The Oklahoma Bar Journal January 2024

I leave you with an aspirational goal that you learn to love justice more than you love victory.

the bombing was the defendant’s hatred and distrust of our govern ment. At the sentencing hearing, I said to the defendant, “It is ironic that the government that you hate so much is the government that is good enough and strong enough to give you a fair trial.” But that is just one example of what happens in courtrooms every day across our country. Judge on the bench. Jury in the box. Witness on the stand. Counsel and parties present. Citizens in the gallery. The courtroom in every community of this state is a sanctuary of justice. What happens every day in our courtrooms is a thing of beauty. We must never forget that. Judges, law yers and jurors doing their work. It is art, and it is just as beautiful as any painting in a museum or any symphony in a concert hall. That is what we do, every Oklahoma lawyer. Be proud of that; we are all privileged to be a part of it. Never forget that. Remember that the next time you walk into a courtroom. I leave you with an aspirational goal that you learn to love justice more than you love victory. And I remind you of a command that is inherent in your oath as an attor ney: do right, fear not.

unimportant clients. When you stand in the courtroom with your client, it may well be the most important event in their life. You are their voice – the person they chose to be their advocate. Their life, liberty, fortune and family may be in your hands. It is a pub lic trust. Earn it every day. Never turn your head away from injustice, never stop believing that you can make a difference. Remember: It has been written, and it is an absolute truth, “Success is never final and failure never fatal.” What matters is your personal and professional courage to do what is right. Lawyers and judges must be armed with courage. John Wayne defined courage as “being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” Thomas Paine defined it as “fear that has said its prayers.” You must be courageous – have your voice heard. Courage to say things that others may not want to hear. Courage to never bend the truth. Courage to speak for those without a voice, those without wealth or power. As lawyers and judges, we must all be dedicated to the com mand of the rule of law, the basic right to a fair trial and due pro cess. One example from my many years as a trial judge was from the Oklahoma City bombing trial. As you will recall, the motive for

Editor’s Note: This article is adapted from Justice Taylor’s keynote speech presented during the OBA Annual Meeting on Nov. 2, 2023.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Justice Steven W. Taylor, a native of McAlester, served on the Oklahoma Supreme Court from 2004 until his retirement

in 2016. He served a term as chief justice from January 2011 until January 2013. He is currently serving a nine-year term as a regent for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education that began in 2019.

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

8 | JANUARY 2024

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL