What Are We Doing About Criminal Justice Reform?

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Panel Discussion
Sue Ann Arnall, Tricia Everest, David Prater, Bob Ravitz

Sue Ann Arnall is an energy industry veteran, where she achieved numerous milestones in crude oil transportation systems, and managed a successful commodity futures-trading portfolio for a midstream company that she founded.

Ms. Arnall is the CEO for the Arnall Family Foundation, as well as four additional businesses under the umbrella of Essay Management Services, LLC. The foundation works to fill gaps in services for the most vulnerable including foster children and justice involved individuals

Ms. Arnall is a graduate of Poteau High School, and obtained a BA in Economics and a JD from the University of Tulsa. She is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and is on the board of directors for OK Humane Society, Mercy Hospital, University of Tulsa, Criminal Justice Advisory Council, and the Oklahoma County Jail Trust.


Tricia Louise Everest  

Tricia Everest, a native of Oklahoma City and 4th generation Oklahoman, attended Casady High School before receiving her Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University in 1993.  After returning to Oklahoma she earned her Juris Doctor from University of Oklahoma School of Law in 2003.  Her professional law career led her to the Attorney General’s office where she was Assistant Attorney General representing the State of Oklahoma. She also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from Oklahoma City University.  Tricia serves the State as a Deputy Secretary Public Safety and Oklahoma County as Chair of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority.

Tricia serves as a Trustee of E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation and Chair of Inasmuch Foundation’s Advisory Committee, continuing her family’s legacy of philanthropy while simultaneously crafting her own.  Tricia focuses most of her time leading initiatives designed to help people find hope and purpose by creating pathways for stronger lives.  She plays an integral role as the founding Chair of Palomar, Oklahoma City’s Family Justice Center which removes barriers for abuse victims to access the services they need.  Tricia was also the founding Chair of ReMerge, which diverts mothers from prison and empowers the women to build healthy foundations for themselves and their children.  Her other philanthropic endeavors include Chair of Allied Arts, past-Chair of YMCA – the organization’s first female chair in its 128-year history – and service on numerous nonprofit boards.  Recognized by United Way of Central Oklahoma as the John and Berta Faye Rex Community Builder Honoree in 2019, Tricia was also named Societies Philanthropist of the Year in 2012 and received the Lee Allen Smith Oklahoma Legacy Award in 2013.


Bob Ravitz is a 1976 graduate of the Oklahoma City University School of Law, and he currently serves as Public Defender of Oklahoma County, a position he assumed in 1987.  Mr. Ravitz is also an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University School of Law, teaching in the areas of trial practice, capital litigation, criminal procedure, and wrongful convictions.

In 1996, Mr. Ravitz was the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association recipient of the Clarence Darrow Award as Oklahoma’s outstanding criminal defense lawyer.  Ravitz successfully argued Cooper v. Oklahoma before the United States Supreme Court, where the Court unanimously concluded the Oklahoma standard for determining competency to stand trial was unconstitutional.  Ravitz has also received the Angie Debo Civil Liberties Award for significant contributions to civil liberties in 1985. In 2001, he was the recipient of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Association of Black Lawyers Diversity Award and the 2006 Oklahoma County Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association Barry Albert Award.  In 2008, he was a recipient of the Journal Record Leadership in Law Award and in 2010 he received the Oklahoma City University Law School Distinguished Alumni Award.  In 2013, he was presented with the Opio Toure Champion of Justice Award by the Oklahoma City Association of Black Lawyers.  In May 2019 he was the recipient of the Oklahoma Bar Association and Journal Record Law Day Award.

Mr. Ravitz is a former member of the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission and currently sits on the Uniform Jury Instruction Committee.  Mr. Ravitz previously served as president of the OCU Law Alumni Association, the Metro Alliance for Safer Cities, and the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association.  He was a Barrister of the American Inn of Court XIII from 1990 to 1993 and was a Master in the William J. Holloway Inn of Court for over 20 years.  Ravitz currently serves on the Board of Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, the Oklahoma County Drug Court, Community Sentencing and Court Services Boards.  He has and currently serves on numerous criminal justice committees and is a member of the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council.  He has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Board of Juvenile Affairs, Legal Aid of Western Oklahoma, the Oklahoma County Bar Association, and the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association.

