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A simple request for public court records at Lawton City Hall quickly spiraled into a tense confrontation when the court clerk not only refused access to legally public documents, but threatened to have a journalist arrested for filming the interaction. The incident, captured on camera, reveals the lengths some officials will go to avoid transparency.
The Records Request That Sparked a Crisis
Ron Durbin arrived at Lawton City Hall seeking court files related to an ongoing slander case against Matina Davis. Under Oklahoma's Title 51 Open Records Act, court files that aren't sealed are public records, and citizens have a statutory right to view them. What should have been a routine transaction became anything but routine.
The court clerk immediately demanded that Durbin turn off his camera, citing unspecified "security reasons" for the policy. When Durbin explained his right to film in a publicly accessible area, the clerk's response was swift and uncompromising: "You can come in when that's off."
A Misdemeanor Threat Over Constitutional Rights
As the standoff escalated, the clerk made a startling threat. When Durbin pressed for the legal basis of the camera ban, the clerk declared he would "file charges on me for obstruction." The irony was lost on the official: under Oklahoma law, willfully denying access to public records is itself a misdemeanor violation.
Durbin offered multiple compromises, even suggesting the clerk could bring the file to the counter area. Each attempt at resolution met the same response. The camera had to be off, period. No exceptions, no alternatives, no legal justification required.
Deputies Called to Resolve a Constitutional Crisis
The situation drew the attention of law enforcement when Deputy Hansen arrived to mediate the dispute. In a surprising turn, Hansen revealed he was familiar with Durbin's work and acknowledged his constitutional rights. The deputy's calm approach stood in stark contrast to the clerk's rigid stance.
During their discussion, an unexpected detail emerged: jury selection was happening that same day. The timing wasn't coincidental. Durbin was there because Davis was about to face trial, making the court records even more newsworthy and time-sensitive.
The Compromise That Almost Wasn't
After extended negotiations, a fragile agreement emerged. Durbin could enter and photograph the specific documents he needed, case number CM-2023-2000, at the counter. The clerk's one condition: no "scanning" of the camera around the office.
What followed was a tense twenty seconds as Durbin photographed the court file while the clerk hovered nearby, repeatedly interrupting the process. Even with deputies present and an agreement in place, the clerk seemed unable to resist creating additional friction.
The Standoff's Unresolved Ending
As Durbin completed his documentation and prepared to leave, he made a promise that left the room in uncomfortable silence. The specifics of what he said, and how the clerk responded, remain captured only in the video footage that nearly sparked an arrest.
Watch the full confrontation to see how this tense standoff finally concluded and what promise Durbin made about returning to Lawton.
