The Bryan County Drug Court held its first quarter graduation at the First United Methodist Church in Durant on Friday, March 20, 2009. Lt. Governor Jari Askins was among the guest speakers at the ceremony.

After a brief welcome and invocation, Julie Rorick, coordinator of the court, introduced DeAnna Adair, assistant coordinator.

Adair said that she was an addict recoverer. She briefly spoke to the graduates, and said that one of the counselors, Keith Phillips, could not be there due to health issues.

A letter written by Phillips was then read aloud to the audience. Phillips apologized that he could not be there and congratulated the graduates. He wrote how proud he was of the participants, and that the credit for their success goes to them. He also mentioned how the program is a lighthouse for people recovering from addiction.

Rorick then introduced Judge Farrell Hatch, retired, who is the presiding drug court judge. She said he was born in Arkansas, and his family moved to Bokchito when he was five.

After attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Hatch attended a college in Arkansas before going to Duke University.

During his career, Hatch was appointed to the parole board, and also as a district judge.

“He gives 110 percent to the program,” Rorick said. “Drug court is Judge Hatch’s passion.”

Hatch then addressed the graduates and audience. He spoke about the drug court, and that it saves not only tax payers’ money, but it also saves lives and families.

He said the program needs people’s support, and he was glad to see government officials, city managers, commissioners and other leaders there.

The local judge and district attorney need to be on the same page to get things done, and that both wanted a drug court in the county, Hatch said.

Hatch introduced someone he said played a big part in the program, Judge Mark Campbell.

People are not judged by their mistakes, but how they respond to those mistakes, Campbell said. He said the graduates had responded with honor to their mistakes.

He briefly spoke about Hatch “and his invaluable contribution to the drug court program.”

Campbell said that while he was a district attorney, he and Hatch had visited Ada to see first hand how a drug court works. He went on to discuss the drug court program and how it helps the participants. He said he has seen an amazing change in the people who participate in the court.

To the graduates, Campbell said that they have inspired others, earned the respect of others and gained self-respect.

Rorick said that the information turned into the government does not show the whole story of the drug court. The program not only impacts the participants, but also the people around them. She then introduced Brandy White who had not participated in the court, but had been impacted by it.

White said that as a teenager she started drinking and got on methamphetamine. She eventually allowed people to cook drugs in her house.

White told how she quit when she became pregnant and felt so alone since she was the only person she knew at that time who was sober. But after her pregnancy, she she began to use meth again.

She said her husband participated and graduated from drug court, and he motivated her to stop doing meth. White said that she is now happily married and has two children.

The next guest speaker was State Representative John Carey. He told the participants that they were not just graduates, but they were winners.

State Senator Jay Paul Gumm then briefly spoke. He said it was an honor to be there, and that he was reminded of the question “why do we fall?” The answer is so a person can pick his or herself up again. The graduates had picked themselves up, he said.

Gumm said the participants were stepping from darkness into light, and “that is what we celebrate here tonight.”

Gumm then introduced the next speaker, Lt. Governor Jari Askins.

Askins said the drug court needs the support of the community and its leaders. “Community support is huge.”

She said she first met Hatch in 1991, about the time she was appointed to the Pardon and Parole Board.

Hatch recommended substance abuse treatment to help a person get parole or release, Askins said. “It was something he believed in.”

In 1997 she helped with a bill that put the first state drug courts in Oklahoma.

While a special district judge, Askins said she saw over and over the need for treatment. She said that there had not been enough community treatment.

“What you have done is hard,” Askins told the graduates. She said some people just want to pay the penalty and get back to what they are doing. But, Askins said the participants had made a choice that would impact their lives.

The drug court team members and the district attorney had seen hope in them, Askins told the participants.

“You who have graduated from this program have succeeded,” Askins said.

The graduates were then introduced by Hatch and included Bill Sudderth, Tammy Woodall, Neal Flowers, Chris Burkhalter and Jon Hicks. The graduates gave their testimony and were presented with a certificate.