Municipal Courts

Sherry Wallace DeBord

Sherry Wallace DeBord is the newly appointed Municipal Judge for the City of Perry.
She succeeds Municipal Judge Jack Dorl who served in that position for
31 years. DeBord was appointed by the City Council at their regular meeting May 4. She has served as Alternate Municipal Judge since July 2008.
Sherry, who is married to native Perryian Jay DeBord, moved to Perry in January of 2000. In July of that same year, she opened a private law office of general practice consisting of civil, criminal defense, commercial, family law, personal injury cases, estate planning, probate, commercial and family law mediation. She plans to continue her law practice in addition to her duties as Municipal Judge.
“I’m really excited about being appointed Municipal Judge,” said DeBord.
“It will be a great opportunity for me. Judge Dorl served the City of Perry very well in his years of service and it’s an honor to follow in his footsteps.”
Mayor Chuck Hall said, “No one can replace a Judge Jack Dorl. His experience, dedication and loyalty to this community are beyond reproach. However, since he feels it time to step down, I’m glad it’s Judge DeBord taking his place.  I’ve personally observed her courtroom operations and I have no doubt we made the right decision.”  DeBord is a 1984 graduate of the University of Oklahoma where she earned her bachelor of arts in political science with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and Congressional Studies. She earned her Jurist Doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1987.
Before coming to Perry, from 1988 to 1998, DeBord was an attorney in general law practice in Oklahoma City. Prior to that, she was an intern from 1987-1988 for Virgil C. Black practicing criminal and civil litigation. She was employed from 1985 to 1987 in the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office as a law clerk/intern, assigned to a felony team representing indigent clients.
She is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Noble County Bar Association, Leadership Noble County Class I, Oklahoma Academy of Mediators and Arbitrators and the National Association of criminal Defense Lawyers.
Her honors include: Outstanding Businesswoman of America 1998; Client featured in article in ABA Journal in December 1993; and Outstanding Young Women of America, 1987.
In the local community, she is a member of the Perry Development Coalition, First Christian Church where she has served as board chairman, and chaired the Evangelism committee and the Celebrate Children’s Day; a member of Perry Noon Lions Club where she has been first and second vice president; a member of Stagecoach Community Theatre, and served as Noble County Bar Association president, four times.
She has three children: Traci Kile, Kelly Judice and Ty DeBord; grandchildren include: Kelsie Kile, Koby Kile, Kory Kile, Kinzey Kile, Rio Judice and Yancey Judice.

                                                                                        Perry Daily Journal

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
         June 2000 to Present
Attorney: General law practice consists of civil, criminal defense, commercial, family law, personal injury cases, estate planning, and probate. Commercial and family law mediation.         1988‑1998
Attorney: General law practice consisted of criminal defense, family and matrimonial law and personal injury cases. Managed all aspects of law office, including hiring employees, preparing payroll, processing accounts payable/receivable and staff supervision.
         Virgil C. Black · Oklahoma City, Oklahoma    1987-1988
Intern:  Practice consisted of criminal and civil litigation.  Assisted client intake and management.  Participated in courtroom procedures during numerous trials.
     Oklahoma County Public Defender's Office · Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1985-1987
Law Clerk/Intern:  Assigned to felony team representing indigent clients.

EDUCATION:
Oklahoma City University School of Law · Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  Juris Doctor                                                                                                                     1987
 University of Oklahoma · Norman, Oklahoma
B.A. in Political Science, emphasis in Criminal Justice and Congressional Studies        1984
Honors:  Dean's Honor Roll

AFFILIATIONS:
Oklahoma Bar Association ·   Noble County Bar Association ·   Oklahoma Academy of Mediators  ·   Leadership Noble County, Class and Arbitrators  ·   National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers                                     

HONORS:
    ·     Outstanding Businesswomen of America (1998)
    ·     Client featured in article in ABA Journal (December 1993)
   ·     Outstanding Young Women of America (1987) 

LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY:

      ·     Perry Development Coalition
    ·     First Christian Church - Board Chairman, 2003-2004; Chair, Evangelism Committee,  
            2008; Chair, Celebrate Children's Day, 2008
    ·     Leadership Noble County – Class I; charter member, Vice-Chair 2002-2008
   ·     Perry Noon Lions Club- 2nd Vice-President 2007-2008; 1st Vice-President, 2008-            2009
    ·     Stage Coach Theatre, Board Member 2004-2005
    ·     Oklahoma Bar Association, Law Day Committee, 2003-2008
    ·     Noble County Bar Association, President 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007

Judge Jack Dorl - Retired May 2009
In 1977, I asked the mayor to appoint me to the position of municipal judge. He said that he would have to ask my wife first. She approved of the idea and the city council also approved it.  I have been re-appointed ever two years since. My first priority was to get respect back in the court room.  With the court clerks help we completely turned the court around. Our court is a model for other courts. All municipal courts hear criminal cases. There are around 200 municipal judges both lawyers and non-lawyers. You can hear juvenile cases if the district court agree. We were approved the first time we requested it. I was approved by the governing body to have an associate judge. I got to pick that person. I have a female lawyer who does practice criminal law. She has represented clients in our court and she really goes to bat for them. She has won some and lost some.  I will probability retire within two years as the council approved me till May, 2011. It has been a very productive place. Just treat people like you would want them to treat you. All people have some good in them. You just have to look for it.