Background
Opala, Marian Peter was born on January 20, 1921 in Lódz, Poland.
Opala, Marian Peter was born on January 20, 1921 in Lódz, Poland.
Juris Doctor, Oklahoma City University, 1953. Bachelor of Science in Business in Economics, Oklahoma City University, 1957. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Oklahoma City University, 1981.
Master of Laws, New York University, 1968. HHD, Oklahoma Christian University of Science & Arts, 1981.
Assistant county attorney, Oklahoma County, 1953—1956. Practiced law Oklahoma City, 1956—1960, 1965—1967. Referee Oklahoma Supreme Court, 1960—1965.
Professor law Oklahoma City University School Law, 1965—1969. Assistant to presiding justice Supreme Court Oklahoma, 1967—1968. Administrative director Courts Oklahoma, 1968—1977.
Presiding judge Oklahoma State Industrial Court, 1977—1978. Judge Workers Compensation Court, 1978. Justice Oklahoma Supreme Court, 1978—2010, chief justice, 1991—1992.
Adjunct professor law Oklahoma City University, 1962-2010, University Oklahoma College Law, since 1969. Professor law University Tulsa Law School, 1982-2010. Member permanent faculty American Academy Judicial Education, 1970-2010.
Member New York University Institute Judicial Administration. Member faculty National Judicial College, University Nevada, 1975-2010. Chairman National Conference State Court Administrators, 1976-1977.
Member National Conference Commissioners Uniform State Laws, 1982-2010.
Member Administration Conference United States, 1993-1995. Member American Bar Association (education committee appellate judges conference 1984-1993), Oklahoma Bar Association (Earl Sneed Continuing Legal Education award 1988, Judicial Excellence award 1997), Oklahoma County Bar Association, American Society Legal History, Oklahoma City Title Lawyers Association, American Judicature Society (board directors 1988-1992), American Law Institute (elected), Order of Coif, Phi Delta Phi (Oklahoma City Alumni award).