On Monday, March 20, 2023, the Town of Jones held a Special Joint meeting between the Board of Trustees and the Planning Commission. The Trustees accepted the resignation of the former attorney, Devol and Associates, and approved the contract with John Dorman of Spencer Fane, LLP to serve as interim council.
Mr. Dorman is no stranger to Jones. His family can trace their roots in this community back to the 1889 land run. In fact, he still owns land in the area, where he visits frequently to tend to his heard of cattle. When asked why he pursued a career in law, he said, “My father encouraged me.”
His education and career expertise in municipal governance is extensive. His knowledge of municipal issues ranges from A-Z, and everything in between, including abatement issues to zoning ordinances .
As a 1976 graduate of Jones High School, he now holds diplomas from multiple institutions. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. After finishing with his bachelors degree, he completed his juris doctorate at the Oklahoma City University Law School. He then rounded off his educational achievements with a graduate degree from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied Political Science and Public Administration.
He practiced law at four (4) different municipalities before accepting his new position at Spencer Fane, LLP in January 2022. Shortly after completing law school, John Dorman worked in Jones at the Law Offices of Dean and Associates. In 1987, he got his start in municipal law, working for the City of Edmond. He later moved to Broken Arrow as an assistant attorney, where he specialized in planning and land use projects. His career continued to flourish when he moved to the City of Tulsa, where he was appointed as the head of the litigation division, trying many cases in Federal Court. His longest tenure was at the City of Stillwater, where he served 18 years as the City Attorney.