The Oklahoma Bar Journal May 2024

B ench & B ar B riefs

ON THE MOVE James Benitez has joined Loftis Law in Ponca City. He received his J.D. from Penn State Dickinson Law in 2022 and practices in the areas of criminal defense and family law. Mr. Benitez is also licensed to practice in Kansas. Kelly Lynn Offutt has joined the Oklahoma City office of Phillips Murrah as an associate attorney. She primarily practices in complex com mercial litigation, civil litigation and insurance defense. She previously served as an intern for Speaker of the House John A. Boehner and defended and prosecuted matters for clients involving wrongful death, contract disputes, product liability, personal AT THE PODIUM Judge Amy J. Pierce spoke on the panel for “Victims of Domestic Violence – The Justice System Working to Make a Difference” during the United Nations’ 68th Commission on the Status of Women in March. The panel was presented by the Federal Bar Association (FBA) Judiciary Division in partner ship with the Fordham University School of Law and the National Association of Women Judges. HOW TO PLACE AN ANNOUNCEMENT: The Oklahoma Bar Journal welcomes short articles or news items about OBA members and upcoming meetings. If you are an OBA member and you’ve moved, become a partner, hired an associate, taken on a partner, received a promotion or an award or given a talk or speech with statewide or national stature, we’d like to hear from

in the Tulsa area as an associate attorney. Mr. Crocker has more than a decade of experience practicing in the areas of probate, trust, tax and estate planning. He received his J.D. from the OU College of Law. Jesse Lee Allen has joined the Tulsa law firm of Savage O’Donnell Affeldt & Weintraub as of counsel. Mr. Allen most recently served as secretary of interior affairs for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. He pri marily practices in the areas of tribal law, real estate, business transactions and estate planning. He received his J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2013. KUDOS John A. McCaleb was named a fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers during the Annual Induction Dinner in Chicago on March 15. Mr. McCaleb is a share holder of Fenton, Fenton, Smith, Reneau & Moon, where he has practiced since 1976. He devotes his practice to representing employers and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation cases. Mr. McCaleb is a graduate of the OU College of Law.

injury, insurance bad faith and more. Ms. Offutt received her J.D. from the OU College of Law in 2017. Nicholas Tucker has been sworn in as associate district judge of Pushmataha County, which is in the 17th Judicial District of Oklahoma. He began his legal career as an assis tant district attorney in Kay County, where he prosecuted several felony and misdemeanor crimes. Judge Tucker received his J.D. from the TU College of Law in 2017. Paul Crocker has joined Vision Bank as a vice president and trust officer. He previously practiced Judge Pierce is the presiding district court judge for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the chair of the FBA Tribal Judges Subcommittee. Marty Ludlum presented three continuing education sessions to the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association in Lincoln, Nebraska. Topics included Federal Trade Commission regulatory changes and employment law changes. you. Sections, committees and county bar associations are encouraged to submit short stories about upcoming or recent activities. Honors bestowed by other publications ( e.g., Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers , etc.) will not be accepted as announcements. (Oklahoma-based publications are the exception.) Information selected for publication is printed at no cost, subject to editing and printed as space permits.

Submit news items to:

Hailey Boyd Communications Dept. Oklahoma Bar Association 405-416-7018 barbriefs@okbar.org

Articles for the September issue must be received by Aug. 1.

100 | MAY 2024

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL