Prior to taking the bench as a District Judge, Judge Fitzgerald was a District Court Judicial Referee where she established the first pilot program to reduce Tulsa Public Schools’ rising truancy rates. The successful Tulsa County Truancy Diversion Program placed the court directly into the schools where it immediately and effectively addressed head-on the absentee problem, leading to a significant
reduction in student absences. For her efforts, she received the Tulsa Public Schools Award for Excellence. Judge Fitzgerald is committed to creating a legal system that is expedient, cost-efficient, and user friendly, as demonstrated when she effectively integrated duplicative family court proceedings and created a more responsive judiciary as Chief Judge of the Family Courts. Judge Fitzgerald was awarded the Community Collaboration Award from the Mental Health Association for creating legal resources for low income individuals. She was also awarded the Outstanding Service Award for her work in providing access to justice. In 2008, Judge Fitzgerald was recognized with the Mona Salyer Lambird Spotlight Award. Before joining the judiciary, Judge Fitzgerald was in private practice handling real estate, probate, family, and juvenile cases. Judge Mary Fitzgerald also set up and managed a legal aid office. Additionally, Mary Fitzgerald taught as an Adjunct Professor of Business Law, has worked as a business attorney for the Williams Companies, and was a small business owner. A devoted public servant, Judge Fitzgerald has worked on behalf of children as a member of CASA Board of Directors on the Children and the Law Committee, as a Bishop Kelley High School Mock Trial Attorney Coach, and as a member of Tulsa Lawyers for Children. The Tulsa County Bar Association recognized her work with the Centennial Celebration Award. She also devoted years to educating children in both public and private schools. She has served on the Tulsa County Bar Association/Operations Committee, Chairman Pro Se Sub-Committee, Fee Arbitration Committee, Pro Bono Committee, Chairman of the Lawyer Referral, Tulsa Municipal Court Strategic Planning Committee, Tulsa Municipal Judicial Nominating Committee, Tulsa Title and Probate Lawyers Association/Nominating Committee, and Tulsa Women Lawyers/Women in Law Committee. She is currently on the Oklahoma Judicial Conference Executive board where she serves as OBA Delegate. She served as a member of Hudson Hall Wheaton Chapter of The American Inns of Court and is a past president. Judge Fitzgerald received a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa and a Bachelor of Science in Education at Oklahoma State University.
