THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 64 | APRIL 2025 From the Executive Director By Janet Johnson 30 Years Later – Remembering Those Lost ON APRIL 19, 1995, the United States witnessed one of its deadliest acts of domestic terrorism when a truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The attack killed 168 people, including 19 children, and left hundreds more injured. Three decades later, the memory of those lost remains central to the nation’s collective consciousness. Honoring their lives means not only remembering their stories but also acknowledging the profound changes in law and security that followed this tragedy. Among those lost were government employees, military personnel, children and citizens simply going about their daily lives. The impact on families and the Oklahoma City community was immeasurable. In the wake of the bombing, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum was established, serving as a solemn tribute to the victims, survivors and first responders who risked their lives in the aftermath. The annual remembrance ceremony ensures that their stories are never forgotten and that the lessons learned continue to shape future generations. Among the victims were four Oklahoma lawyers. I encourage you to read the tributes honoring our fallen fellow OBA members published on page 38-39 of this journal. Beyond physical memorials, the legal community also sought to honor the victims through justice and reform in ways that can still be felt today. One notable example is the implementation of the OBA Disaster Response Legal Services, which still works to provide assistance for disaster victims in our state 30 years later. OBA members representing numerous practice areas stepped up in a big way to lend a hand to fellow Oklahomans. The impact was so significant that even the state of New York reached out after the 9/11 attacks to model the framework that had been developed here. The support provided by these volunteer lawyers demonstrates just one notable example of what has come to be known as “the Oklahoma standard.” The bombing also changed how terrorism cases were prosecuted. The trials of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols required careful legal strategy, balancing the demand for justice with constitutional The Survivor Tree is an American elm tree with roots stretching back to the early days of Oklahoma statehood. After surviving the bomb’s blast, it is seen as an iconic symbol of hope in downtown Oklahoma City. Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
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