Linda Morrissey
Mediator | Arbitrator | Special Master | Discovery Master Private Judge
Areas of Expertise - Adoption, Auto Negligence, Business, Business Succession, Commercial, Construction Law, Elder Abuse and Financial Fraud, Elder Law, Employment Law, Estates and Trusts, Family Law, Estates and Trusts, Family Law, Eminent Domain, Guardianship, Insurance & Bad Faith, Medical Device, Medical Malpractice, Municipal Law, Nursing Home Negligence, Oil and Gas, Personal Injury, Probate, Product Liability, Professional Negligence, Real Estate, Will and Trusts Contests, Wrongful Death
View Linda’s calendar or check preferred dates across our panel.
To schedule a mediation, please contact Monica: monica@drc-ok.com
JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE
Served over 24 years as a District Judge and Special District Judge in the 14th Judicial District for the state of Oklahoma, as described below.
CIVIL DIVISION
Presided over complex jury trials and non-jury trials and issued hundreds of decisions.
Implemented a docket management system by which my caseload was reduced from almost 900 pending civil cases
to almost half that number.
Promoted Discovery Master legislation to reduce the cost and delay associated with civil litigation (12 O.S.
§3225.1).
Served as Chief Judge of the Division.
PROBATE AND ADOPTION AND MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION
Developed a background check procedure for individuals applying to become legal guardians over vulnerable adults and children. This protocol has served as a model for courts in other counties.
Promoted legislation to allow the Court to require a Home Study in Guardianships of children (30 O.S. §2-101)
Received the “Swift Adoption Award” from the Department of Human Services for “tireless dedication on behalf of
Oklahoma’s children.”
Received the Mental Health Association Legal Outreach Award.
Served as Chief Judge of the Division and presided over hundreds of hearings and trials.
FAMILY COURT DIVISION
Established the Child Support Enforcement Docket, dedicated to the expeditious enforcement of child support orders, in 1997. This innovative docket generated over a million dollars in child support the first year, and the cases were completed in an average of 35 days rather than the average of many months as had historically been the practice. For the past 20 years, the docket has continued to be enormously successful in generating child support for custodial parents and their children. I received the National Judge of the Year award in recognition of the creation of this unique docket. It has served as a model for courts in other counties.
Implemented the “Families in Transition” program, designed to minimize the adversarial nature of divorce in favor of a therapeutic model for families to help them transition through divorce with the help of counselors and education to encourage positive relationships for children.
Presided over the newly-established Domestic Violence Docket, issuing Victim Protective Orders and conducting trials for violations of protective orders.
Served as Chief Judge of the Division and presided over hundreds of trials.
CRIMINAL DIVISION
Presided over complex jury trials and non jury trials, including death penalty cases, violent felony cases and nonviolent felony cases.
Presided over the Drug Court Docket, during which I:
1. Organized the Drug Court Reach Out to Youth Program to conduct the Drug Court docket in area high schools with volunteer Drug Court offenders speaking to the students and advocating against drug usage.
2. Spoke at community civic organizations to encourage support for the innovative Drug Court concept that allowed nonviolent drug-addicted offenders to avoid prison if they voluntarily participated in drug monitoring and counseling and successfully completed drug court, thus reducing the number of nonviolent felons entering the overcrowded prison system and saving the state of Oklahoma the associated costs.
Authored the “Community Sentencing Guidebook” used by Judges throughout the State after the State Legislature passed the Oklahoma Community Sentencing Act (22 O.S. §988.1)
Chaired the Women Offender Task Force for Tulsa County. The Task Force was comprised of the District Attorney, Public Defender; Sheriff, jail personnel and social service agencies to address the high incarceration rate of women for nonviolent offenses. Served as the Designee of the Department of Corrections on the State Women Offender Task Force chaired by Governor Fallin.
APPELLATE EXPERIENCE
Court of Civil Appeals - Served as an Appellate Attorney for Justice Daniel Boudreau for 3 years (July 1992-September 1995). As an Appellate Attorney, it was my responsibility to analyze trial court proceedings, review the related law and evidence, research legal authority, and render an appellate draft opinion for Justice Boudreau to review and issue. Researching and drafting dozens of appellate opinions during my tenure at the Civil Appellate Court allowed me to sharpened my skills in the areas of legal research and clear, concise legal writing.
NON-JUDICIAL LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Tulsa Community College - Served as Adjunct Professor in Oil and Gas Law
Resolution Trust Corporation - Environmental Response & Asset Disposition Attorney (July 1991 through July 1992)
Private Legal Practice (1982-1991)
Oil and Gas - Analyzed real estate and oil and gas related documents and prepared drilling and division order title opinions. Developed a computer program for calculation of revenue interests.
