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YOU ARE HERE : HOME / About Kalyn Free
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Kalyn Free is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the third largest Indian Tribe in the United States. She was born in Latimer County, Oklahoma. She credits Oklahoma’s public school system with providing an excellent education and firm foundation for success in higher studies. Kalyn followed her graduation in 1981 from Red Oak High School with graduation from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1984 earning a BA in History and a BA in Communications. She then graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1987.
Kalyn, at age 23, was the youngest attorney ever hired by the U. S. Department of Justice. In 1987 she began her career in the Attorney General’s Honors Program in Washington, DC as a Trial Attorney in the Environmental Enforcement Section. Kalyn prosecuted pollution cases throughout the United States from 1987 until 1995, including several cases in https://florafox.com/ru/tvyer-13. She was then promoted to Senior Counsel in the Indian Resources Section, where she supervised environmental litigation throughout Indian Country until 1998. While at the Justice Department, Kalyn received awards for her outstanding litigation skills, as well as recognition for her commitment to diversity issues. Kalyn was the only DOJ attorney nominated for the Arthur S. Flemming Award for Outstanding Service to the Federal Government.
In 1998, Kalyn returned to Oklahoma and was elected District Attorney of Pittsburg & Haskell Counties in Southeastern Oklahoma. Kalyn was the first woman elected to this office.
During Kalyn’s term as District Attorney she truly made a difference in the lives of people, not only in her two counties but throughout Oklahoma. Kalyn’s untiring efforts in raising public awareness of and prosecuting family violence, child abuse and sexual assault cases earned her several coveted awards including the “Make A Difference Award” from the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the “Friend of Children Award” from the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, and she was named to Oklahoma’s Top Fifty Women of the Year. In 2000, Kalyn received the American Bar Association’s distinguished “Spirit of Excellence Award” for her commitment to American Indian and Diversity issues.
Kalyn prosecuted all types of criminals including child molesters and abusers, rapists, murderers, wife-killers, and drug dealers. Kalyn made victims’ rights a priority throughout her administration, coupling compassion with aggressive prosecution. In addition to her courtroom successes, Kalyn is most proud of creating the best Family Violence/Child Abuse Team in the state, the PEACE Unit (Prosecuting to End Adult Child Endangerment), and creating safe and private areas for victims of crime in both county courthouses (which were non-existent before). Kalyn also created the SAVE Program (Substance Alcohol Victim’s Effort) to combat alcohol and drug abuse.
Kalyn is a member of or on the Board of: National Alliance for Mentally Ill, Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, NAACP, Freedom House, Pittsburg County Child Abuse Response Effort, Native American Bar Association, Oklahoma Indian Bar Association, American Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, EMILY’s List, Sierra Club, American Council of Young Political Leaders, Elk’s Lodge, Business & Professional Women, Oklahoma Democrat Party, Pittsburg County Democrat Party, Delegate to 2000 Democrat National Convention, National Rifle Association, and the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival.
Kalyn’s top priorities and passions are children, Child Abuse, Family Violence, Sexual Assault, Victims’ Rights, Mental Illness, Substance & Alcohol Abuse, Treatment Options for Victims & Addicts, Poverty, Public Education, Career Tech, Higher Education, Health Care, Environment, Media Violence, Tribal Sovereignty, Family, Women’s Issues, Labor Unions, Security in America, Veterans, Family Farms, Patient’s Bill of Rights, and protecting Social Security. |
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