OKLAHOMA BAR FOUNDATION
COURT REPORTER RURAL SERVICE EMPLOYMENT GRANT

Overview

The objective of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation Court Reporter Rural Service Grant is to assist district courts in rural Oklahoma counties find and employ qualified court reporters for a definite period of time through the provision of a financial incentive.

Eligibility Requirements for Employment Grant

1. Current certification as an Oklahoma Certified Shorthand Reporter.
2. Willing to provide court reporting services in a rural district court from a specific list of courts that need reporters immediately. Rural means an Oklahoma county with a population of less than 250,000 residents.
3. Willing to sign a written agreement to provide full-time court reporting services for the approved rural district court and to serve in that capacity for a consecutive three-year period.
4. Prior approval of Grant Recipient by supervising judge in identified location.

Amount of Grant

A one-time payment of $15,000 payable within seven days of the date the written agreement is fully executed.

Obligations

1. Grant Recipient agrees to relocate or commute to an approved rural Oklahoma district court to provide full-time court reporting services in that district.
2. Grant Recipient agrees to provide court reporting services in the district for a consecutive three-year period.
3. Grant Recipient agrees to repay the Grant if the Recipient does not fulfill the three-year commitment. The amount of Grant funds to be repaid will be determined on a pro rata basis considering the length of time services were provided.

Failure to Fulfill Obligations

If the Grant Recipient fails to fulfill his or her service commitment to provide three consecutive years of full-time court reporting services in the agreed upon rural location, the Grant Recipient is liable for repayment of the pro rata amount for services not provided, plus collection and court costs should that become necessary, unless waived in whole or part due to extreme hardship.

APPROVED COURT LOCATIONS
OBF COURT REPORTER RURAL SERVICE EMPLOYMENT GRANT PROGRAM

District Court - County	Hiring / Supervising Judge
McIntosh	Mike Hogan, District Judge McIntosh County Courthouse 110 N. First St. Eufaula, OK 74432 918-689-2232
Stephens	Brent Russell, District Judge Stephens County Courthouse 101 South 11th Street, Rm. 314 Duncan, OK 73533 580-470-202
Noble	Nikki Leach, Associate District Judge Noble County Courthouse 300 Courthouse Drive #14 Perry, OK 73077 580-336-2433
Ottawa / Delaware (13th Judicial District)	Jennifer McAffrey, District Judge Ottawa County Courthouse 102 E. Central Miami, OK 74354 919-542-2862
McCurtain	Emily Maxwell (Herron), District Judge McCurtain County Courthouse 108 N. Central Avenue Idabel, OK 74745 580-286-2171, Ext. 157
Okfuskee	Lawrence Parish, District Judge Okfuskee County Courthouse PO Box 222 Okemah, OK 74859 918-623-0725
Cimmaron / Beaver / Harper (1st Judicial District)	Jon Parsley, District Judge Texas County Courthouse 319 N. Main Street Guymon, OK 73942 580-338-3412
Muskogee	Timothy King, District Judge Muskogee County Courthouse 220 State Street Muskogee, OK 74401 580-338-3412

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested court reporters must complete a Grant Application AND must receive an offer for full-time employment as an official court reporter from the hiring judge in one of the approved court locations

CLICK HERE to find the Grant Application (This link opens the Oklahoma Bar Foundation's web page with the on-line application form)

If approved for an Employment Grant, the court reporter must execute a Work Commitment Agreement. CLICK HERE

For questions regarding the Rural Service Grant Program, please email Christin Szymak, Deputy General Counsel, Administrative Office of the Courts, at [email protected]