The Oklahoma Bar Journal January 2026

COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS LEADERSHIP ELECTED FOR 2026 Judge Stacie L. Hixon has

been elected to serve as chief judge of the Court of Civil Appeals, and Judge Thomas E. Prince has been elected to serve as its vice chief judge for 2026. The following have been selected to serve as presiding judges for their respective divi sions: Judge Barbara G. Swinton, Oklahoma City, Division 1;

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2026 SOVEREIGNTY SYMPOSIUM Save the date for the 38th annual Sovereignty Symposium. This event, presented by the OCU School of Law, will be held June 15-16 at the OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City. The symposium is currently inviting proposals for panel presentations and writing and poster competitions. More infor mation about the symposium will be announced soon. Visit www.sovereigntysymposium.com to learn more about the event. MCLE DEADLINE APPROACHING Dec. 31 was the deadline to earn any remaining MCLE credit for 2025 without having to pay a late fee. The deadline to report your 2025 credit is Tuesday, Feb. 17. The annual ethics requirement is two credits per year. The 12 total annual credit requirement did not change. Not sure how much credit you still need? You can view your MCLE transcript online at www.okbar.org. Still need credit? Check out great CLE offerings at ok.webcredenza.com. If you have questions about your credit, email mcle@okbar.org.

Judge Hixon

Judge Prince

Judge Jane P. Wiseman, Tulsa, Division 2; Judge Timothy J. Downing, Oklahoma City, Division 3; and Judge Gregory Blackwell, Tulsa, Division 4. These positions began Jan. 1 and are one-year terms.

SPECIAL JUDGES SWORN IN Austin C. Browning was sworn in on Nov. 17 as spe

cial judge for the 19th Judicial District. He is replacing Judge Emily Redman, who stepped down to become a tribal court prosecutor for the Choctaw Nation. Judge Browning has worked for the district attor ney’s offices in Cleveland and Grady counties, as a tribal prosecutor for the Choctaw Nation and as a defense attorney for Swain Law Group. He graduated from the OCU School of Law. Johnny Loard was sworn in Dec. 5 as special judge for the 20th Judicial District, filling the position vacated by Judge Carson Brooks, who was appointed district judge by Gov. Stitt. Judge Loard practiced law for 24 years in Carter and McCurtain counties. He received his law degree from OCU School of Law. Austin C. Browning Johnny Loard

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE OBA MIDYEAR MEETING

Save the date for the OBA Midyear Meeting! This year’s meeting, which will be held June 17-19 at the OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City, will focus on

CLE opportunities for all practitioners as well as programming for solo and small-firm practitioners. Just like the previous Solo & Small Firm Conference, the Midyear Meeting will take place in a casual, family friendly resort setting. We can’t wait to see you there!

JANUARY 2026 | 7

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL