LOKC has played a key role in the recent resurgence of Oklahoma City by helping to develop a leadership pool utilized by many different organizations. Jim, himself, was in LOKC Class X and has remained involved for seventeen years, serving in a variety of leadership roles, including, at one time, chairperson of the board of Youth Leadership Exchange and, at another, as a Program Chairman for Youth In Action.

Jim was the third board member recruited for Rebuilding Together and served as its initial President. Jim remained on the board for another 10 years and is currently a member of Rebuilding Together’s advisory board.

The Edmond Public Schools Foundation has also been the beneficiary of Jim’s community service efforts. As a former president of this charitable foundation, Jim was responsible for designing and implementing many of the organization’s fundraising and grant-making procedures.

Another organization receiving the benefit of Jim’s dedicated community service is the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City. Jim served as President of the Club in 2004-2005 – which is no small feat, as the Club, with over 530 members is the 3rd largest Rotary International Club in the world. Jim also served two terms as chair and currently serves as a board member of the Rotary Club 29 Foundation, an independent organization operated by members of the Oklahoma City Rotary Club. The nomination letter submitted on behalf of Jim Sharrock concluded: “The Rotary motto is SERVICE ABOVE SELF. Jim has dedicated himself to this motto.”

When asked about receiving the Award, Jim replied: “Non-profit organizations play a very important role in our culture and our economy. In my experience, every successful non-profit has been the beneficiary of lawyers who donate large amounts of their time and talent to the organization. It is an honor to be recognized as one of those many lawyers who believe that service to the public enriches the lives of both those served and those who serve.”

John Miley – Recipient of the Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service

John Miley received the 2009 OBA Pro Bono Award. By day, John is the Deputy General Counsel of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. He also serves as the President of the General Counsel’s Forum and chairs the OCBA’s Pro Bono Committee. John recently attended a meeting at the offices of Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma with ABA President Tommy Wells, where he offered the perspective of both the OCBA Pro Bono Committee Chair and a dedicated pro bono attorney, giving his unique insights into “efforts on the ground” to provide legal services to those who are living in poverty.

While John’s “day job” restricts his ability to take pro bono cases that require court appearances, that doesn’t stop John from participating in pro bono activities and helping Oklahomans who are living in poverty. For many years, John has volunteered at Legal Aid’s “Third Saturday Legal Clinic” which meets on the third Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1901 N. Douglas, Oklahoma City. He describes the Clinic as “the perfect solution for me to meet my ethical obligation to give pro bono services.” John continued: “Legal Aid attorneys are always present at the Clinic to help out when a client has questions in areas I am not sure of, and it has been fun to get to know and work with these dedicated professionals. John volunteers at the Clinic with his twin brother, David Miley, who is also a lawyer and who John recruited to participate in the Clinic with him.

John is married to the Honorable Noma D. Gurich, District Judge for Oklahoma County. He grew up in Oklahoma City, graduating from N.W. Classen High School in 1978. Prior to graduation, John achieved the Eagle Scout Award in 1973 and was State Champion in Cross Country as well as the 1-mile and 2-mile runs. He attended O.U. on a Track and Field Scholarship, where he ran Cross Country and long distance races. While attending O.U., he participated in the 1980 Olympic Marathon trials in Buffalo, N.Y., finishing 25th with a time of 2 hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds. He graduated from O.U. with an accountancy degree in 1982 and was soon thereafter accepted to O.U.’s law school. He received his law degree in 1986 and admitted to practice the same year. In 1989, John was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.

When asked what the award meant to him, John stated: “I am honored to receive this award from my peers. As all attorneys who provide pro bono services to the poor will tell you, we do not provide the service with the expectation that we will receive any awards. The work itself is reward enough. I think the reason these awards are given is to make all attorneys aware of their duty to give pro bono service above and beyond the financial donations to Legal Aid Services. Legal Aid needs the financial donations, but they need donations of attorney time as well. My award is proof that all attorneys can give of their time and talent because Legal Aid provides a variety of ways in which it can be done. If you, as an attorney, are in a position to take cases referred from Legal Aid and work them through the court system; that is great. If you cannot, that does not excuse you from service. There are other avenues to serve and the needs are great. I encourage every attorney to find a way he or she can provide pro bono services by calling your local Legal Aid office and getting involved.”

