Inspiration, Recognition and Commemoration - Highlighting Lawyers and Judges who Dedicatedly Pursue Justice

Inspiration, Recognition and Commemoration:

Highlighting Lawyers and Judges who Dedicatedly Pursue Justice

This year's Law Day theme is bold and energizing, a call to action as we recover from the waves of shock and puzzlement experienced over this past year. The 2021 theme is: Advancing the Rule of Law Now. With this theme we celebrate the country's bedrock, our justice system, our American rights and liberties, and the responsibility we individually bear to maintain and advance the Rule of Law. If we didn't know before, we undoubtedly know now how vital it is for each one of us to do our part. We keep mindful that the Rule of Law exists and is sustained only by work and diligence. The people of the world, including the citizens of this great country, take the Rule of Law for granted only with real peril. The integrity and strength of the Rule of Law rests squarely on the shoulders of we the people.

The Law Day Committee related to the work of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Committee in developing and celebrating "Advancing the Rule of Law Now." How very appropriate for Tulsa lawyers to recognize this work and effort within the greater community in our 2021 Law Day celebration.

As a part of those celebrations, the Tulsa County Bar looks to recognize some of the lawyers and judges who dedicatedly pursue justice and daily advance the Rule of Law.

The inspiration of these jurists and lawyers in arriving to the law comes from multiple sources. Judge Wilson knew early in her life she would choose a legal career, inspired by Justice Thurgood Marshall, Ada Lois Sipuel, and attorneys involved in the civil rights movement. Danny Williams was inspired by his great grandfather, P.A. Chappelle, one of the first African American attorneys in Oklahoma, and his late uncle, the Honorable Carlos Chappelle. The seed was planted for Kevinn Matthews after a senior internship at Tulsa law firm Norman and Wohlgemuth. Judge Palmer had an enthusiastic business law teacher and set her course in her junior year of high school. Pierre Robertson was inspired with thoughts of helping others and advocating for those who could not advocate for themselves, an endeavor he has actively pursued representing persons in housing issues during the on-going pandemic.

Recommendations for firms and law schools to promote diversity and inclusion are far ranging and practical. Recruitment of diverse candidates from colleges and universities is one. Devote resources within the firm or law school to recruit students from all racial backgrounds. Assign someone in the firm or law school with the primary responsibility of diversity and inclusion. Implement educational programs to provide members of the legal profession with greater awareness of issues and implement strategies to thus recognize achievers and then change the composition of our work environment. Make it a goal to mentor someone of which you can learn from as well as they can learn from you about all aspects of life. Take an inventory of hiring and admission practices to determine if you can improve practices that limit those processes that exclude diverse candidates. Involve young people in programming such as mock trials or shadowing or tours to allow the opportunity to understand what a career in law might entail.

A common theme in their advice to those curious about or seeking legal careers is to ask for help, including finding a mentor, seeking guidance, shadowing attorneys and judges, and asking those working in the legal profession for advice and guidance.

The first step is learning from and following the advice of these leaders in the legal profession.

The following pages are filled with the history, inspiration and experiences of lawyers and judges in the Tulsa Legal Community. Each was asked to provide their biographical information and to choose questions from a list provided and share their thoughts with us.