A longtime Hartshorne attorney whose career spanned state government, tribal judiciary and local public service, former Sen. Richard Lerblance died Saturday at age 80.
After graduating from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1978, he returned home to open his own law firm in Hartshorne, where he also served over the years as city councilor, member of the school board, fire chief and several stints as the city’s attorney and prosecutor. He was recently hired again to represent the city in March, a decade after he first resigned as city attorney when he advised council members they had violated the Open Meeting Act. (He returned to municipal service after those he had clashed with came under investigation for fiscal mismanagement, but resigned again in 2020 during the middle of a meeting following a vote on his compensation.)
“His genuine kindness, steady leadership and willingness to help others earned him the respect, admiration and friendship of so many,” said Catherine Bailey, a spokeswoman for the City of Hartshorne in a Facebook post. “Richard remained deeply devoted to the community he loved throughout his life, and his unwavering dedication to Hartshorne will forever be a part of our city’s story.”
A member of the Muscogee Nation, he was appointed in 1990 as a justice on the tribe’s Supreme Court and served from 1990 to 2002 and again from 2012 until his passing. He served as chief justice for eight years and was vice-chief justice at the time of his death.
Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill posted on Facebook to thank Lerblance for his service and ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor at tribal facilities. Over the past year, however, Lerblance and other Muscogee Supreme Court justices drew strong criticism and threats of recall from tribal citizens irritated by their 2025 unanimous ruling that the Treaty of 1866 required the tribe to admit Freedmen — the descendants of former slaves — as citizens.
When he stepped down from the Muscogee Nation bench in 2002, Lerblance began his stint in the Oklahoma Legislature after winning election to House District 17 by 30 votes. When longtime Sen. Gene Stipe (D-McAlester) resigned — and pleaded guilty to federal charges of perjury and conspiracy a month later — Lerblance defeated fellow Democrat Lloyd Fields and Republican Jess Davis to win a 2003 special election for Senate District 7.
“As an attorney, state legislator and Muscogee Nation Supreme Court justice, Richard Lerblance was a friend and statesman whose exceptional career included decades of public service to Oklahomans,” said Chancellor of Higher Education Sean Burrage, who served in the Senate with Lerblance. “My thoughts remain with his family in this difficult time.”
Former Sen. Kenneth Corn (D-Howe) also remembered Lerblance as “an uncommon common man.”
“He was someone who grew up in southeast Oklahoma. He lived among the people who he represented there, and he stood up for them in every aspect of it, whether it was making sure kids had access to education or a chance to have health care, trying to help make sure there were jobs in that part of the state, and then to make sure that they also could get fair treatment in a courtroom,” Corn said. “He did the work that is often unnoticed, but he did it because it was important to the people he served.”
Corn recalled a time that he was supposed to meet Lerblance at his Hartshorne law office and drive them to Lawton to campaign for a Senate candidate. Corn said he drove a Ford F-150 pickup at the time, which was “not the most comfortable ride to go across the state.” He said Lerblance offered to drive them instead in his Jaguar.
“Even though he had a Jaguar, you’d never know it with Sen. Lerblance. He was somebody who had a big heart and stood up for people, particularly those who didn’t have a voice and those who were trying to seek justice both in the Capitol and in the courtroom. That’s what he gave his life and service to, and I think that speaks large about his legacy,” Corn said. “I think he made decisions on what he thought was right and about the principles he grew up with, and he didn’t make decisions based on politics. (…) He believed in the rule of law and that everybody should be treated equally and that justice was blind, even though it could cost him politically.”
Sen. Warren Hamilton (R-McCurtain), who currently represents Senate District 7, said Monday that he was saddened to hear about Lerblance’s death.
“Whether in the courtroom, the Capitol, or his local community, Richard Lerblance answered the call to serve with total dedication. His legacy is one of leadership, faith, and a lifelong commitment to improving the lives of others,” Hamilton said in a statement. “On behalf of my family and the people of Senate District 7, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and all who knew and loved him. We join them in mourning his passing and honoring a life devoted to public service.”
During his time as senator, Lerblance also served as a justice on the Supreme Court of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, according to an archived bio from the Oklahoma State Senate.
After his time with the Senate, along with representing his hometown of Hartshorne as city attorney and prosecutor, he also served the City of Wilburton as the city’s attorney and judge.
Wilburton Mayor Loran Mayes remembered Lerblance as “more than just an attorney” and said his consistent guidance was helpful to her.
“My heart is with his family as they mourn during this time. I am thankful for his service to southeast Oklahoma over many years,” Mayes said in a statement. “Thank you, Mr. Lerblance, for your service to the City of Wilburton and to so many. Thank you, Lerblance family for sharing him and supporting his work.”
