Jackere Retires, Taylor Names Interim City Attorney

By Local Report    
Monday, 04 December 2006
City Attorney Alan Jackere has announced his retirement effective January 2nd, 2007, the Mayor's office announced today. Through agreement with Mayor Kathy Taylor, Jackere will remain with the City's legal department through the end of the year.

"We appreciate Alan's 32 years of service to this city and wish him great success in his future endeavors," said Taylor.

A search for a permanent successor will begin immediately. To supervise and assist in a transition until a successor is hired, the Mayor has named Judge Deirdre Dexter to join the Mayor's office as acting interim City Attorney. The appointment is effective immediately.

"I am very pleased that Judge Dexter has agreed to temporarily serve in this capacity", said Taylor. "She is a proven public servant, a respected attorney, and her legal qualifications and experience will be of great benefit to the city during this transition."

Dexter's areas of expertise include trial law, arbitration proceedings, employment law, and commercial litigation.  She is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the Tulsa County Bar Association. She has served as an adjunct settlement judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma and as an Associate District Judge for Tulsa County. Most recently, she has been in private practice in the firm of Fred Dorwart, Lawyers of Tulsa. She is also as a member of the New York Stock Exchange Panel of Arbitrators. Dexter received her B.S. in Business Education from Phillips University in 1981 and a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1984.

KOTV is reporting unnamed sources suspect the retirement was coerced and connected to the Arvin McGee wrongful conviction case.  In that case, the City of Tulsa called no witnesses and was accused of offering a poor defense. In the end, the City of Tulsa paid McGee $12-million, about $11-million more than expected according to KOTV.

In an informational early morning e-mail to city employees, Mayor Kathy L. Taylor wrote, “Alan has worked for this city for 32 years and I sincerely appreciate his long service to Tulsa.”

No mention of Mayor Taylor’s recent suspension of both Alan Jackere and the Deputy City Attorney Larry Simmons was included in the Mayor’s e-mail.
Last Updated ( Monday, 04 December 2006 )