Background
The Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA) requires all members to pay annual dues pursuant to the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association, 5 O.S. 2011, ch. 1, app. 1, art. VIII, § 1. On or about April 15, 2026, the OBA’s Executive Director sent certified-mail notices to all members who were delinquent in paying their 2026 dues and/or expense charges. Despite that notice, the members listed on revised Exhibit A failed to remit payment.
On May 26, 2026, the OBA’s Board of Governors filed an Application with the Oklahoma Supreme Court seeking the suspension of those delinquent members from both OBA membership and the practice of law in Oklahoma, as authorized by art. VIII, § 2 of the Rules. The Board’s revised Exhibit A identified 46 attorneys practicing or residing across Oklahoma and multiple other states.
The Court’s Holding
The Oklahoma Supreme Court, acting unanimously in conference, granted the Board of Governors’ Application. The Court found that each attorney named on revised Exhibit A had received proper notice of their delinquency and nonetheless failed to pay their 2026 membership dues and/or expense charges as required by the Rules. Accordingly, the Court ordered all 46 named attorneys suspended from OBA membership effective June 15, 2026.
Each suspended attorney is prohibited from practicing law in the State of Oklahoma until reinstated in accordance with OBA rules. The order does not permanently revoke bar membership; reinstatement remains available upon satisfaction of the dues obligation and compliance with applicable reinstatement procedures.
Key Takeaways
- The Oklahoma Supreme Court suspended 46 OBA members from the practice of law in Oklahoma for failure to pay their 2026 annual bar dues, acting on the Board of Governors’ application under art. VIII, §§ 1–2 of the OBA Rules.
- Proper notice was a prerequisite: the Court specifically found that the OBA Executive Director notified each delinquent member by certified mail on or about April 15, 2026, before suspension proceedings were initiated.
- Suspension is not permanent — affected attorneys may seek reinstatement once dues and expense charges are paid in accordance with OBA reinstatement rules.
- The order is designated for publication in the Oklahoma Bar Journal only and is not for official publication in the Pacific Reporter.
Why It Matters
This administrative order is a routine but consequential exercise of the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s supervisory authority over the state bar. It serves as an annual reminder that failure to pay bar dues — regardless of where an attorney currently resides or practices — results in an immediate prohibition on the practice of law in Oklahoma. Attorneys on the list include members based in Texas, Colorado, Virginia, Illinois, Utah, Arkansas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida, and Washington D.C., underscoring that the obligation follows OBA membership, not physical presence in the state.
For practitioners with multistate licenses, an OBA suspension for nonpayment can trigger reciprocal discipline inquiries in other jurisdictions, making timely dues payment a matter of broader professional risk management rather than merely a local administrative matter.