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The Oklahoma Supreme Court suspended attorney Ron Durbin indefinitely without a trial, hearing, or the ability to confront witnesses. His alleged violations? Being "disrespectful" to government officials and making "disparaging remarks" about judges during his Facebook live broadcasts.
The Suspension Order That Changed Everything
Durbin read the suspension order live on camera, revealing that the Oklahoma Bar Association accused him of "reckless, malicious and dishonest statements" during his online broadcasts. The order specifically cited his criticism of judges, opposing counsel, and government employees as grounds for immediate suspension.
The attorney pointed out a crucial detail buried in the legal language: even the Bar Association admits these are allegations, not proven facts. "They haven't proven that they're reckless, they haven't proven that they're malicious," Durbin said, adding that some of his statements were indeed malicious because he intended to expose corruption.
The Confidentiality Rules That Sparked the Fight
The conflict escalated when Durbin told the Oklahoma Bar Association he would go public about their alleged failure to investigate attorneys Logan Jones, Eric Brown, and Matt Stacy. Bar officials warned him that disclosing confidential bar complaints would subject him to discipline as an attorney.
But here's where it gets interesting: they also told him that non-attorneys who file complaints against him can say whatever they want about those same complaints because they're not bound by confidentiality rules. This double standard pushed Durbin over the edge.
"That's when I decided that the system was corrupt and I wasn't going to stand for that anymore," he explained. "Rules for thee but not for me doesn't work here."
The "Disrupting the Peace" Allegations
The Bar Association claimed Durbin "regularly disrupts the peace" when requesting public records and has "threatened state employees" with arrest for non-compliance. They even alleged he caused an office lockdown that required police intervention.
Durbin's response revealed the absurdity of these charges. He had simply educated government employees about Oklahoma law: failure to comply with the Open Records Act constitutes a misdemeanor, and citizens have the right to make arrests for misdemeanors they witness.
"I'm accused of correctly educating members of the government about what the failure to comply with the Oklahoma Open Records Act could mean," he said. The offices called police not because he committed crimes, but because he was filming and exercising his First Amendment rights.
The Federal Court Strategy Emerges
Throughout the livestream, Durbin revealed he had been waiting for exactly this moment. In federal civil rights cases, plaintiffs need to demonstrate actual damages from constitutional violations. The suspension without due process finally gave him what lawyers call a "justiciable claim."
"Until the Oklahoma Supreme Court did this, I had not been actually damaged," he explained. "Now that they have suspended my license without a hearing, without a trial, without confronting any witnesses, without reviewing any evidence, now I'm going to take them and their happy asses to federal court."
He disclosed that he's already drafted a federal complaint and purchased a special pen specifically for signing it. The lawsuit will seek tens of millions in damages and challenge the mandatory bar membership requirements that he believes violate his constitutional rights.
What Happened During the Eclipse
But the most intriguing revelation came when Durbin explained why he didn't immediately respond to the suspension. He had driven to Arkansas with his children to witness the total solar eclipse, having a "premonition" that something significant would happen that day.
The timing struck him as more than coincidental. The suspension was issued on the same day as a rare celestial event that won't occur again for twenty years. Whether you believe in signs or not, the symbolism wasn't lost on him or his viewers.
What happens next remains unclear from the order itself. Durbin revealed that the Bar Association initially planned to give him a trial, but changed course when they learned he intended to broadcast the proceedings. The question now is whether his federal challenge will succeed, and what other corruption allegations he plans to pursue with his newfound legal standing.
Watch the full livestream to see Durbin read the complete suspension order and hear his detailed plans for the federal lawsuit.
