Praising the generosity of Oklahoma’s legal community, as well as foundations and businesses, 2011 Campaign for Justice Co-Chairs Jari Askins and Kathy Taylor announced Friday, Jan. 14 that the campaign to benefit Legal Aid had met its goal of raising $750,000.

“In these economic times raising $750,000 seemed to be an impossible task, yet attorneys and law firms from the entire state gave, made phone calls and used their skills and creativity to make sure low-income and elderly Oklahomans have access to quality civil legal services. 

“Our sincere thanks to each of the Tulsa and Oklahoma City attorneys who worked to make a difference for others,” said Taylor. A former Tulsa mayor and director of the State Department of Commerce, Taylor now is an attorney with McAfee & Taft in Tulsa.

Askins said she and Taylor wanted to co-chair the campaign because they both are aware that people without money to pay an attorney are often left without recourse, even in simple civil matters such as wrongful eviction or domestic violence.

“We believe in justice for all in Oklahoma and so our state’s justice system must respect and nurture the role of Legal Aid,” said Askins.   Askins, also an attorney, now is as anassociateprovost for external relations at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Centerafter serving as lieutenant governor from 2006-2010 and serving as a member of the State House for 12 years.

Members of the Tulsa Team and the firms they represent are: Frederick C. Cornish,McAfee & Taft; Deirdre O’Neil E. Dexter, Barrow & Grimm; S. Douglas Dodd, Doerner Saunders Daniel & Anderson; Christopher W. Ellison, Ellison Law Firm; Nancy Feldman (retired); James E. Green, Jr., Conner & Winters; Marvin G. Lizama, Brewster & DeAngelis; Graydon Dean Luthey, Jr., Hall Estill; Gerald L. Jackson, Crowe & Dunlevy; Christian Helm Leikam, Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis; C.S. Lewis III, Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis; James M.  Love, Titus, Hillis, Reynolds, Love, Dickman & McCalmon; Douglas J.  May, Magellan Midstream Partners; Denelda L. Richardson,

Rhodes, Hieronymus, Jones, Tucker & Gable; Eric R. Schelin, Frederic Dorwart Lawyers; Nancy J. Siegel, Holeman Law Firm; and John R Woodard III, Feldman, Franden, Woodard & Farris.

Members of the Oklahoma City Team and the firms they represent are:Steven L. Barghols, Gable Gotwals; J. Chris Condren, Pierce, Couch, Hendrickson, Baysinger & Green; Kevin R. Donelson, Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey & Tippens; Bryan G. Garrett,  

Holloway, Dobson & Bachman; D. Sharon Gentry, Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis; Sally B. Gilbert, Rodney D. Stewart P.C.; Jimmy K. Goodman, Crowe & Dunlevy; John A. Kenney, McAfee & Taft; Laura McConnell-Corbyn, Hartzog, Conger, Cason & Neville; Michael L. Mullins, Mullins, Hirsch, Edwards, Heath, White & Martinez; William G. Paul, Crowe & Dunlevy; W. Dale Reneau, Fenton, Fenton, Smith, Reneau & Moon; Robert N. Sheets, Phillips Murrah; and Jeremy Tubb, Crowe & Dunlevy.

Taylor said all members of the Tulsa and Oklahoma City Teams are invited to attend a special reception at Cain’s Ballroom at 6:30 pm, Wednesday, Feb. 15. The reception follows a continuing legal education (CLE) training on class actions, led by Oklahoma City Attorney Reggie Whitten.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma is a not-for-profit law firm which provides free civillegal assistance to eligible low-income individuals and their families and to elderly persons in the areas of family, consumer, housing, health and employment. Legal Aid attorneys and staff work through a network of fully-staffed law offices and satellite offices, serving eligible clients in all 77 counties of Oklahoma.

Funding for Legal Aid is from the Legal Services Corporation, the State of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, 15 United Way or United Fund organizations and generous attorneys, law firms, foundations, businesses and individuals throughout the state contributing to the Campaign for Justice.