Blindsided in Courtroom Attack, DA Fights Back, Sends Convicted Murderer to Hospital

An Oklahoma sentencing hearing Monday for a defendant who had just been convicted in a high-profile felony murder case played out like a scene from a Hollywood western, according to eyewitness accounts. Blindsided by Emanuel Mitchell, who came up from behind and punched him in the face as he was…

May 4, 2011 5:51 PM CDT

Anti-Shariah Bills Under Review

May 1, 2011 8:20 AM CDT

Okla. Judge Denies DA’s Blanket Recusal Motion, Filed Under Seal

An Oklahoma judge swiftly denied yesterday a motion by a prosecutor seeking his recusal in all criminal cases in which the Cleveland County district attorney’s office is involved. Cleveland County District Judge Tom Lucas took less than a minute to make the ruling yesterday, in a courtroom packed with attorneys…

Apr 1, 2011 5:47 PM CDT

Ex-Prosecutor Faces Legal Ethics Case Concerning His Work on 1990s Capital Murder Trials

Accused by the Oklahoma Bar Association of intentional misconduct in his handling of a 1993 murder case, a former Oklahoma County prosecutor says he did nothing wrong. Brad Miller, who is now 50, is accused in a legal ethics case of using eyewitness testimony that he should have known was…

Mar 28, 2011 3:58 PM CDT

Protective Order Didn’t Help Oklahoma Lawyer Killed in Murder-Suicide

A lawyer was shot and killed in an Oklahoma City parking lot on Tuesday by her ex-husband, who then killed himself. The Oklahoma City lawyer, 58-year-old Freda Cross, had obtained a protective order against her former spouse, Michael McCreary, NewsOK.com reports. The shooting occurred only hours after McCreary was released…

Mar 24, 2011 12:03 PM CDT

Story of New Law Grad’s Work on Tim McVeigh’s Defense Team Is Headed to Hollywood

As 1996 neared an end, Chad Wold’s life course seemed set. The recent law school graduate was getting settled in Montana, where he was about to get married and study for the bar exam. But then, in a stunning development that illustrates the power of networking, came a phone call…

Mar 17, 2011 7:52 PM CDT

Crowe & Dunlevy to Merge with Another Oklahoma Law Firm

Crowe & Dunlevy, one of Oklahoma’s largest law firms, is merging with Day, Edwards, Propester & Christensen. Crowe & Dunlevy president Roger Stong told NewsOK.com that the merger will boost his firm’s practices in securities arbitration, banking and employment matters. Stong says the merger is a good cultural fit; there…

Mar 14, 2011 11:56 AM CDT

Okla. Lawyer Gets Probation re Addiction Self-Reported to Bar Authorities After Arrest

An Oklahoma lawyer who admittedly used illegal drugs but self-reported to attorney disciplinary authorities after she was arrested for felony prescription forgery and sought treatment has been put on probation. Saying that discipline must be tailored to fit the facts of each specific case, the Oklahoma Supreme Court held in…

Feb 2, 2011 1:12 AM CST

Judge Accused of Giving Away Adopted Twins, Spending Support Payments at Casinos and Spas

An Oklahoma judge and her husband are facing multiple perjury and fraudulent claims charges after accepting money from the state for the care of twins they initially took in as foster parents and subsequently adopted. However, Oklahoma District Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure and her husband, Karlos Antonio LeSure Sr., allegedly gave…

Jan 24, 2011 9:46 PM CST

Okla. Judge Admits ‘Wetback’ Comment, But Denies Calling Workers ‘Filthy Animals’

An Oklahoma judge admits he referred to Mexican roofers as “wetbacks” in a moment of anger over a shoddy construction job, but he’s denying allegations that he called the workers “nothing but filthy animals.” Lawyers for a white pharmacist charged with the murder of a masked robber are trying to…

Jan 7, 2011 1:02 PM CST

Possible Murder Case Mulled Against Man, 23, Who Says He Shot Wife, 50, During Sex Game

Jailed a week ago on suspicion of first-degree murder after he called authorities to report that his wife is dead, a 23-year-old Oklahoma man has yet to be formally charged in what he calls an accidental shooting during a sex game. Arthur Sedille says he often put a gun to…

Dec 29, 2010 12:56 PM CST

Okla. Inmate Executed with Sedative Used in Animal Euthanasia

An Oklahoma inmate executed Thursday is believed to be the first person put to death with a sedative used to euthanize animals. Officials substituted pentobarbital in the execution of John David Duty because of a nationwide shortage of the drug usually used, sodium thiopental, according to the Associated Press and…

Dec 17, 2010 12:35 PM CST

Fed’l Judge Puts Hold on Okla. Amendment Banning State-Court Use of Shariah Law

A federal judge in Oklahoma today issued a permanent injunction putting a hold on a new ban on the use of Shariah law in the state’s courts, until it can be determined whether the voter-approved state constitutional amendment that implements the ban violates the U.S. Constitution in multiple ways. “While…

Nov 30, 2010 1:03 AM CST

Domestic Abuse Defendant Relies on ‘Slave’ Contract and Victim’s Testimony: ‘I Like to Be Tied Up’

In an unusual domestic abuse trial now under way in Oklahoma, the defendant is relying on testimony by the victim. Richard Bryon “Wraith” Wise, 43, should not be found guilty of felony kidnapping and felony and misdemeanor domestic abuse counts, the defense contends, because the Utah woman allegedly handcuffed, choked…

Nov 4, 2010 8:12 PM CDT

Profs Question Oklahoma’s Voter-Approved Ban on Shariah and International Law

Oklahoma voters approved a state constitutional amendment on Tuesday that bars state judges from consulting Islamic and international law when deciding cases. Some constitutional law experts have misgivings, CNN reports. One issue is whether the ban on Shariah law conflicts with the First Amendment prohibition on government establishment of religion.…

Nov 4, 2010 11:50 AM CDT