Turns Out A Penchant For Revenge Is Not Something You Want In A Lawyer

// A wannabe attorney was denied admission to the Oklahoma bar following allegations he “us[ed] the law for revenge.” And if that sentence doesn’t make you want to know ALL the piping hot tea, welp, you’re a better person than I am.

Grant Miller is a Tusla, Oklahoma City Council member and his application to the Oklahoma Bar Association was denied by the Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners (OBBE). Why you ask? Well, it was based, at least in part, on testimony from Mayor G.T. Bynum and three fellow members of the City Council. Cue the side eye.

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As reported by Tulsa World, the OBBE found Miller “failed to meet his burden to establish his good moral character, due respect for the law, and fitness to practice law.” The decision detailed multiple issues with Miller’s application.

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The seven-page decision outlines nine findings of fact to support the OBBE’s decision, with a long list of concerns raised by Bynum, including:

Miller’s failure to disclose mandatory information about his cannabis business;

Repeated unsupported allegations in public forums that city staff was guilty of malfeasance or misfeasance related to cost increases at the Gilcrease Museum;

Orchestrating legal action against the city and attempting to use city staff to do research for his case; and

Using his position as a city councilor to bully city staff on social media.

The mayor also cited concerns Miller was involved with “demeaning and harassing civil servants with (attorney) Ron Durbin, using the law for revenge and publicity … and creating a climate of fear among City of Tulsa staff.”

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Also featured in the OBBE decision is litigation surrounding text messages sent between fellow Councilors Lori Decter Wright, Vanessa Hall-Harper, and Laura Bellis about Miller. Because the messages were written during a committee meeting, violations of the Oklahoma Open Meeting and Open Records acts were alleged.

Miller did not take the OBBE’s decision well.

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“Who were they?” Miller said. “Of course they were Lori Decter Wright, Vanessa Hall-Harper and Laura Bellis — the three leftist councilors who hate me. Then they called the mayor, who I campaigned against on the Improve Our Tulsa (capital improvements package) and we’ve had words, negative words.”

….

“In summary, what you have is nine findings of fact, four of which are not findings of fact at all,” Miller said. “They’re findings that people testified to things that may or may not be true and five findings of fact, which, in my opinion, don’t prevent me from practicing law.”

But those Councilors (and they mayor) weren’t the only ones to come forward with testimony against Miller.

The city officials who testified in Miller’s hearing were subpoenaed. Other current or former city personnel who testified that they had concerns about Miller’s moral character and fitness to practice law were Mark Hogan, head of asset management, and former City Council administrator Pat Boulden.

Boulden was responsible for responding to records requests submitted to the City Council by Miller and Durbin.

“(Boulden) based those concerns on what he believed to be an abusive ‘fishing expedition’ over alleged violations of the Open Records Act by Applicant Miller and his (then) boss and mentor Ronald Durbin, motivated by Applicant Miller,” the OBBE decision states.

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But don’t worry — there were more problems with Miller’s behavior that were identified by the OBBE.

Miller’s failure to disclose three lawsuits involving himself and his wife despite being asked specifically to disclose all litigation on the National Conference of Bar Examiners questionnaire;

A Colorado magistrate’s 2015 finding that Miller had provided sworn testimony “which the Court found to be deceitful and not credible related to his health and financial issues.”

Testimony regarding Miller’s decision to remain in the employ of Durbin following Durbin’s “vulgar antics” at the Tulsa County Courthouse while representing Miller in November 2022.

Miller “actively planned and facilitated and participated in multiple public confrontations with elected officials, administrative officials, police officers, and agency employees” along with Durbin.

“The OBBE finds those interactions with Oklahoma government personnel offensive and unacceptable,” the OBBE decision states.

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Despite the litany of concerns with his character and fitness, Miller says, “I’m getting really, really railroaded here.”

And, naturally, Miller has answers to these issues as well. He calls the lack of disclosure of the three lawsuits a “clerical error.” Miller says the “deceitful” testimony was from “a divorce like a decade ago. Give me a break.” Weird, I don’t remember the divorce exception to the whole truthful testimony thing.

Of his seeming support for Durbin’s antics, he was it was a “dumb decision” but that, ultimately, he shouldn’t be held responsible for the actions of another.

Miller is seeking an extension to appeal the decision. The OBBE said Miller can reapply for admission to the bar in 24 months.

Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].

Topics

Bar Admission, Character & Fitness, Legal Ethics, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Bar Association