AP Day!

Happy Administrative Professionals' Day to my friend and co-worker, Miss Laura Bower!

I'm so glad she decided to "go boldly" and apply for the job here at the end of 2013! I brought her the "Bailiff Bible" (a notebook Marlene made to help future Bailiffs) to prepare, then I firmly assured her that most of what we deal with in this office is 'boring' civil stuff or drug cases and people pleading guilty to crimes -- that cases rarely go to Jury Trial and we don't get many sex crimes... Her very first week on the job, we had the worst rape case we've ever had, like ever.  And her first Jury Term was six weeks later, where we had a First Degree Murder case! (That really is exceptionally rare, but the timing was interesting). 

Anyway, I remember all the legal terminology and our complex docketing system being confusing at first, but she definitely knows and understands more than I do at this point!!  She goes through a ridicu-large amount of files and paperwork every week and often stays late to finish up the Minutes with clear and proper grammar! (*It still cracks me up that they brought in the police dogs to search the building when she came in really late one night - aaah, Creek County security. lol If only they were that on top of it when the building is bustling with real criminals!) Anyway, she's always friendly to everyone that calls or comes in (even when she's trying to be firm with the crazies on the phone). And she's impressively on top of all that's happening in this office... regularly doing the work of three (whilst I do the work of half a person). lol

Since we work with the District Judge in a smaller county, we see a little bit of everything... Felonies, Misdemeanors, Civil Cases, Full-Blood Petitions, Probates, Guardianships, Divorces, etc. Being a Bailiff in Tulsa would involve becoming an expert in one or two of those things, while having a Clerk who always handles the Court Minutes for you. Laura has to be an expert in all of them, as well as taking very thorough Minutes and then returning calls I don't know how to deal with!  She's our Secretary, Bailiff, Minute Clerk, & Law Librarian extraordinaire!! All the women in the Clerk's Office love her, and I know Judge appreciates having someone who works with excellence and integrity (and who doesn't threaten his job or almost burn down the courthouse or write unauthorized notes to the jury or take random days off without telling anyone). lol  (...And I'm thankful that I won't have to be a "witness" to another person getting fired, because that would absolutely never happen here!!)  Seriously, I'm glad to have someone I can talk to who really understands all the ridiculous and bizarre things we see here! lol

Anyway, this made me laugh and think of Laura...

Thanks for all your hard work and crazy long nights, LB!  We appreciate you!!

The last thing in this mini-tribute has nothing to do with work, but it's a Flipagram I made to celebrate her running journey! She really makes it look like fun, but don't be fooled. ;-)


Anyway, huzzah for Laura Allison!!

That's all for today... now I can get in 45 minutes of actual work before lunch time! ;)