Real Property - Prepared lenders’ and buyers’ title opinions, prosecuted mortgage foreclosure actions, co-counsel on real estate-related litigation, expert witness in real estate litigation.
Probate - Guardianships, conservatorships, and probates.
General Civil Litigation - Domestic relations, personal injury, civil rights, and worker’s compensation.
Cities Service Company - Landman/Division Order Analyst (December 1980 - December 1981)
Kothe, Nichols and Wolfe - Associate Attorney (May 1980 - December 1980)
EDUCATION
Juris Doctorate Degree - May 1980
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
Master of Science Degree, Guidance and Counseling - May 1977
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Bachelor of Science Degree, Elementary Education - December 1975
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Mediation Training and Professional Associations:
Pepperdine University Straus Institute-Mediating the Litigated Case (February 2020-40 hrs)
Mediating Cases for the Elderly (March 2020-1 hr)
Recognizing and Working with Difficult People in Mediation (April 2020-1.5 hrs.)
Learn to Mediate Online with Susan Guthrie (April 2020 2 hrs.)
Robert Benjamin Mediation and Conflict Resolution Services (1999-40 hrs.)
American Bar Association- Dispute Resolution Section
Tulsa County Bar Association-Dispute Resolution Section
Oklahoma Bar Association -Dispute Resolution Section.
Civil Mediation in a Time of Social Distancing -A Mediator’s Response to COVID-19 (April 2020-1 hr)
LEADERSHIP AWARDS AND HONORS
(1) Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame inductee
(2) Named by the Oklahoma Secretary of State to the Appellate and Trial Division of the Court on the Judiciary
(3) Named by the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court to the Committee on Judicial Elections and serves
as Chairperson of the committee
(4) Golden Rule Award from the Tulsa County Bar Association
(5) Role Model Award from the Girls and Women in Sports Association at the University of Tulsa
(6) Named Newsmaker of the Year
(7) President’s Award from the Tulsa County Bar Association
(8) National Judge of the Year by the National Child Support Enforcement Association
(9) Pinnacle Award for Public Service
(10) Legal Outreach Award from the Mental Health Association
(11) Honored as a “Rising Star” by Tulsa People Magazine
(12) Parent Volunteer of the Semester at Booker T. Washington High School
(13) Listed in Oklahoma Women’s Almanac
(14) Received the “Best Program” award in 2005 and 2003 for American Inns of Court Hudson-Hall-Wheaton Inn.
(15) Mona Lambird Spotlight Award in 2006 for achievements in the legal profession.
(16) Nominated as a Red Cross Everyday Hero for educating teens about the perils of substance abuse
(17) Received the “Swift Adoption Award” by the Department of Human Services for “tireless dedication on behalf of
Oklahoma’s children”
(18) Named the Oklahoma Trial Judge of 2017 by Oklahoma Association for Justice.
(19) James C. Lang Mentoring Award from the Tulsa County Bar Association “in recognition and appreciation of
continual commitment to the future of the profession by providing encouragement guidance and support to
aspiring attorneys”
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
(1) Member of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church
(2) Served as President of the American Inns of Court, Hudson-Hall-Wheaton Inn
(3) Served as Secretary of the United States Naval Academy Parents’ Association
(4) Executive Board Member of the Boy Scouts of America, Indian Nations Council
(5) Served as Boston Avenue United Methodist Church Liaison to Boy Scout Troop
(6) Assistant and Instructor for son’s Boy Scout Troop
(7) Assistant and Instructor for daughter’s Girl Scout Troop
(8) Served on the Tulsa Public Schools Community Advisory Council
(9) Served on Executive Committee for the Booker T. Washington Parent Teacher Association.
(10) Served on Booker T. Washington High School Foundation
(11) Served on Arts and Humanities Council (Chautauqua Committee)
(12) Served on the Oklahoma Commission for Children and Youth
(13) Served on the Tulsa Civil Service Commission
(14) Member of the Tulsa County Bar Association and the Oklahoma Bar Association
(15) Served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Bar Association Real Property Division
(16) Served as Legislative Liaison for the Oklahoma Bar Association Real Property Section
(17) Served as President of the Tulsa Title and Probate Lawyers
(18) Member of the Civil Procedure and Evidence Committee
(19) Founding member of Generation Text through which teens successfully advocated and lobbied for state legislation
to prohibit texting and driving
(20) Organized and presented a Seminar on Cyberbullying for Victory Church
(21) Presented a program to Veterans regarding probate and estate matters
(22) Firearms certified pursuant to 20 O.S. §129 and earned a Judicial Concealed Weapon Carry permit.
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