Dan Boudreau: Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice and Mediator | Full Interview

Описание: 🔗 Explore More and Support the Mission 📄 Read the full transcript of this interview on our website:

https://voicesofoklahoma.com/intervie...

💬 Make future oral history interviews possible by donating to Voices of Oklahoma:

https://voicesofoklahoma.com/donate/

In his full oral history interview, Dan Boudreau reflects on a distinguished legal career that spanned twenty-five years on the Oklahoma judiciary, including his time as an associate justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. A native of Massachusetts, Boudreau moved to Tulsa in 1973 to attend the University of Tulsa College of Law, a decision influenced by the affordability of the program and the encouragement of a friend. Before his legal studies, he served as a VISTA volunteer in rural Virginia, an experience he describes as a maturing one that shaped his perspective on social responsibility. This sense of duty followed him through his work as a social worker in a Boston methadone clinic, where he witnessed the intersection of addiction and legal struggles, eventually prompting his transition into law.

Throughout the interview, Boudreau shares candid memories of his progression from a private attorney in Broken Arrow to a trial judge and eventually an appellate justice. He provides a fascinating look into the interpersonal dynamics of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, describing the unique personalities of colleagues like Justice Marion Opala and Justice Yvonne Kauger. One of the most famous anecdotes from his time on the district bench involves his decision to jail a local minister for operating an unlicensed daycare center. Boudreau recounts the two-month standoff with Pastor Glenn Ellis, which drew national attention and picketing ministers, ultimately ending on Christmas Eve when the pastor agreed to cease operations. He describes the heavy weight of such decisions and the importance of maintaining a neutral judicial temperament in the face of public pressure.

In his later years, Boudreau became a pioneer in alternative dispute resolution, finding immense satisfaction in helping parties reach agreements through mediation and arbitration. He discusses the evolution of the legal profession, offering a critical look at the rise of billable hours and the resulting burnout among young lawyers. Beyond the courtroom, Boudreau reveals his lifelong passion for soccer, which he continues to play competitively at the age of seventy-eight. His story is one of dedication to the principle of fairness, emphasizing that while a human system cannot always guarantee perfect justice, it must ensure that every individual receives due process and a thoughtful, reasoned decision.

#DanBoudreau #TulsaLaw #OklahomaSupremeCourt #JudicialHistory #VISTA #Judge #Law #Lawyer #OklahomaLaw #Mediator #Mediation #Legislator #LegalMediation #TulsaHistory #OklahomaHistory #StateHistory #OklahomaPodcast #OklahomaHistoryPodcast #Oklahomans #Oklahoma #HistoryPodcast #OralHistoryInterview #OklahomaOralHistory