<![CDATA[McBride & McBride - Premier Lawyers of Oklahoma

<![CDATA[McBride & McBride - Premier Lawyers of Oklahoma - News & Info]]>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:29:15 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Challenge to Remove Candidate from Mayes County Commissioner Ballot Based on Eligibility]]>Sat, 11 Apr 2026 13:16:57 GMThttps://www.lawyersofoklahoma.com/news-and-law-blog/challenge-to-remove-candidate-from-mayes-county-commissioner-ballot-based-on-eligibilityFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2026

Pryor, Oklahoma — Chase McBride filed a formal notice of representation and challenge seeking to disqualify Matthew Eldon Pritchett from appearing on the ballot for Mayes County Commissioner, District 3, based on violations of Oklahoma law governing candidate eligibility.
The firm represents Randy Pierce, the sitting Mayes County Commissioner for District 3, in the proceeding before the Mayes County Election Board. A hearing on the challenge has been set for April 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
The challenge is based on 26 O.S. § 5-105a, which prohibits any person convicted of a felony from seeking or holding public office until fifteen (15) years have elapsed following completion of the sentence.
The filing identifies two felony cases in the District Court of Mayes County, Oklahoma: Case No. CF-2006-8 and Case No. CF-2006-19. In both cases, Mr. Pritchett entered guilty pleas on July 11, 2007, to felony offenses involving obtaining merchandise by bogus check, and received five (5) year suspended sentences.
Because Oklahoma law requires both completion of the sentence and the passage of fifteen (15) years thereafter, the filing asserts that Mr. Pritchett remains statutorily disqualified from candidacy and is not eligible to appear on the ballot.
The filing further alleges that Mr. Pritchett made material misrepresentations in his sworn Declaration of Candidacy by indicating that he had not been convicted of a felony, despite documented felony convictions.
Under Oklahoma law, candidate eligibility requirements are mandatory and not subject to discretion. The Mayes County Election Board is required to apply the statute as written and determine whether the candidate meets the legal qualifications for office.
The matter is currently pending before the Mayes County Election Board.

]]><![CDATA[new law regarding acceleration of deffered sentence]]>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:48:47 GMThttps://www.lawyersofoklahoma.com/news-and-law-blog/new-law-regarding-acceleration-of-deffered-sentence🚨 Important Update in Oklahoma Criminal Law 🚨
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals recently issued a decision that could have a major impact on anyone currently on a deferred sentence.
In McKelvy v. State, the Court made it clear:
👉 A judge cannot enter a conviction based solely on a technical violation of probation.
So what does that mean?
A “technical violation” can include things like:
✔️ Failing a drug test
✔️ Missing a meeting
✔️ Other non-criminal probation violations
Under this ruling, those types of violations do NOT allow the court to turn your deferred sentence into a conviction.
That’s a big deal.
Before this, even minor slip-ups could result in a felony conviction. Now, the law limits what a court can do in those situations.
⚖️ Why this matters:

Protects individuals from losing the benefit of a deferred sentence over minor violations
Preserves opportunities for dismissal and expungement
Gives defense attorneys a strong legal argument to prevent convictions

If you or someone you know is facing a probation violation or has questions about a deferred sentence, this case could directly impact your situation.]]><![CDATA[Big win for free speech in politics and our client!]]>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:42:19 GMThttps://www.lawyersofoklahoma.com/news-and-law-blog/big-win-for-free-speech-in-politics-and-our-clientBig win for free speech in politics and our client!
James Rea ran for Tulsa County Commissioner. After losing the election, he filed suit against multiple defendants over campaign mailers that opposed him. We defended the case at both the district court and on appeal for our client.
The district court already dismissed part of the case and awarded our client attorney fees against Mr. Rea. The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals has now dismissed all remaining claims against our client, holding Mr. Rea to the heightened standard required of a politician.
That standard matters.
If you run for office, you step into the arena. Politics may not be pretty but political speech is protected, and the law requires actual proof of malice before courts get involved.
That didn’t exist here. The Courts protected political speech in Oklahoma.
Result: Case dismissed, Client cleared.
Thank you to our client for trusting us through this process.

]]><![CDATA[Mcbride rated by super lawyers 7-straight years]]>Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:34:53 GMThttps://www.lawyersofoklahoma.com/news-and-law-blog/mcbride-rated-by-super-lawyers-7-straight-yearsChase McBride has earned recognition as one of Oklahoma’s top attorneys, having been named to the Super Lawyers Oklahoma Rising Stars list for seven consecutive years. This distinction, awarded to no more than 2.5% of attorneys in the state, is determined by peer review and based on excellence in legal practice, professionalism, and client advocacy.

]]><![CDATA[Freedom of Religion: Your Right to Believe, Worship, and Live According to Your Faith]]>Thu, 19 Jun 2025 03:30:00 GMThttps://www.lawyersofoklahoma.com/news-and-law-blog/freedom-of-religion-your-right-to-believe-worship-and-live-according-to-your-faithThe freedom to practice your religion—or to not practice any religion at all—is one of the most deeply held rights in American law. Protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, freedom of religion is essential to our diverse and democratic society.

But like all constitutional rights, this freedom comes with boundaries, complexities, and real-world implications—especially when religious beliefs come into conflict with government actions, employment policies, or public services.

🔹 What Is Freedom of Religion?The First Amendment contains two key provisions related to religion:

The Establishment Clause – Prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or favoring one religion over another.
The Free Exercise Clause – Protects individuals’ rights to practice their religion freely, as long as it does not violate public safety or other important laws.

In simple terms:
The government can't force you to practice a religion, can't stop you from practicing your religion, and can't give special treatment to one religion over another.

🔹 What Is Protected?

Attending religious services or practicing rituals
Wearing religious clothing or symbols
Observing religious holidays
Sharing or expressing religious beliefs
Teaching children according to your faith
Choosing not to participate in religious activities

These rights apply to all religions—major world religions, smaller faiths, and personal belief systems. They also protect the right not to believe.

🔹 Where Conflicts Arise: Despite these protections, disputes often arise in the real world, especially in areas such as:

Employment – Religious accommodations in dress code, scheduling, or work duties
Public schools – Prayer, religious clubs, and curriculum concerns
Government and public spaces – Religious symbols or speech in government-sponsored events
Healthcare and business – Conflicts between religious beliefs and service obligations
Zoning and land use – Religious buildings facing discriminatory local regulations

In many cases, the challenge is balancing religious freedom with other compelling interests, such as anti-discrimination laws, public health mandates, or equal access to public services.

🔹 How Oklahoma Law Interacts with Religious Freedom: In Oklahoma, both state and federal laws offer strong protections for religious liberty. However, local ordinances, school policies, or workplace rules may still infringe on those rights—often unintentionally. That’s where legal support is crucial.]]>