Clint James

Clint James’ focus has been defense of the accused in criminal actions in state and federal courts in Oklahoma and handles expungements statewide. He also represents those who have been denied civil rights. Practice includes trials and appeals. Clint James is now licensed to practice in all Oklahoma state courts and for the federal court in the Northern District of Oklahoma (Tulsa metro area). He is eligible for admission in federal courts throughout the nation as needed.

After working with the principals of Graham, Allen & Brown, Clint James was invited to be a partner in a new venture called The Firm on Baltimore, representing people in criminal and civil litigation in the Tulsa area and in federal courts in Tulsa, Muskogee and Oklahoma City. Clint left The Firm on Baltimore to re-join Bob Wyatt. They had worked together when Clint was in law school and on various projects since becoming a lawyer. At the Firm on Baltimore and its predecessor firm Graham, Allen & Brown, Clint James had the privilege of working on several significant and high profile cases such as Powell et. al. v. Avalon , Campbell v. Hollis I.S.D. and Sexton, State v. R.Z.M., State v. John Doe, United States v. Jeff Henderson and Bill Yelton, England et. al. v. Delaware County.

During law school at the University of Tulsa, Clint James worked first as a paralegal and then as a legal intern for Scott Graham, Tony Allen and Grant Brown. Later, Mr. James joined the firm as an associate lawyer representing clients in criminal cases as well as a general litigation practice involving civil rights, divorce, business entities, business litigation, etc. The firm later reorganized as The Firm on Baltimore, where Mr. James was recruited as a partner.

Clint James had the privilege of working with a number of top-notch lawyers in a number of capacities before he started law school, during law school and after passing the Bar Exam. Among those with whom he has worked are Tom Seymour (Tulsa), Louis and Patricia Bullock (Tulsa), Graham, Allen & Brown (Tulsa), Wyatt Law Office (Oklahoma City & Tulsa), Stephen Jones & Associates (Enid, OK), Slitzcha & Ramsey (Stillwater), Norman, Edem, McNaughton & Wallace (Enid, OK) ( 2008-2017).

Other Affiliations:

Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2012 – present

Oklahoma Bar Association, 2012 – present

Tulsa County Bar Association

Criminal Justice Act (“CJA”) Panel Attorney (Member)

Past Positions:

The Firm on Baltimore (Tulsa, OK) Partner, 2014-2017

Graham, Allen & Brown (Tulsa, OK), Associate, 2012-2014

Paralegal and Legal Intern for Tom Seymour (Tulsa), Graham, Allen & Brown (Tulsa), Wyatt Law Office (OKC & Tulsa), Stephen Jones & Associates (Enid, OK), Slitzcha & Ramsey (Stillwater), Norman, Edem, McNaughton & Wallace (OKC/Enid, OK) ( 2008-2012)

Honors & Publications:

2015, 2017-2021 Oklahoma Super Lawyers Rising Star for criminal defense law

2024 – Oklahoma Super Lawyers for criminal defense law

Mentioned In or Interviewed

Tulsa World, October _, 2017, Shelby’s Expungement,

Presentations & Lectures:

2018 – Oklahoma Bar Association – Law Day – Expungement Lawyer Segment

2013 – Phi Alpha Delta – Law School and the New Lawyer Experience

2012 – Tulsa County Judge’s Conference – Social Media and Juror Misconduct

Representative Cases:

Since 2008, Clint James has been involved in a number of high profile cases, either as a lawyer or as a legal intern or paralegal. Those include:

Pardon and Parole Board – Mr. James has appeared before the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board on over fifty cases and has received favorable recommendations and pardons for each client.

United States v. John Doe – Mr. James represented a client charged with numerous serious sex crimes in federal court. The client pled to an agreed-upon range and the Court struck the plea agreement and sentenced the client to the lowest possible sentence, in part, because of Mr. James’ advocacy at sentencing.

State v. John Doe – Mr. James’ client was captured on film, in their own home, dealing narcotics. The client was facing an 85% violent crime and years in prison at the beginning of the case. Mr. James managed to secure a full dismissal for his client.

Powell et. al. v. Avalon – Successfully settled a lawsuit brought against one of the nation’s largest private prison operators. The lawsuit was brought pursuant to the Civil Rights Act in the Northern District of Oklahoma and was resolved well short of trial to the benefit of Mr. James’ clients. NOTE: This is a civil case and cannot be expunged.

Campbell v. Hollis I.S.D. and Sexton – Mr. James successfully defeated a motion to dismiss and was one of the first cases in Oklahoma to keep the entire school board in as defendants. The case involved a student who was repeatedly raped by their school teacher. This case was resolved short of trial with the school board and resulted in a one million dollar verdict against the teacher.

State v. R.Z.M. – Argued the case before the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals and successfully upheld previous counsel’s motion to dismiss made at the trial court level. The case resulted in a firestorm of international controversy as it invalidated an arrest for forcible oral sodomy and redefined the definition of the word force in Oklahoma. Youthful Offender dockets are not posted publicly. NOTE: This client is eligible for an expungement.

State v. John Doe – Mr. James’ client was charged with indecent exposure while self-stimulating in a public location. In the face of video evidence, a signed waiver of rights, and a confession by his client, Mr. James negotiated a plea deal whereby his client could avoid the Sex Offender Registry and a felony. NOTE: This client is eligible for an expungement.

United States v. Jeff Henderson and Bill Yelton – Mr. James assisted in the defense of Jeff Henderson and Bill Yelton as a licensed legal intern in one of the largest police corruption trials in the state of Oklahoma. At the end of a three week trial, Bill Yelton walked free and co-defendant Jeff Henderson was acquitted on over forty counts ranging from drug possession, civil rights violations, drug distribution, and conspiracy to commit witness tampering. See U.S. v. Henderson, CR-10-117 BDB. NOTE: This is federal and not eligible for expungement.

England et. al. v. Delaware County – Mr. James assisted Tom Seymour and Scott Graham as a licensed legal intern with a $13,500,000.00 settlement in a case involving the systematic rape of 15 women in Delaware County. This settlement became one of the largest awards paid by a county in the United States. See England v. Delaware County, 09-CIV-407-JHP. NOTE: This is civil, and civil cases are not eligible for expungement.

Mr. James has also took part in the pre-trial preparations for several significant state-level murder trials:

State v. Justin Walker, CF-2004-0017, Pawnee, Cy., Murder of a Pawnee, Cy.

State v. Gib Buntin, CF-2003-581, Payne, Cy., Murder I trial where client was acquitted on Murder in the First Degree. NOTE: This client is eligible for expungement.

State v. Glen Gore, CF-2001-00126, Pontotoc, Cy., Murder trial covered by John Grisham and the subject of his best-selling book An Innocent Man.