THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 52 | MARCH 2025 Bar News Professional Responsibility Tribunal Annual Report Jan. 1, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024 | SCBD 7838 THE PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TRIBUNAL was established by order of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma in 1981, under the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings (“RGDP”), 5 0.S. 2021, ch. 1, app. I-A. The primary function of the PRT is to conduct hearings on complaints filed against lawyers in formal disciplinary and personal incapacity proceedings and on petitions for reinstatement to the practice of law. A formal disciplinary proceeding is initiated by a written complaint filed with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Petitions for reinstatement are filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court. COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT The PRT consists of 21 members, 14 of whom are lawyers, and 7 of whom are non-lawyers. The lawyers on the PRT are active members in good standing of the Oklahoma Bar Association. Lawyer members are appointed by the OBA President, with the approval of the Board of Governors. Non-lawyer members are appointed by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma. Each member is appointed to serve a threeyear term and limited to two terms. Terms end on June 30th of the last year of a member’s service. Pursuant to Rule 4.2, RGDP, members are required to meet annually to address organizational and other matters touching upon the PRT’s purpose and objective. They also elect a Chief Master and Vice-Chief Master, both of whom serve for a one-year term. PRT members receive no compensation for their services, but they are entitled to be reimbursed for travel and other reasonable expenses incidental to the performance of their duties. The lawyer members of the PRT who served during all or part of 2024 were: Lane R. Neal, Oklahoma City; Martha Rupp Carter, Tulsa; Charles W. Chesnut, Miami; Melissa G. DeLacerda, Stillwater; Bryan Dixon, Edmond; Jennifer E. Irish, Edmond; William Kellough, Tulsa; Anne S. Maguire, Tulsa; Greg Mashburn, Norman; Malinda Matlock, Oklahoma City; Patricia G. Parrish, Oklahoma City; Kendall Sykes, Oklahoma City; Lynn Allan Pringle, Oklahoma City; Richard D. White, Tulsa; Sarah Green, Oklahoma City; and Kelly Kavalier, Stillwater. The non-lawyer members who served during all or part of 2024 were: Stan McCabe, Tulsa; Jeffrey Park, Bixby; Kevin Martin, Woodward; Susan Regier, Oklahoma City; Alan N. Case, Woodward; Matthew Ralls, Oklahoma City; Scott Rogers, Warner; and Brett Fehrle, Mustang. The annual meeting was held on July 10, 2024, at the OBA Annual Meeting. Agenda items included a presentation by Gina Hendryx, General Counsell of the OBA, recognition of new members and members whose terms had ended, and discussions concerning the work of the PRT. Martha Rupp Carter was elected Chief Master and Sarah Green was elected Vice-Chief Master, each to serve a one-year term. GOVERNANCE All proceedings that come before the PRT are governed by the RGDP. However, proceedings and the reception of evidence are, by reference, governed generally by the rules in civil proceedings, except as otherwise provided by the RGDP. The PRT is authorized to adopt appropriate procedural rules which govern the conduct of the proceedings before it. Such rules include, but are not limited to, provisions for requests for disqualification of members of the PRT assigned to hear a particular proceeding. ACTION TAKEN AFTER NOTICE RECEIVED After notice of the filing of a disciplinary complaint or reinstatement petition is received, the Chief Master (or Vice-Chief Master if the Chief Master is unavailable) selects three (3) PRT members (two lawyers and one non-lawyer) to serve as a Trial Panel. The Chief
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTk3MQ==