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, 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. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for the ACLU; the Board of Directors for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Board of Directors for the Oklahoma County Bar Association; and Trustee for the Oklahoma County Law Library.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 23 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 Justice - Sac and Fox Tribe Supreme Court
- Sac and Fox Tribe Supreme Court
- - Current
- Associate Justice - Pawnee Nation Supreme Court
- Pawnee Nation Supreme Court
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- Associate District Judge - Seminole Nation
- Seminole Nation Tribal Court
- - Current
- Attorney and Founder
- GIFFORD LAW P.L.L.C.
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- Founder and 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.
- Chief Judge - Iowa (Ioway) Tribe
- Iowa (Ioway) Tribal Court
- - Current
- Associate Justice - Comanche Nation Supreme Court
- Comanche Nation Supreme Court
- - Current
- Appellate Justice for the highest court of review for the Comanche Nation
- Judge, Civil Trial Docket
- Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
- - Current
- Civil Judge overseeing complex trial matters for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.
- Chief Judge - Kaw (Kanza) Nation
- Kaw (Kanza) Nation Tribal Court
- - Current
- Chief Judge - Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas
- Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas Tribal Court
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- Chief Judge for the tribal court for the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas
- Special Judge
- Oklahoma City Municipal Court
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- Serve as a part-time municipal judge for the City of Oklahoma City
- 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.
- Associate Supreme Court Justice
- Iowa (Ioway) Tribe of Oklahoma
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- 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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- Defending Those Who Defend America: Military Justice for the Civilian Lawyer
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- Letter to the Editor: The Unjust Imprisonment of Leonard Peltier
- The Journal Record
- Letter to the Editor: Leonard Peltier: America's Mandela
- The Black Wallstreet Times
- The Plight of Leonard Peltier: America’s Last Political Prisoner
- Native Oklahoma Magazine
- 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
- Justice Cardozo Golden Quill Award
- Oklahoma Bar Association's Criminal Law Section
- Recognition by the OBA's Criminal Law Section for contributions to criminal law.
- Justice Cardozo Award
- Oklahoma Bar Association's Criminal Law Section
- 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.
- Director's Award for International Human Trafficking Case
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
- Board of Directors - ACLU Oklahoma
- - Current
- Activities: Serves on the Board of Directors for the ACLU of Oklahoma.
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- United States Commission on Civil Rights
- Member - Oklahoma Advisory Committee
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- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Lifetime Member
- - Current
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- Oklahoma County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Member
- - Current
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- Oklahoma County Bar Association
- Member of the Board of Directors (2024-2027; 2013-1016)
- - Current
- Activities: Member of the Board of Directors (2024-2027; 2013-1016)
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- Oklahoma Bar Association's Military & Veteran's Law Section
- Chair of section (Current and in 2012, 2013, 2021-current)
- - Current
- Activities: Chair of section in 2012, 2013, 2021-current.
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- Federal Bar Association
- Member - Oklahoma City Chapter
- - Current
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- Oklahoma Bar Association's Criminal Law Section
- Member and Past Chair (2018 - 2019)
- - Current
- Activities: Served as Chair of the Criminal Law Section for the Oklahoma Bar Association.
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- Oklahoma Indian Bar Association
- Member
- - Current
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- Judge Advocate's Association
- Lifetime Member
- - Current
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- Oklahoma Bar Association # 17034
- Member
- - Current
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- Oklahoma Bar Association
- Board of Governors - Okla. Bar Assoc.
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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. Can prosecution use evidence collected by officers who did not testify and were not listed on state witness list
- A: It depends on what the evidence is that was introduced (and the facts of the case may matter as well). If it something that is easily identifiable and unique, like a firearm that can be identified by make, model, and serial number (and other relevant evidence), then it goes to the weight of the evidence for a jury to decide to believe. If the evidence is more fungible and indistinguishable like a bag of cocaine that has no distinct features from any other bag of cocaine, then there could be a “chain of custody” concern. In some cases, it is not uncommon for attorneys that have previously seen the chain of custody logs and read the reports and have no concern to its validity and will stipulate ... Read More
- Q. My daughter's father was killed over seas. He was in the United States army once stationed at ft Knox and fort polk
- A: Order his military records from St. Louis from the National Archives. You can find that information online. I would request the entire file, to include medical, DD214, etc. Once you receive, go to the Veteran's Administration website and they will give additional guidance. You may also get some direct assistance if you go to your local VA. There are also a number of non-profits or law schools (depending on where you live) that may be able to assist.
- Q. I’m pending chapter , however my ets date is coming up can I still ets ? I was told I can’t but my leadership I feel lie
- A: You are likely "flagged" and will be prevented from ETS'ing normally until your chapter paperwork is processed.
CLE 2019- Robert D. Gifford: Native Americans as Witnesses & Jurors - Considerations & Perspective
Robert D. Gifford: Native Americans as Witnesses & Jurors - Considerations & Perspective
Parents file lawsuit against Stillwater Public Schools over distance learning plan
KOCO (Channel 5, OKC) reports: Parents Sue Stillwater Public Schools over the failures in education with distance learning. Attorney Robert D. Gifford filed this lawsuit on behalf of the public school children of Stillwater, OK.
State of Oklahoma and local tribes reach agreement for criminal jurisdiction after Supreme Court dec
KFOR (Channel 4, OKC) reports on the State of Oklahoma entering into agreements with Native American tribes after the Supreme Court's ruling in McGirt. Native American attorney and tribal judge Robert D. Gifford speaks on this agreement.
Hamdan loses attempt to call 9/11 mastermind as witness
Mr. Gifford was mobilized from his civilian position as an Assistant United States Attorney back onto active duty as an Army JAG to serve as Deputy Director of Legal Operations and as the worldwide legal spokesman for the Military Commissions at Guantanamo Bay. Mr. Gifford's unique experience as a federal prosecutor, former active duty military prosecutor and defense counsel, Army Reserve defense counsel, and instructor at the Army JAG School provided a source of information to journalists from the AP, The New York Times, The Miami Herald, The LA Times, to even Al Jazeera, as well as to Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs) such as The Red Cross.
Edmond man found guilty on 7 charges in Kenya sexual abuse trial
A federal jury has convicted an Edmond man of seven out of 17 counts of illicit sexual conduct on Kenyan orphans while he served a mission at an orphanage. Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. Gifford served as lead prosecutor and secured the guilty verdict against a child predator.
Human Trafficking
While serving as the Human Trafficking Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Justice, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Gifford explains the new paradigm in handling Human Trafficking cases as a prosecutor.
New details revealed against attorney, bail bondsman accused of sex with young girls
Federal investigators believe Robert Pierce and Michael Billings traveled to Peru to have sex with underage girls. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Gifford served as lead prosecutor in this international sex tourism prosecution.