Save the date! Our good apple awards is an event you won't want to miss!

Representative Kevin McDugle

Our 2023 Good Apple Legislator of the Year is Representative Kevin McDugle!

Rep. McDugle took a courageous stand this year in support of Free Richard Glossip--an Oklahoman on death row whose prosecution was rife with errors and destruction of evidence. McDugle stood in front of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board and asked them to grant Rich's clemency. He said, "The people of Oklahoma will have more faith in a system of justice that admits its mistakes than one that pretends mistakes never happen."

Rep. McDugle organized many Republican legislators to sign on to a letter in support of Glossip's clemency. He also lauded Attorney General Gentner Drummond who moved to vacate Glossip's conviction earlier this year and who filed a brief in support of Glossip at the Supreme Court.

As a veteran and former Marine, Rep. McDugle represents the towns of Coweta, Wagoner, Porter and Okay.

Rep. McDugle, we honor you and your dedication to doing what's right, even when it's difficult!

Ashlyn Faulkner

Ashlyn has been an incredible force for good through her volunteering this year. She was a founding member of the @oksurvivorjustice coalition and a powerful change maker as she used her art to advocate for the hundreds of criminalized survivors in Oklahoma's prisons. Ashlyn works with @freeaprilwilkens to advocate for April's freedom and continues to light up the world with her positive attitude and artistic style.

Congratulations, Ashlyn, on this well deserved honor! We'll see you at the Good Apple Awards to celebrate you and your incredible impact this year.

Ballard Spahr

Announcing our 2023 Good Apple Pro Bono Firm of the Year: @ballardspahrllp!

We have worked with Ballard on a project for the last year investigating voting rights violations in Oklahoma's jails. They are timely, professional, and dedicated to what's right. We appreciate you Ballard team and we can't wait to celebrate you on September 29th in Tulsa!

Ballard Spahr contributes more than 50,000 hours annually to pro bono service, ensuring that clients have a voice and a legal advocate regardless of their ability to pay. This firm meets the most pressing needs of our communities. It advocates for fundamental human rights in cases involving the death penalty, voting rights, asylum and immigration, and child advocacy. 

Ballard has been working with ok appleseed for over a year on an investigation into voting in jails in Oklahoma. 

Ballard team, we honor you for your professionalism and quality!

CREOKS

Last year our team had a crazy idea: what if we could deliver high quality, free functional family therapy to the children on Tulsa County's juvenile delinquency docket? This therapy shows an up to 58% reduction in recidivism and helps improve communication and substance use issues in homes with teens who are acting out. 

We reached out to CREOKS knowing it was a big ask to expand to a whole new team of FFT therapists. They not only said, "Yes!" they said "When and how can we help?" They have worked hand in glove with our team to create the referral network that made this project possible, and to date have delivered thousands of dollars of free, high quality, evidence based therapy to kids and their families across Tulsa County.

Damario Solomon-Simmons

Damario is a community-and team-oriented lawyer with almost 20 years of success as an advisor, advocate, and partner who has successfully represented clients in federal, state, and tribal courts and legislative hearings and matters. Highly skilled strategic planner, manager of human and capital resources, and builder of relationships to accomplish organizational goals. In addition to his law practice, Damario is a nationally sought-after speaker and social commentator on civil rights, the business of sports, and public policy issues.

As the Executive Director of @justiceforgreenwood he advocates for reparations and just treatment for the survivors and descendants of survivors of the 1921 Race Massacre.

Paul Demuro, Esq. 

Our final 2023 Good Apple Award for Advocate of the Year goes to Paul DeMuro, Esq. with Dorwart Lawyers! In December of last year, we published Fractured—a report that delves into the competency waitlist crisis in Oklahoma. We found that over 200 Oklahomans are languishing in jails across the state and the Department of Mental Health is liable for their care. Paul sprang into action and filed a class action suit on behalf of these patients. Our legal director, Leslie Briggs, serves as a named plaintiff in the suit. We are always impressed with Paul’s attention to detail, strategic thinking, and diplomacy. Paul shows we can all work together for a better Oklahoma!