It has not taken long for people to take notice of Fry & Elder trial lawyer T. Luke Barteaux’s ascension up the legal ranks. Barteaux, with Fry & Elder since 2011, became the firm’s first attorney to be sworn in as a judge after being appointed and confirmed as a Cherokee Nation District Court Judge in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on May 15, 2017.

With the appointment and new title, several Oklahoma media outlets has cast its spotlight on Barteaux and his accomplishments. He was the subject of a Muskogee Phoenix feature story, was profiled on the University of Tulsa College of Law website and also was spotlighted in the Cherokee Phoenix. Barteaux is a University of Tulsa College of Law graduate.

“It’s obviously quite an honor to be appointed and confirmed as a judge,” Barteaux said. “I have gotten a lot of support and positive encouragement from my colleagues. To have the press and my alma mater take notice is great.”

Barteaux told the Cherokee Phoenix that the appointment thus far was the “pinnacle” of his legal career. He was quoted in the article saying:

“It’s something that I never thought would happen within this amount of time, but I’m extremely honored to have been appointed by (Principal) Chief (Bill John) Baker and confirmed by the Tribal Council. I look forward to helping protect our Nation through the legal process.”

Tribal Council Speaker Joe Byrd said this about Barteaux’s appointment:

“We have an entire generation of tribal citizens who are better educated, and they will take us far in the future. 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.”

Barteaux learned about his pending appointment as a Cherokee Nation District Judge in April and has been taking classes through the National Judicial College. He also has served as a faculty member for the Oklahoma Trial Advocacy Institute, which serves as a professional development tool for attorneys.

A four-time Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™ selection, Barteaux will continue to practice law full-time out of both the Fry & Elder Tulsa and Fry & Elder Oklahoma City offices. Barteaux served as the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section Chair in 2016 and has been the subject of previous articles from other prestigious Oklahoma media outlets. Contact Fry & Elder Tulsa or Fry & Elder Oklahoma City to set up a personal consultation with Barteaux or another experienced and acclaimed Oklahoma trial lawyer.

The acclaimed Oklahoma law firm of Fry & Elder recently hosted elite company at the Robert G Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies for the Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section Trial Advocacy Institute.

Professor Charles H. Rose III, Director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy and a Professor of Excellence in Trial Advocacy, traveled to Tulsa on April 22 to present to approximately 15 attorneys, four which were Fry & Elder’s M. Shane Henry, Aaron D. Bundy, Lorena Rivas and Amy Page. Needless to say, the esteemed professor came away impressed with the caliber of Oklahoma family law trial lawyer Fry & Elder and the state of Oklahoma produce.

“It was an absolute joy to spend Saturday working with some outstanding advocacy teachers,” Rose said. “Their commitment to the art and skill of trial work ensures that the family law section of the Oklahoma bar is in great hands.

“Rarely do you get the chance to work with other attorneys so committed to developing the advocacy skills of others. Tucked away in Oklahoma are some of the best teachers of trial advocacy.”

Rose’s remarks are notable for many reasons. First and foremost, Rose is a “nationally and internationally recognized expert in persuasion.” He spent 20 years on active duty in the United States Army in which he served as an intelligence officer, intelligence analyst, linguist and judge advocate before embarking on a full-time career in academia.

His persuasive techniques in trial are highly regarded and well documented.

“Professor Rose’s presentation was amazing,” Bundy said. “To be able to hear him present and offer his insight on persuasion and trial advocacy was a real treat and a very big deal.”

Rose’s visit further reiterates Fry & Elder’s continued commitment to professional development and continuing legal education. Bundy, Henry and Rivas already have traveled to New Orleans and Atlanta this year for continuing legal education seminars. Page held a seminar in March at the Robert G Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies, while Rivas spoke a day before Rose at a CLE event sponsored by the Tulsa County Bar Association.

Rose isn’t the first high-profile legal stalwart to visit Fry & Elder. In 2015, renowned trial lawyer and best-selling author Roger Dodd visited the Robert G Fry Jr. Center for Trial Studies and presented a two-day seminar on cross-examination techniques.

Fry & Elder’s continued commitment to trial advocacy and professional development is not surprising given the firm’s stature. The U.S. News & World Report has named Fry & Elder to its U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firm’s list from 2014-2017. Fry & Elder now also has office in Oklahoma City and features five attorneys who have received Super Lawyers® accolades, four attorneys who are AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® and three of the past four Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section Chairs.

“The decision to support advocacy training so completely speaks to the character, quality and foresight of the Fry & Elder law firm,” Rose said. “The time we spent in their facility this weekend working with a group of true dedicated advocacy teaching professionals would not have been possible without the support of the firm. From top to bottom it is one of the most enjoyable training experiences I have had the pleasure of participating in.”