The Oklahoma Bar Journal August 2023

Tulsa County Bar Association. We had more phone lines available than any recent prior year, and it showed. We fielded 1,215 calls across the state, a 22% increase from last year. Speaking from my experience in the room, it was rare if you could finish a call and have a full minute before you received another call. In addition, Katheryn Bell returned as our email coordinator, finding volunteers to help respond to the 471 emails we received. Katheryn has worked behind the scenes for years to help us respond to email questions. The members of the public with whom we spoke and corresponded often replied with gratitude for students were recognized during a ceremony at the state Capitol in March. Left: This year’s grand prize winner was Angela Nava of Covington-Douglas High School. Winning entries from all grades may be viewed online at https://bit.ly/3K8BCZV. Above: More than 1,400 students from across the state in grades kindergarten-12th submitted entries into the annual Law Day art and writing contests. The winning

and justices from around the state. The county bar association rec ognized student contest winners, and we heard from Sharon Hunt about an African-Creek lawyer, James Coody Johnson, from Wewoka in the early 20th century.

ASK A LAWYER On May 1, volunteers answered questions from the public by phone and email for 12 hours. Volunteers participated in two-hour shifts, but I was pleased to be joined again for the full 12 hours by Dan Crawford and Mark Schwebke at one of the phone banks at the

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL