Robert Donald Gifford II
Founder and Trial Lawyer, GIFFORD LAW, P.L.L.C.
- Biography
Founder of GIFFORD LAW, P.L.L.C. in Oklahoma City, Mr. Gifford is a former federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, tribal court judge, a former state prosecutor, and former Army JAG defense counsel, prosecutor, and Staff Judge Advocate with a nationwide practice specialty in complex litigation in White Collar/Criminal Defense (including Pardons and Commutations), Civil Rights, Family Law, Native American Law, Military Law, and Government Contracting. Mr. Gifford has also previously served as is the Chair of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section, and formerly served on the state bar’s Board of Governors and as the Chair of the Military & Veteran’s Law Section.
Mr. Gifford is a tribal member of the Cherokee Nation, also serves as a tribal court judge for five Native American tribes, Special Judge for the City of Oklahoma City, and a retired Colonel from the Army Reserves with over 23 years of active and reserve service, a former Editor on the American Indian Law Review, and has served as an adjunct law professor at three law schools teaching Trial Practice, Military Law, Indian Gaming, & National Security Law.
- Practice Areas
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- Civil Rights
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Discrimination, Employment, Fair Housing, Police Misconduct, Privacy Law
- White Collar Crime
- Military Law
- Veteran’s Benefits
- Native American Law
- Family Law
- Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father’s Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
- Gov & Administrative Law
- Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
- Appeals & Appellate
- Civil Appeals, Federal Appeals
- Video Conferencing
- Fees
- Credit Cards Accepted
-
Contingent Fees
On a case by case basis.
- Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Oklahoma
- Since 1996
-
- Languages
- English:
Spoken, Written - Spanish:
Written
- Professional Experience
- Associate Justice
- Pawnee Nation Supreme Court
-
2024 –
Current
- Associate District Judge – Seminole Nation
- Seminole Nation Tribal Court
-
2019 –
Current
- Attorney and Founder
- GIFFORD LAW P.L.L.C.
-
2018 –
Current
- Founder and trial attorney with nationwide practice at both trial and on appeal in federal, state, military, and tribal courts representing individuals and corporations in complex litigation ranging from white collar criminal, civil lawsuits, family law, tribal law, and military law.
- Judge, Civil Trial Docket
- Miami Tribe of Oklahoma
-
2018 –
Current
- Civil Judge overseeing complex trial matters for the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma.
- Associate Supreme Court Justice
- Comanche Nation Supreme Court
-
2018 –
Current
- Appellate Justice for the highest court of review for the Comanche Nation
- Chief Judge – Iowa (Ioway) Tribe
- Iowa (Ioway) Tribal Court
-
2018 –
Current
- Chief Judge – Kaw (Kanza) Nation
- Kaw (Kanza) Nation Tribal Court
-
2009 –
Current
- Chief Judge – KTK
- Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas Tribal Court
-
2021 –
2023
- Chief Judge for the tribal court for the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas
- Special Judge
- Oklahoma City Municipal Court
-
2018 –
2022
- Serve as a part-time municipal judge for the City of Oklahoma City
- Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps
- United States Army Reserve
-
2000 –
2019
- Senior Trial Attorney
- Gungoll, Jackson, Box & Devoll, P.C.
-
2016 –
2018
- Trial attorney in federal, state, military, and tribal courts with an emphasis on white collar/criminal, family law, Native American, and Military.
- Associate Supreme Court Justice
- Iowa (Ioway) Tribe of Oklahoma
-
2013 –
2018
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Tribal Liaison/Human Trafficking Coordinator/Anti-Terrorism Coordinator
- United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Oklahoma
-
2006 –
2016
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator
- Assistant United States Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada
-
2001 –
2006
- Assistant District Attorney (Felony/Violent Crime; SANE Nurse Trainer; Death Penalty Review; Child Abuse Review)
- Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office
-
2000 –
2001
- Trial Counsel/Defense Counsel/Legal Assistance Attorney
- United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps
-
1996 –
2000
- Education
- United States Army War College
- M.S. (2015) | Strategic Studies
-
2013
–
2015 -
- University of Oklahoma College of Law
- J.D. (1996) | Law
-
1993
–
1996 - Honors: Who’s Who Among American Law Students
- Activities: Article Editor, American Indian Law Review
-
- Southwestern College
- B.A. (1993)
-
1989
–
1993 - Honors: Distinguished Graduate (Master Builder); Academic All-Conference
- Activities: Varsity Football, Varsity Track,
-
- Awards
- Justice Cardozo Golden Quill Award
- Oklahoma Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section
- 2023
- Recognition by the OBA’s Criminal Law Section for contributions to criminal law.
- Justice Cardozo Award
- Oklahoma Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section
- 2023
- Medal of Patriotism
- Cherokee Nation
- 2021
- Recognition by the Cherokee Nation for military service and service to servicemembers and veterans.
- Justice Cardozo Award
- Oklahoma Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section
- 2016
- Recognized for the contributions in the area of criminal law in Oklahoma.
- Director’s Award for International Human Trafficking Case
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- 2015
- Professional Advocate of the Year
- Oklahoma Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section
- 2013
- Recognized by the criminal defense bar as the outstanding prosecutor in the state of Oklahoma.
- Director’s Award for Sex Offender Investigations
- United States Marshal’s Service
- 2009
- Director’s Award for Service to the FBI in the District of Nevada
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- 2006
- Director’s Award in Archeological Protection Prosecution Case
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forestry Service
- 2004
- Professional Associations
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Lifetime Member
-
2016 –
Current -
- Oklahoma County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Member
-
2016 –
Current -
- Oklahoma County Bar Association
- Member (former member of Board of Directors)
-
2013 –
Current -
- Oklahoma Bar Association’s Military & Veteran’s Law Section
- Member (Chair)
-
2012 –
Current - Activities: Chair of section in 2012, 2013, 2021
-
- Federal Bar Association
- Member
-
2007 –
Current -
- Oklahoma Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section
- Chair-elect (2018)
-
2007 –
Current -
- Oklahoma Indian Bar Association
- Member
-
2007 –
Current -
- Judge Advocate’s Association
- Lifetime Member
-
2007 –
Current -
-
Oklahoma Bar Association
 # 17034
- Member
-
1996 –
Current -
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- Board of Governors
-
2013 –
2016 -
- Publications
- Letter to the Editor: Do Not Forget Leonard Peltier
- Tulsa World
- July 12, 2024
- Letter to the Editor: The Unjust Imprisonment of Leonard Peltier
- The Journal Record
- July 12, 2024
- Letter to the Editor: Leonard Peltier: America’s Mandela
- The Black Wallstreet Times
- July 11, 2024
- The Plight of Leonard Peltier: America’s Last Political Prisoner
- Native Oklahoma Magazine
- July 9, 2024
- Letter to the Editor: End the fraud that imprisoned Peltier
- Tahlequah Daily Press
- July 5, 2024
- Letter to the Editor: College Campus Protests are Example of Students Exercising Rights
- The Oklahoman
- May 5, 2024
- The Greatest Time to Practice Law in Indian Country
- The Oklahoma Bar Journal
- April, 2024
- The Last True People’s Court: Oklahoma’s Tribal Courts as an Access to Justice
- Oklahoma Bar Association
- April, 2024
- Dances with Jurisdictions
- Oklahoma Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section
- June, 2023
- Letter to Editor: Top Critics of the Student Loan Forgiveness had No Problem Taking Money for Themselves
- Tulsa World
- September 4, 2022
- Letter to the Editor: It’s Time to Get Rid of the Death Penalty
- The Tulsa World
- May 8, 2022
- Final Petition for Executive Clemency for Native American Activist Leonard Peltier as submitted by attorneys Kevin Sharp and Robert Don Gifford (complete document)
- Robert Don Gifford, Gifford Law, PLLC and Kevin Sharp
- July 28, 2021
- “Notice of Claim” filed against the County of Oklahoma County, the State of Oklahoma, and its representative(s) David L. Prater, Oklahoma County District Attorney in accordance with the Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act, 51 Okla. Stat. Ann. § 156.
- GIFFORD LAW, PLLC – Robert Don Gifford, II
- October 22, 2019
- Cease and Desist Letter Sent To Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater
- GIFFORD LAW, PLLC – Robert Don Gifford, II
- October 19, 2019
- Native American Law: Will It Ever Be Taken Seriously?
- Lawyers Monthly
- January, 2018
- In the military, trusted officers have become alleged assailants in sex crimes
- Washington Post
- October 19, 2017
- Federal prosecutor Gifford shifting to private practice
- The Journal Record
- December, 2016
- “Your Witness Counsel” – Cross Examination
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- November 19, 2016
- A Primer for Ye Ol’Woodshed: Witness Preparaton
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- November 19, 2016
- The Time is Twenty Years past 9:02 a.m.
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- April 18, 2015
- Human Trafficking: Beyond Pretty Woman and Huggy Bear
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- August 15, 2013
- The Fourth Amendment – the Airport and Borders
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- November, 2012
- Employment Protection for the Citizen-Soldier
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- November 19, 2011
- Groucho was Wrong about Military Justice
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- November 19, 2011
- The OBA’s ‘Draft’ – Will you Answer the Call?
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- November 19, 2011
- War Courts Make Sense
- The Daily Oklahoman
- September 7, 2009
- Sex Offender Registration in Indian Country
- United States Attorney Bulletin
- July, 2009
- Foregoing the Scorched Earth Policy: Ethical Cross-Exam
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- December 15, 2008
- Cross-Examination – ABA’s 101 Practice Series – Breaking Down the Rules
- American Bar Association (Young Lawyer’s Division)
- 2007
- Planning for Trial – The 101 Practice Series – Breaking Down the Rules
- American Bar Association (Young Lawyer’s Division)
- 2007
- Preparing a Witness – ABA’s 101 Practice Series – Breaking Down the Rules
- American Bar Association (Young Lawyer’s Division)
- 2007
- Protect Yourself from Credit Card Billing Errors
- Military Money
- October, 2007
- Planes, Trains & Automobiles – the Fourth Amendment & your Vehicle
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- March 15, 2007
- Very Appealing Ethics
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- December, 2006
- Co-Signing a Loan is a Risky Business
- Military Money
- October, 2006
- Guideline “Departures” at Sentencing after Booker
- United States Attorney Bulletin
- September 7, 2006
- Become an Authority: Get Published
- American Bar Association (General Practice/Solo Magazine)
- August, 2006
- Bankruptcy Just Got A Lot Tougher
- Military Money
- December, 2005
- Ethics & the Criminal Prosecutor – Guilt shall no escape, nor innocents shall suffer
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- December 15, 2005
- The Law Language and Humpty Dumpty
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- September 3, 2005
- A Federal Grand Jury Primer
- The Young Lawyer (American Bar Association)
- August, 2005
- The Fifth Amendment & the Federal Grand Jury
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- August, 2005
- Appellate Advocacy
- The Young Lawyer (American Bar Association)
- March, 2005
- Crime & Punishment: Article 15
- The Reserve & National Guard magazine
- July, 2004
- Let’s Kill all the Lawyers
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- May 15, 2004
- Understanding the Federal Sentencing Guidelines
- The Young Lawyer (American Bar Association)
- February, 2004
- Stepping on the Battlefield: Military Justice Primer
- Oklahoma Bar Journal
- October, 2000
- The Legalities of the Properly Shined Boot
- The Tulsa Lawyer (Tulsa County Bar Association)
- March, 2000
- Who Really Plays for the Love Game
- The Sporting News
- December, 1992
- Websites & Blogs
- Contact & Address
- Rate This Lawyer