I graduated in May of 1997 with a Juris Doctor Degree.About Me
2005-Present: In 2005, I opened up my own law office. I have continued working to protect civil liberties and stand up for the rights of the individual ever since.
2004-2005: Worked as an attorney with the Tulsa County Public Defender's Office in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
2001-2004: Began my law career as an attorney with the public defender's office in Kansas. I first worked for the public defender in Liberal, Kansas. I later transferred to the public defender’s office in
2000-2001: Taught English to Japanese citizens in Osaka, Japan.
1998-2000: Worked as a long haul truck driver.
1994-1997: I attended law school at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. I graduated in May of 1997 with a Juris Doctor Degree.
1989-1994: I attended college starting at Tulsa Junior College and eventually receiving my B.A. degree in History from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
1987-1989: Served in the United States Coast Guard as an Electronics Technician. (Disclaimer: My entire time in the Coast Guard was spent as a land-based electronics technician. I never served in any type of law enforcement capacity.)
1983-1987: Served in the United States Army as an Infantryman. I served with the 82nd Airborne Division and with the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea.
NORML
AFFILIATION
On the right is a picture of Tommy Chong and I at the NORML Aspen Legal seminar in June 2007.
I am a member of the NORML legal committee. NORML is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. NORML works for the reformation of marijuana laws throughout the United States. I do not believe that anyone should be punished by the criminal justice system for marijuana any more than I believe people addicted to tobacco or that drink alcohol should go to jail or prison. The marijuana laws in the country are a complete waste of tax-payers' money and of government resources. Therefore, I completely support the goals of NORML.
As a member of the NORML legal committee, I regularly attend seminars with other members of the committee where we learn how best to protect the rights of people charged with marijuana crimes. I also communicate with other members of the legal committee daily to keep up on with current trends in marijuana law and discuss certain cases or laws and decide how best to protect the civil liberties of our clients.
DEDICATION TO CIVIL LIBERTIES
I have never worked as a prosecutor. I am very proud to make this statement. I do not have the mind set that would allow me to try and send people to jail or prison for doing nothing more than possessing marijuana or other drugs. Since I have been an attorney, I have often seen prosecutors that were working for the district attorney one day and then the next day were suddenly working as criminal defense attorneys. One day these attorneys were trying to circumvent the United States Constitution and send my clients to prison and then all of the sudden these same attorneys were working as criminal defense attorneys supposedly protecting the civil liberties and Constitutional rights of those charged with crimes??? I think not!
I have never been a police officer or worked in any type of law enforcement capacity. Every day I go to work and try to protect the civil liberties of the citizens of the United States. I believe that the government should leave people alone. I DO NOT support the police who want to violate your civil rights, kick in your door, throw everyone to the ground, and put guns to your head, all because the police received a report that there may be marijuana in your house. I support the Constitution of the United States.
Sometimes it is the PEOPLE that need to be protected from the police. (Look at this video of a sexual assault on a woman by several police officers and read this report about police sexual abuse of teenage girls.)
I have also never worked as a judge. While I believe that this country needs more judges that think as I do and that believe in civil liberties and the protections guaranteed by the United States Constitution, I would be troubled by having police come to my office and asking me to sign a search warrant that allows them to invade citizens' privacy, kick in their doors, shove everyone to the ground while pointing guns to their head, and searching for nothing more than marijuana. I would also be troubled by having to sentence someone to jail or prison for nothing more than marijuana.
JUDO
When not busy with work, I practice judo. I have a 2nd degree black belt in judo awarded by the Kodokan Judo Institute in Japan. In America, I practice judo at the Southside Judo and Jujitsu School of Tulsa located inside the South Crest Wellness & Sports Medicine Center at 6836 S. Mingo Road in Tulsa. We practice judo on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. On Saturdays we practice judo from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Anyone interested in judo is always welcome to come out and see what we do or join in the practice.
