Luke Barteuax made Fry & Elder history inside a Cherokee County courtroom earlier this week. Barteaux became the first Fry & Elder attorney to be sworn in as a judge after he was appointed and confirmed as a Cherokee Nation District Court Judge in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on May 15, 2017 during its monthly council meetings.
“I feel deeply honored to be appointed as District Judge, by Bill John Baker, Chief of the Cherokee Nation,” Barteaux said shortly after his confirmation. “My Native American heritage is very significant and sacred to me. To be able to assist and serve the Cherokee Nation in this type of capacity is quite an honor and a big responsibility.
“I would like to add that my commitment as a Fry & Elder trial lawyer will continue on a full-time level. My responsibilities as a Cherokee Nation District Court Judge are part-time and will require me to be in Tahlequah three days per month. Fry & Elder has given me tremendous opportunities to grow both professionally and personally. I am still fully committed to my work as an attorney at Fry & Elder.”
As Barteaux said, he will continue to actively practice law for Fry & Elder out of both the acclaimed Oklahoma law firm’s Tulsa and Oklahoma City offices. His accomplishments and accolades as an Oklahoma trial lawyer have been well documented and recognized by many. Barteaux has been named to Super Lawyers®Rising Stars™ the past four years and he served as the Chair for the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section in 2016 and also way a participant in the Oklahoma Bar Association Leadership Academy for 2015-2016.
The selection of Barteaux as its newest Cherokee Nation District Judge is one that excites the Tribal Council.
“We have an entire generation of tribal citizens who are better educated, and they will take us far in the future,” Tribal Council Speaker Joe Byrd said in Cherokee Nation release. “Like Luke Barteaux, they are pursuing careers in law, medicine, engineering and business. You know, Bart Fite brought a level of sophistication to our courts. I believe, given time, Barteaux will do the same.”
Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City today to schedule personal consultation with Barteaux or another experienced and acclaimed Oklahoma trial lawyer.