
Robert Donald Gifford II
Founder and Trial Lawyer, GIFFORD LAW, P.L.L.C.
Founder of GIFFORD LAW, P.L.L.C. in Oklahoma City and Of Counsel to the national firm of Sullivent & Fontanez,, Mr. Gifford is a former federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, tribal court judge, a former state prosecutor, and former Army JAG defense counsel, prosecutor, and Staff Judge Advocate with a nationwide practice specialty in complex litigation in White Collar/Criminal Defense (including Pardons and Commutations), Civil Rights, Family Law, Native American Law, Military Law, and Government Contracting. Mr. Gifford has also previously served as is the Chair of the Oklahoma Bar Association's Criminal Law Section, and formerly served on the state bar's Board of Governors and as the Chair of the Military & Veteran's Law Section.
Mr. Gifford is a tribal member of the Cherokee Nation, also serves as a tribal court judge for five Native American tribes, Special Judge for the City of Oklahoma City, and a retired Colonel from the Army Reserves with over 22 years of active and reserve service, a former Editor on the American Indian Law Review, and has served as an adjunct law professor at three law schools teaching Trial Practice, Military Law, Indian Gaming, & National Security Law.
- United States Army War College
- M.S. (2015) | Strategic Studies
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- University of Oklahoma College of Law
- J.D. (1996) | Law
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- Honors: Who's Who Among American Law Students
- Activities: Article Editor, American Indian Law Review
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- Southwestern College
- B.A. (1993)
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- Honors: Distinguished Graduate (Master Builder); Academic All-Conference
- Activities: Varsity Football, Varsity Track,
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- Associate District Judge (Domestic Violence)
- Seminole Nation Tribal Court
- - Current
- Associate Supreme Court Justice
- Comanche Nation Supreme Court
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- Appellate Justice for the highest court of review for the Comanche Nation
- Attorney and Founder
- Gifford Law, P.L.L.C.
- - Current
- Trial attorney with nationwide practice at both trial and on appeal in federal, state, military, and tribal courts representing individuals and corporations in complex litigation ranging from white collar criminal, civil lawsuits, family law, tribal law, and military law.
- Judge, Civil Trial Docket
- Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
- - Current
- Civil Judge overseeing complex trial matters for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.
- Chief Judge
- Iowa Tribe District Court
- - Current
- Special Judge
- Oklahoma City Municipal Court
- - Current
- Serve as a part-time municipal judge for the City of Oklahoma City
- Associate Justice
- Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma Supreme Court
- - Current
- Chief Judge
- Kaw Nation Tribal Court
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- Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps
- United States Army Reserve
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- Senior Trial Attorney
- Gungoll, Jackson, Box & Devoll, P.C.
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- Trial attorney in federal, state, military, and tribal courts with an emphasis on white collar/criminal, family law, Native American, and Military.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Tribal Liaison/Human Trafficking Coordinator/Anti-Terrorism Coordinator
- United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Oklahoma
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- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator
- Assistant United States Attorney's Office, District of Nevada
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- Assistant District Attorney (Felony/Violent Crime; SANE Nurse Trainer; Death Penalty Review; Child Abuse Review)
- Tulsa County District Attorney's Office
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- Trial Counsel/Defense Counsel/Legal Assistance Attorney
- United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
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- Native American Law: Will It Ever Be Taken Seriously?
- Lawyers Monthly
- Federal prosecutor Gifford shifting to private practice
- The Journal Record
- "Your Witness Counsel" - Cross Examination
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- A Primer for Ye Ol'Woodshed: Witness Preparaton
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- Jurisdiction after McGirt, NHTSA Tribal Work Group, Virtual
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- McGirt and the Law for Courtroom Interpreters, CCI, Virtual
- Certified Interpreter Education
- McGirt's Law, Criminal Defense Instititute, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association
- Military Law for the Leftist Lawyer, National Lawyer's Guild, Virtual
- National Lawyer's Guild
- Spoke on the basics of military law and justice to civilian practitioners.
- Trial Advocacy, Army JAG School Criminal Law Advocacy Course, Charlottesville, VA
- United States Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps
- Master Military Justice Pracitioner
- United States Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps
- Medal of Patriotism
- Cherokee Nation
- Recognition by the Cherokee Nation for military service and service to servicemembers and veterans.
- Justice Cardozo Award
- Oklahoma Bar Association's Criminal Law Section
- Recognized for the contributions in the area of criminal law in Oklahoma.
- Recognition for International Human Trafficking Case
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Professional Advocate of the Year
- Oklahoma Bar Association's Criminal Law Section
- Recognized by the criminal defense bar as the outstanding prosecutor in the state of Oklahoma.
- Certificate of Appreciation for Efforts in Sex Offender Investigations
- United States Marshal's Service
- Oklahoma County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Member
- - Current
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- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Lifetime Member
- - Current
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- Oklahoma County Bar Association
- Member (former member of Board of Directors)
- - Current
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- Oklahoma Bar Association's Military & Veteran's Law Section
- Member (Chair)
- - Current
- Activities: Chair of section in 2012, 2013, 2021
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- Oklahoma Indian Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
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- Oklahoma
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- 9th Circuit
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- 10th Circuit
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- Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
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- Army Court of Criminal Appeals
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- Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
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- District of Nevada, U.S. District Court
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- Eastern District of Oklahoma, U.S. District Court
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- Kaw Nation Tribal Court
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- Northern District of Oklahoma, U.S. District Court
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- U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
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- U.S. Supreme Court
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- Various Tribal Courts
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- Western District of Kentucky, U.S. District Court
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- Western District of Oklahoma, U.S. District Court
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- Credit Cards Accepted
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Contingent Fees
On a case by case basis.
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Civil Rights
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Discrimination, Employment, Fair Housing, Police Misconduct, Privacy Law
- White Collar Crime
- Military Law
- Veteran's Benefits
- Native American Law
- Family Law
- Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
- Gov & Administrative Law
- Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
- Appeals & Appellate
- Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
- English: Spoken, Written
- Spanish: Written
- Q. If a charge was dismissed in a federal magistrate court, could a person go to special court martial for the same thing?
- A: If it was dismissed "with prejudice" in the federal court, then there is an argument that the courts-martial may be bound by that dismissal. It depends on the reason and grounds it was dimissed. If the dismissal is silent, it's likely "without prejudice" and still subject to UCMJ action.
- Q. I was recently discharged from the army after a failed urinalysis with a honorable discharge. I was told by my previous
- A: You may want to consider petitioning that service's board of records review. For example, if you were Army you may want to petition the Army Discharge Review Board and/or the Army Board of Corrections of Military Records.
See: http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/adrb-faq.html
and
http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/abcmr-overview.html
- Q. How can a DUI affect your chances for promotion?
- A: Absolutely. It is pretty much a military career killer. The only "exception" is when the service member is a junior enlisted. The military leadership recognizes that a young soldier (or marine, etc.) will make mistakes. If that junior enlisted member is an otherwise good troop, a commander will work to rehabilitate him/her and keep them "in the fight."