On July 16, 2014, the Oklahoma Supreme Court reinstated attorney Kathryn Hope Christopher to membership in the Oklahoma Bar. Hope had been suspended for failure to pay fees in 2009. Her reinstatement was conditioned on her payment of fees in the amount of $3,173.23 within 90 days from the date the court’s opinion becomes final.
In 1999, Christopher suffered brain damage and physical injuries after being hit by a vehicle while crossing the street. During her recovery, she left her job as a partner at Fraiser & Fraiser, moved to Denver, and later moved back to Tulsa where she taught at University of Tulsa College of Law. In 2009, she testified that she had not paid her dues because she was not gainfully employed and had become overwhelmed. She stated that she was too embarrassed to ask her family for financial assistance.
The court’s decision to reinstate Christopher was based on her moral fitness and professional competence. They also considered whether she had engaged in the unauthorized practice of law and whether she had complied with the rule-mandated requirements for reinstatement.
