Okie Women in Law: Gurich, Reheard, Christensen, Strubhar

This year three extraordinary women hold the top three positions in our state bar association which is a first for Oklahoma.

Deborah Reheard (right above) of Eufala is OBA President, Cathy Christensen of Oklahoma City is president-elect and Judge Reta Strubhar of Piedmont is vice-president. Think there are other states that can claim three women at the top of their bar leadership?

Meanwhile Oklahoma County District Judge Noma Gurich (left above) is the third woman ever named to serve on the Oklahoma Supreme Court but she is waiting to be sworn in until a lawsuit brought by Tulsan Jerry Fent that challenges the appointment process is resolved in the courts.

Deborah Reheard Heads Oklahoma Bar Association

It is a first for the Oklahoma Bar Association! The OBA's top three newly-elected officers are WOMEN. Who are these extraordinary women? Deborah Reheard of Eufaula will serve as the 2011 President of the Oklahoma Bar Association. She earned her JD from Tulsa College of Law in 1987. She has served the OBA in numerous leadership roles including as chair of the Women in Law Committee (2002, 2003 and 2009) and was the first woman elected to Oklahoma's Judicial Nominating Commission.
Meanwhile Cathy Christiansen of Oklahoma City has been elected to serve as 2011 President Elect and Judge Reta Strubhar of Piedmont will serve as 2011 Vice President. Their swearing-in ceremony is January 14, 2011 at the Oklahoma Supreme Court in Oklahoma City. Congratulations to all three!
For more information see okbar.org story here.

Janet Lovet Named Law Dean at University of Tulsa

Janet Loven Levit has been named Dean of the Law School at the University of Tulsa.

She is the first woman to serve as law dean at TU and the first female dean of a law school in Oklahoma. So, yippee!

You can read the full story about her and the appointment here.

Gov Henry Appoints Deborah Barnes to State Court of Civil Appeals

Here is the Governor's press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 25, 2008

Gov. Henry Appoints Deborah Browers Barnes to Civil Appeals Court (Oklahoma City) Governor Brad Henry announced today the appointment of Deborah Ann Browers Barnes of Tulsa to the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals. She will fill the position previously held by Justice John Reif, whom Gov. Henry appointed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in October.

Barnes earned her law degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1983. She served as a staff attorney for Justice Ralph Hodges at the Oklahoma Supreme Court from 1985 to 1989, and since then has worked in civil litigation, administrative law, commercial and business law.

Deborah Barnes worked as vice president, corporate secretary and associate general counsel at ONEOK, Inc. in Tulsa from 1997 to 2001. Most recently, she worked in private practice at Crutchmer, Browers & Barnes, P.L.L.C from 2002 to the present.

"I want to thank Debbie Barnes for her willingness to serve the state of Oklahoma," Gov. Henry said. "Her breadth of experience makes her a great fit for the Court of Civil Appeals, and I know she will serve the court with honor and integrity."

Gov. Henry selected Barnes from a recommendation list compiled by the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission.