JUNE 2024 | 53 THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL LIBERTY BELL AWARD Oklahoma County Diversion Hub The Oklahoma County Diversion Hub aims to fill gaps in the criminal legal system by promoting criminal justice reform, helping people successfully navigate a complex court system and ultimately reducing the pressure on the Oklahoma jail and the prison populations. This network connects justice- involved individuals to life-stabilizing resources and services to help them become safe, self-sufficient and stable members of the community, reducing their contact with the legal system. This nonprofit offers assistance with navigating housing, employment, justice, mental health, substance use and public benefits. The programs focus on underlying problems that lead to criminalized behavior, addressing the root causes of community instability. This cost-efficient method helps improve long-term community safety and reduce crime. Through three principal programs, as well as several others, the Oklahoma County Diversion Hub allows clients to remove barriers to unmet needs, access treatment, obtain needed community resources, achieve self-sufficiency and stability and much more. The work of the organization’s staff has greatly impacted the community and has helped countless individuals change their lives. JOE STAMPER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Andrew M. Coats, Oklahoma City Andrew M. Coats has greatly impacted his state and community, as well as the legal community, throughout his life. He has tirelessly served his bar association, city, community and country. Throughout his career, Mr. Coats has served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, Oklahoma County district attorney, Oklahoma City mayor and director at the Oklahoma City office of Crowe & Dunlevy. He was president of the OBA in 1992, president of the American College of Trial Lawyers from 1996 to 1997, and he was charter Oklahoma president of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is also active in several professional organizations, where he holds positions such as trustee of the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society, fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and more. Currently, he serves as dean emeritus and professor of law at the OU College of Law and director emeritus of the OU Entrepreneurial Law Center. Under his leadership, the college has experienced a resurgence. Endowed professorships and scholarships significantly increased. He also presided over the college’s renovation; the OU Board of Regents recognized his leadership by officially naming the building Andrew M. Coats Hall in his honor. He was also inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2005 and received the Professionalism Award from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in 2010. Mr. Coats’s continued support and contributions have greatly impacted the legal profession, the OU College of Law, Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma. ALMA WILSON AWARD Tsinena Bruno Thompson, Oklahoma City Tsinena Bruno Thompson’s involvement has changed the lives of countless children. Though she primarily practiced in bankruptcy, products liability, federal sector civil rights and employment discrimination, Ms. Thompson has always had a passion for advocating for children. In 1997, she began volunteering for Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, a team of lawyer and citizen volunteers who ensure Oklahoma’s foster care children are protected and have legal representation even when public resources are inadequate. This led to her getting involved in two long jury trials for the organization. Ms. Thompson served as president and CEO of the organization from 2008 until 2021. Under her leadership, OLFC took an active role in ensuring that children taken into the custody of the state through the Oklahoma Department of Human Services were assigned an attorney. This ensured that children had legal representation regardless of whether there was a lack of public defenders in Oklahoma County. The organization serves the interests of hundreds of children at a time and even works with parents to help them comply with court orders to regain custody of their children. Ms. Thompson’s hands-on approach included volunteering,
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