Mr. Ravitz has lectured at numerous state and national seminars including those put on by the Oklahoma Bar Association, the National Judicial Conference, the Oklahoma Judicial Conference, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Virginia Coalition Against the Death Penalty, and the Oklahoma and Tulsa County Bar Associations.  He has lectured at four Absolute Criminal Litigators Conferences in Las Vegas. He and his wife, Diane, have two daughters, two son-in-laws and one granddaughter.


David Prater began his law enforcement career at 19 years of age when he was hired by the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff.  At the age of 20, Prater became the youngest cadet ever to graduate from the Norman Police Academy. In addition to his patrol duties, David was a member NPD’s Tactical Unit, Underwater Rescue and Recovery Team and the Norman Police Department’s Pistol Team.  Additionally, Prater was responsible for training other officers in patrol techniques, firearms, and Emergency Vehicle Operations and was awarded more than 20 commendations from Norman’s Chief of Police.

In 1988, Prater left the police department to complete his Law Enforcement Administration Degree from the University of Oklahoma.  In 1991, Prater began law school at the University of Oklahoma, graduating in just two and a half years.  From 1993 until 2001, Prater served Oklahoma County and the state as an Assistant District Attorney under Bob Macy and as an Assistant Attorney General, in the Grand Jury Unit, under Attorney General Drew Edmondson.  Prior to being elected as Oklahoma County District Attorney, Prater maintained a private law practice in Oklahoma City.

As District Attorney, David has been recognized for his public service.  His honors include:

  • U.S. Department of Justice, Outstanding Local Prosecutor’s Office Award
  • Oklahoma District Attorney’s Association, Courageous Prosecutor Award
  • Oklahoma Bar Association, Fern Holland Courageous Lawyer Award
  • Oklahoma’s Veteran’s Council, Exceptional Service to Veterans Award
  • Oklahoma District Attorney’s Association, Outstanding District Attorney Award
  • The Oklahoma Black Lawyer’s Association, Opio Toure Champion of Justice Award
  • Senator Keith Leftwich Public Service Award
  • 2014 Inductee to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame

Above all else, David is most grateful for his bride, Tamara, and their children, Kathryn and Alexander.  David and Tamara share a deeply held faith in God and dedication to putting family first.  These principles provide the foundation to their commitment to make Oklahoma County a place where families thrive in safe and healthy communities.


Chair of the Day

Sarah Roberts – Program Officer – Inasmuch Foundation

Sarah has been employed at Inasmuch Foundation for over 16 years.

Sarah has served as Chairman of the Board for ReMerge and Co-Chair of the capital campaign that raised $10 million. Governor Fallin appointed Sarah to the Board of Directors for Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness where she currently serves as Vice Chair.  Additionally, Sarah serves on the Board of Directors for: Sunbeam Family Services, Integris Center for Mind, Body & Spirit, The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools, Oklahoma City Police Athletic League (PAL), Community Action Agency of Oklahoma County, Crossings School Board and Wes Welker Foundation where she is a past Chairman of the Grants Committee.  In 2008, Sarah was recognized by OKCBusiness as a recipient of the Forty under 40 award.  Sarah is a graduate of Salt and Light Leadership Training, Class 8 (SALLT) and Leadership Oklahoma Class 32.

Sarah was previously an instructor with the Clarksville Montgomery County School System in Tennessee where she taught 5th grade.  Sarah is a graduate of Bishop McGuinness High School (1992) in Oklahoma City and Sweet Briar College (1996) in Virginia where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Government with a teaching certificate.  Sarah has been married to Hayden Roberts for 20 years.  Hayden works for Oklahoma State University.  They live in Oklahoma City and have two sons, Jackson who is 16 years old and Owen who is 10 years old.

 

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