Nancy Parrott – Recipient of the Joe Stamper Distinguished Service Award

Nancy Parrott, Marshal of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, was the 2009 recipient of the OBA Joe Stamper Distinguished Service Award. The letter of nomination which resulted in Ms. Parrott receiving the Award contained some of the highest praise one lawyer could offer another lawyer: “She has put a ‘good face’ on lawyers and the profession through her polite demeanor, kind assistance, willingness to listen and commitment to ‘do the right thing.’” The nomination letter also noted Ms. Parrott’s 24-years of service to her fellow lawyers as Marshal and as long term chairman or working member of state and county bar boards and committees such as Law Day, Bench and Bar, Public Information, Bar Media, Community Service, Lawyer Referral, Continuing Legal Education, Awards, Civil Procedure, Professionalism, Disaster Relief and numerous groups whose purpose is to draft Court rules. Ms. Parrott represents the community through her membership in Leadership Oklahoma and Leadership Oklahoma City. She’s also served on the boards of the American Cancer Society, Youth Leadership Exchange, Lupus Association, Shiloh Camp and American Lung Association.

Before becoming a lawyer, Ms. Parrott earned undergraduate degrees in English, Speech and French and a Masters degree in Family Counseling. She worked for Congressman Carl Albert and as a French translator in Washington D.C. As a single mother of two young girls, she worked full time and attended OCU Law at night. With a chuckle in her voice, Nancy claims to have gone to law school with everyone in Oklahoma County “because it took forever to graduate.”

The two girls she raised while attending law school were educated to be a lawyer (Courtenay, mother of 5) and a teacher (Katie, soon to be mother of baby boy). She spends lots of time with her 93 year old mother who still lives happily alone in the family home in Atoka and whom she describes as a “pistol” and “very wise”. She loves riding horses, dancing and Elvis. She is a “really good whistler” and she plays the French horn, harmonica and jews harp. In her spare time, she enjoys running half marathons, including the Memorial Marathon last April, and recently she placed second in her age group. Joking, again, she declares that she’s not sure there were more than 2 entries in that group! Looking to the future, she says her running goal is to “beat Judge Vickie Robertson.”

When asked about receiving the Joe Stamper Award, Nancy recounted that Joe Stamper was her father’s favorite person and friend. When Ms. Parrott told him she was going to attend law school, he replied “if you are going to be a lawyer, be one like Joe.” She stated she couldn’t be more pleased than to receive an award named after a man like Mr. Stamper. Her father would have loved it and Ms. Parrott was certainly honored and grateful.

Oklahoma County Bar Association – Recipient of the Hicks Epton Award

The Oklahoma County Bar Association received one of two Hicks Epton Law Day Awards in recognition of the OCBA’s expansive Law Day celebration, which was held during the week of April 27 through May 1.

The Oklahoma County Law Library featured special daily events throughout the week beginning with Lawyers in the Library on April 27 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. During this event which took place at the Downtown Metro Library, library patrons were offered, on a walk-in basis, free legal advice and referrals during 15-minute sessions. The Law Library continued to celebrate Law Week each day with various events ranging from 20-minute tours and instructions on how to use the law library, Westlaw training and student tours of the courthouse and county jail.

The OCBA Law Day Committee provided speakers at various civil clubs and venues in Oklahoma County in an attempt to provide legal speakers during the Law Week celebration.

Over 1,350 telephone calls were handled by 104 Oklahoma County lawyers at this year’s Ask a Lawyer Program, which is an annual program coordinated through the efforts of both the Oklahoma Bar Association and OCBA in which all residents of the State of Oklahoma are offered an opportunity to ask an anonymous question of a lawyer. It was a very busy year and the volunteers who generously donated their time for this service were greatly appreciated.

The OCBA’s celebration of Law Week concluded with a sold-out Law Day Luncheon, featuring Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice James Winchester as the speaker. “Law Day is a time to celebrate and reflect on the pride we have in our heritage of liberty, justice and equality under our laws,” stated Justice Winchester. Often, using humor, Winchester reminded the audience of keeping grounded in their duties as attorneys and judges. During the luncheon, the inaugural Howard K. Berry Sr. Award was presented to Gary A. Taylor, Executive Director of Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. This award was made possible through a donation from the Berry Family to the Oklahoma County Bar Foundation. Ted Strueli, Managing Editor of The Journal Record presented this year’s Journal Record Award to L.E. Dean Stringer. Thirty-two attorneys were recognized as this year’s recipients of the Leadership in Law Awards also presented by The Journal Record to honor those in the legal profession who generously give of their time to benefit the community. The Young Lawyers Division awarded the Liberty Bell Award to Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel for his willingness to work with the bar in providing security card access to the Oklahoma County Court buildings. Students from the prelaw program at Douglass High School were also in attendance at the luncheon as the guests of the OCBA Board of Directors.

The OCBA, through its Law Day Committee, did an outstanding job of celebrating Law Day week through many different events. With great pride, Celeste Johnson, OCBA Law Day Chairperson, accepted the 2009 Hicks Epton Award on behalf of the entire Oklahoma County Bar Association.