The Oklahoma Bar Journal June 2024

2024 OBA AWARDS

The following awards will be pre sented during the OBA Annual Luncheon on Thursday, July 11. AWARD OF JUDICIAL EXCELLENCE Judge Barbara

respected attorneys in the com munity as adjunct settlement judges and directly oversaw settlement conferences in com plicated and contentious cases. He has also contributed to the legal profession with high-quality writing in his reports and recom mendations, which were adopted in their entirety by U.S. district judges in the Northern District and the Oklahoma Bar Journal . His writing is repeatedly cited by judges across the country, partic ularly regarding pretrial matters, such as discovery practice. Although he has served on the bench for more than two decades, most recently in a senior role, Magistrate Judge Cleary never waivers in his support for the Northern District of Oklahoma and other magistrate judges. His service and continued support have minimized the burden on other judges and ensured that litigants get their day in court in a timely manner. Judge Cleary graduated with honors from the TU College of Law in 1981. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1971 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.

prepare resource lists for attor neys and litigants and more. Those who are privileged to know and work with Judge Hatfield know what a tremen dous asset she is, not only to the judicial profession but to Canadian County as well. AWARD OF JUDICIAL EXCELLENCE

Hatfield, El Reno Judge Barbara

Magistrate Judge Paul Cleary, Tulsa Magistrate Judge Paul Cleary has had a distinguished career as a U.S. magistrate

Hatfield has served as a special judge in Canadian

County for more than 13 years. She is assigned to a busy docket, including divorces and paternities, traffic court, community sentenc ing, small claims and more, and she happily volunteers to help other judges with their dockets when needed. Judge Hatfield is known for treating everyone who appears before her with dignity and respect, as well as show ing care for attorneys and their lives outside of work. Behind the scenes, Judge Hatfield works tirelessly for the Canadian County Bar Association, securing CLE speakers, planning and organiz ing recognition events – such as retirement parties, swearing-in ceremonies and receptions for milestone members – keeping the association updated, helping

judge in the Northern District of Oklahoma since 2002. His patience and fairness are admired by many – litigants who enter his courtroom know they will receive an impartial decision. He has exhibited excellence of charac ter, quality job performance and service to the bench, bar and community. Magistrate Judge Cleary’s characteristics and hard work earned him an appointment as head of the Northern District’s Alternative Dispute Resolution program for many years. In this role, he recruited and appointed

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL