Marna Franklin

As a practicing attorney for twenty-eight years, the career focus has been representing citizens accused in both state and federal courts with an emphasis on those found to be indigent. Pride is taken in treating all clients with the same care, compassion and passion without regard to what an individual may (or may not) have done, all defendants are entitled to the same constitutional rights regardless of the accusation or financial means. As the Chief Public Defender of Oklahoma County, the desire and goal will be to foster not just competent representation by assistants, but instill an atmosphere of positivity in addition to an environment in which attorneys will not want leave after gaining experience, but will want to stay as career defenders to fulfill a passion and desire to serve and protect the rights of those accused by demanding justice and unwavering protection that the system of justice in the United States provides.

• Successfully defended and obtained freedom of capital murder defendant Curtis McCarty after he had received the death penalty in three prior trial proceedings. Said representation resulted in receipt of the Opio Turre Couragous Advocate award from the Coliation to Abolish the Death Penalty.
• Achieved multiple acquittals in felony cases in state and federal courts for a variety of offenses including capital murder, murder, robberies, assaults, drug distribution, and sexual offenses.
• Achieved multiple case dismissals in state and federal courts as a result of aggressive pretrial litigation.

• Oklahoma County Bar Association Fee Grievance Committee (2010-present)
• Federal Bar Association Board of Directors (2021-2022)
• CJA Panel Representative for the Western District of Oklahoma (2016-2021)
• CJA Panel Mentor for the Western District of Oklahoma (2019-2022)
• Oklahoma Bar Association Bench and Bar Committee