Dave Stockwell
Dave Stockwell is one of the top Criminal Defense Attorneys in the State of Oklahoma, handling all civil and state criminal cases in Norman and the surrounding areas. He has earned his reputation through years of dedicated legal service and positive relationships with the legal community. Dave has been practicing law for over 30 years, focusing mostly on Criminal and Expungement Law. He represents clients charged with drug and alcohol-related offenses. Dave's passion for what he does was recognized years ago by the former Cleveland County District Attorney when he appointed Dave to serve as Chairman for the Cleveland County Community Sentencing Planning Council and Co-Chair of the Cleveland County Adult Drug Court Program. He was appointed over 20 years ago and continues to hold these positions to this day. Dave is the past President of the Cleveland County Bar Association and a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and the National College for DUI Defense.
In 2019, Dave received the award from the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorney as one of the top ten attorneys in Oklahoma in Criminal Law. As one of the few attorneys to garner the distinction of top ten Criminal Defense attorneys in Oklahoma, Dave Stockwell has earned his peers' respect as one of the top-rated attorneys in Oklahoma. In addition to his years of experience and extensive knowledge of Oklahoma law, one of the things that makes Stockwell an excellent Defense Attorney is his previous law enforcement career. After graduating from college, Stockwell became an undercover drug agent with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. As a Senior Agent, Dave worked in various capacities: undercover, pharmacy audits, and investigations. After six years, he resigned, got married, and entered law school. Graduating in 1989, he went to practice with his father, who began his office in 1963. Dave has maintained an excellent relationship with all law enforcement agencies allowing him to gain their cooperation while representing his clients. He is still practicing and protecting the citizens of Cleveland County and the State of Oklahoma. It is essential to choose a Defense Attorney with outstanding legal skills and deep connections to our communities. Let Dave Stockwell put his extensive experience to work for you.
Lori Walkley
Lori recently received the Oklahoma Bar Association Criminal Law Section’s top distinctions when she was awarded the Donald L. Deason Judicial Award for Outstanding Service in Criminal Law. In addition, as a sitting judge, Lori was one of the preeminent civil and family law judges in the State. In 2021, she was awarded the Mona Salyer Lambird Spotlight Award in recognition of her legal achievements over her career.
During her 20 years on the bench, Lori has had a very distinguished career. She was appointed to the bench in 2003 by Governor Brad Henry and was re-elected in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. As a District Judge, Lori Walkley was President of the Presiding Judges Assembly, a state-wide assembly of all the administrative zones in the State of Oklahoma. She served two terms as Presiding Judge of the South Central Administrative Zone and six terms as Chief District Judge in the 21st Judicial District. She is also a Past President of the Oklahoma Judicial Conference and an active member of the Conference, having also served as the Judicial Education Chair, the Bench Book Revisions Chair and Vice-President of the Conference. As a District Judge, Lori served as an executive board member of the Dispute Resolution Advisory Board, helping to administer the state-wide dispute resolution program for the Supreme Court of Oklahoma for over a decade.
Lori was also the Chief Judge of the Oklahoma Court on the Judiciary, Trial Division and Vice-Presiding Judge of the Court on the Judiciary, Appellate Division. Until her retirement, she served as Chairman of the Council on the Interstate Compact on Adult Offender Supervision and a member of the Task Force on Criminal Costs and Fines. She also had the very rare distinction of being appointed as a Special Judge to the Court of Criminal Appeals and a Special Justice to the Oklahoma Supreme Court to serve as an appellate judge in instances necessitated by recusals in those courts. Lori has taught judicial and legal education seminars throughout the state, is a faculty member of the National Judicial College and consults with courts around the country regarding appropriate case management and the criminal justice system.
Prior to becoming a judge, Lori graduated from the University of Oklahoma with an undergraduate degree in Political Science and obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma. She practiced civil litigation and family law for Durbin, Larimore & Bialick firms in Oklahoma City, Bernstein & Walkley and Benedum, Benedum & Walkley in Norman, Oklahoma. While in private practice, Lori served as a Commissioner on the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for the Oklahoma Bar Association, Editor of the Oklahoma Bar Journal, President of the Cleveland County Bar Association and Commissioner for the Norman Children’s Rights Commission. She also served as the Center for Children and Families board member.
Upon her retirement from the bench, Lori was invited to become a panel member with Dispute Resolution Consultants (DRC), a statewide organization of mediators, arbitrators and special masters. She will be helping to resolve civil and family law cases using her years of experience on the bench. To learn more about her work with DRC, click the ADR link in our practice areas.
Lori has a wealth of experience and excellent relationships that she has formed with judges, district attorneys, lawyers, law enforcement, service providers and community members. She has conducted complex litigation as an attorney and judge and is an outstanding addition to the firm.
Bisbee
It is with deep sorrow that I tell you that Lori and I lost Bisbee on December 17, 2021, to an aggressive cancer. We did not know she had cancer as she was her usual jubilant self the week before. However, on Monday, we noticed she was lethargic, and her condition worsened throughout the week. Gratefully, she was not in any pain, and I held her as she passed.
Throughout her short life, she made many friends. As a therapy dog, she was able to go many places, and one of her favorite to go was our courthouse in Cleveland County. Don’t tell her Mom, but she would start her visit on the 4th floor with Cheryl (instead of Lori’s office) and end with Leanna in the basement a few hours later. In between, she would stop at every office to see her friends and to bring a smile to strangers' faces. She knew where every treat was in the building, particularly those hiding in Ms. Miller’s desk. While at the DA’s office, she would run full speed around the office and then sit patiently waiting for her next treat. Sometimes she would run across the hall to steal Willa’s chew toy but always return to visit those she hadn’t seen yet. At the Court Clerk’s office, she would put her paws on the counter as if she was making a withdrawal from a bank.
We were lucky enough to make friends at the McClain County Courthouse as well. She loved the road trip, and she always had to bring Bear a gift…usually a knucklebone…he's a big shepherd! Biz visited the Sheriff’s Office, Norman Police Department, and how she loved going to the jail for Drug Court staffing. She would run around for hours, making everyone smile. She loved going to bars and restaurants, where she always greeted all that came her way. It warms me to know how many lives she touched.
She snuggled with her Mom (Lori) every day. Biz shared her dog bed with Berkley and would watch Disney with her. She would chase Weston and Jack around the house and was Stella’s best friend and squirrel chasing partner! When Charlie, Cobie, and Minnie visited, she would “stalk” them in the backyard then pounce on them like Tigger. But make no mistake, she was a Daddy’s girl and would not leave my side when we were visiting people outside the house.
Guess I’m trying to say how much she loved all of you guys and seeing you regularly. She enriched all of our lives. I know I will miss bringing her to visit and miss her every time I walk into the house.
Since she passed away last Friday, I have noticed the moon to be a bit brighter. A bit larger. A bit fluffier. I think that’s Bisbee’s way of letting us know she is looking down on us, saying it’s OK. I’m OK. Oh, and I found the TREATS. ❤️