Q&A with Professor, Dr. Sid Brown

A member of a blue-collar migrant family, distinguished professor, Dr. Sid Brown, who was raised in poverty, never dreamed of college. But, with the help of a caring older brother, a street-smart mom, an honest teacher and a few others along the way, Dr. Brown went on to become a major player in Oklahoman children’s law. 

He started by serving as a juvenile parole officer, a path that led him to be the presiding judge of the juvenile court system for 10 years. He also was commissioner for the Oklahoma Commission on Children & Youth and worked to improve children’s law by co-writing the Child Death Review Board Act, creating CASA in Oklahoma County, redefining Oklahoma mental health laws and co-founding the Adolescent Sexual Offender Program (which has a 90% success rate and is internationally recognized).

Now, after serving as an assistant attorney general and teaching at the Oklahoma City University School of Law and Oklahoma City Community College, Dr. Brown is helping build the Criminal Justice program here at Oklahoma Christian University. 

When did you decide you were interested in law? 

“I couldn’t get a job as a teacher despite a good academic record because I was a social studies major and you needed to be a coach in Oklahoma. Many schools asked me if I could coach and I couldn’t coach anything. So someone said, ‘How would you like to be a juvenile parole officer?’ I wasn’t particularly interested in law but, when I stepped in the juvenile courtroom and juvenile parole, I began to find that I believe that’s where God intended me to be.”

For you, what was the most challenging part of law school? 

“Studying and keeping up. Law school is an enormously fast paced environment. And in law school, every course is just case after case. So, you had to be fairly consistent. And that’s what really made the difference for me was making sure that I had a good routine.”

On being at Oklahoma Christian . . .

“I’ve met just a ton of great people. You know, Dr. Winn, she has been nothing short of wonderful. Dr. Lamascus, just a phenomenal intellect. He was wonderful and we got to do the Brian Stevenson Criminal Justice conference, which is one of the largest, if maybe not the largest conference in OC history . . . I was sort of surprised when they picked an older person to want to run it, but also a lot of people say, ‘Well aren’t you going to retire?’ But I said, ‘As long as I’m relevant, and as long as I know things, and I have a perspective that I can share, and I have just hundreds of stories that are logged into my mind that make things relevant, they make them alive for students.’ And I love the students.”

 Do you have any encouraging words or advice for our alumni students attending law schools or current students who desire to attend law school or just pursue law? 

“Yes. A lot of parents and students come in worried, “Well they gotta have their career all mapped out.” And I said, “Forget that!” What you do is you learn to love your life here at Oklahoma Christian. You will form friendships that will forever be. You learn how to study, learn how to do well, you have a good academic record, everything else will fall into place.”

Jennifer’s Story . . .

“I remember a young woman coming to me . .. . and she said, “Dr. Brown, I want to make a difference in the world, in sexual assault victims.” She was an outstanding person and thinker. As a matter of fact, she revolutionized, in Oklahoma, the law enforcement approach to investigations of sexual assault and even appeared on Dr. Phil. And sadly, two years ago, she had a blood clot that broke loose in her leg and caused a coronary thrombosis. And I think I heard one of the greatest eulogies about just a common person who did extraordinary things. And that little tagline is not a cliche on my email. When I say, “Make a Difference,” it is meant. And I’m evangelical and have been for years about telling my students, “Go out and do good.”

And lastly, do you have any concluding thoughts, final statements, or other topics you’d like to address?

“Enjoy life, have a little more humor. I was much too serious for my own good. And form those friendships and be involved in life, be involved in things. Enjoy themselves but also do things. Every person, no matter what it is, can do a little something.”