1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
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3 SENATE
3 RESOLUTION 26 By: Jech
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 A Resolution honoring the life of Robert A. Ravitz;
7 recognizing his distinguished legal career; and
8 directing distribution.
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10 WHEREAS, Robert A. Ravitz earned his law degree from Oklahoma
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11 City University, began his career at the Oklahoma County Public
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12 Defender’s Office, and was named lead public defender in 1987; and
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13 WHEREAS, Robert “Bob” Ravitz protected the rights of all,
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14 believing society should not be judged based on how it treats the
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15 fortunate, but on how it treats those some consider society’s worst;
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16 and
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17 WHEREAS, even Ravitz’s courtroom adversaries held him in the
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18 highest regard as they knew he would advocate for his clients with
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19 zeal and ardor and that the trial would be a tough but fair fight;
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20 and
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21 WHEREAS, Ravitz constantly fought for the mentally ill who were
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22 accused of crimes because he believed using the criminal justice
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23 system to house the mentally ill was immoral; and
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 1 WHEREAS, Ravitz served as an adjunct professor and mentor,
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2 teaching hundreds of young lawyers to advocate for the least among
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3 us and to practice law and life with integrity and honor; and
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4 WHEREAS, Ravitz served tirelessly on countless boards,
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5 commissions, and committees related to the law and criminal justice,
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6 always seeking to make our system fairer and more effective; and
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7 WHEREAS, Ravitz earned the respect of officials in Oklahoma
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8 County and beyond; positively impacted many citizens, public
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9 officials, criminal defendants, and lawyers; and is undoubtedly one
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10 of the most significant figures in the history of Oklahoma County;
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11 and
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12 WHEREAS, Ravitz leaves a legacy of lifelong service to all,
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13 admiration and love of his family and, indeed, all who knew him.
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14 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION
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15 OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
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16 THAT the Oklahoma State Senate honors the life of service lived
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17 by Robert A. Ravitz.
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18 THAT the Oklahoma State Senate recognizes Bob Ravitz’s
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19 distinguished legal career, dedication to criminal justice reform,
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20 and commitment to shaping Oklahoma’s future lawyers.
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21 THAT copies of this resolution be distributed to the family of
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22 Robert A. Ravitz, Judge Scott Rowland, and the Oklahoma County
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23 Public Defender’s Office.
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 1 59-2-3473 KC 2/8/2024 3:06:50 PM
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