Oklahoma Policy Institute They are usually first recommended by senators (or members of the House, occasionally). [1][3], The presiding judge of the court is selected by peer vote, serving in that capacity for two years. Its all the lawyers fault. Kevin Gray currently leads the homicide unit in the Tulsa County District Attorneys Office, where he has worked as an assistant district attorney for 11 years. 821 201 Although their appointments may last for life, the judges of each court stand for reelection on six-year terms, which are staggered so that some portion of the states appellate judges will face reelection in every even-numbered year. This is a wonderful, informative article about selection/election of judges in Oklahoma. Accordingly, effective February 1, 2022, the testing policy for all in-custody individuals shall be as follows: During the month of February, 2022, the current procedure will be followed in addition to the new procedures outlined above. Instead, voters cast a simple yes-or-no vote on whether the judge should be retained in office. Hixon earned her law degree from the University of Tulsa in 2002. Resigned April 1, 1924 to become Federal Judge for Northern District of Oklahoma, Appointed May 1, 1920; resigned November 5, 1920, Appointed December 6, 1922; resigned May 1, 1924, Elected to an unexpired term; Chief Justice, 1931, Resigned after serving 1 month in first term; won election in 1933, Elected to an unexpired term of J. H. Langley, Impeached; convicted of bribery and sent to prison. https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Oklahoma_District_Courts&oldid=8293338, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections, Beckham, Custer, Ellis, Roger Mills and Washita, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Kiowa and Tillman, Alfalfa, Blaine, Dewey, Garfield, Grant, Kingfisher, Major, Woods and Woodward, Adair, Cherokee, Muskogee, Sequoyah and Wagoner, Carter, Johnston, Love, Marshall and Murray. from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1983. Thanks Forrest! 405-713-1121 321 Park Avenue, Rm. Tanya Wilson oversees preliminary hearings as a special judge in Tulsa County. He served as the presiding judge of the state multi-county Grand Jury from 2016 to 2018. Bailiff: Jenny 405-713-1403 Here I am on the doorstep of making it to the next level, and it would be very selfish for me to worry about my own opportunities when someone else may never get the opportunity to stand where Im standing, being a minority, he said. He previously spent 23 years as a judge for the Third Judicial District, in southwest Oklahoma. To serve on this court, a justice must be: The chief justice of the court is selected by peer vote, serving in that capacity for two years. In response to the comment by Scott on August 14th, 2015) is you question about Special Judge Lynn McGuire not being on a retention ballet a question for or against Judge McGuire? Bailiff: Marisela 405-713-1456 5905 Classen Court, Rm. There are six primary types of judicial selection: partisan and nonpartisan elections, the Michigan method, assisted appointment, gubernatorial appointment, and legislative elections. These meetings provide an effective forum for exchanging information between trial and appellate judges. The comment above any realistic recourse if I am not misunderstanding seems to ring true with my thoughts. Clerk: Brooke, Juvenile Justice Center The judges are elected, in a nonpartisan manner, to serve a four-year term. Clerk: Karina, Oklahoma County Courthouse Clerk: Jennifer 722 In Oklahoma, there are three federal district courts, a state supreme court, court of criminal appeals, court of civil appeals, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. Juv-101 This year, the voters will cast retention votes for the following State Supreme Court Justices: Douglas L. Combs, Dana Kuehn, Dustin P. Rowe, and James R. Winchester. The appointed judge then must stand for re-election in the next general election after he or she has served one year on the bench to serve out the remainder of his or her predecessor's term. Because their elections are not competitive, Oklahomas Code of Judicial Conduct does not allow appellate judges to raise campaign funds or establish campaign committees. 405-713-1133 Under certain . where voters can learn about the justices and judges who will be on the ballot this year, read their biographies, and browse decisions theyve authored. Direct your argument to the bench not opposing counsel. In addition, voters in some counties will vote to elect district and associate district court judges. He is looking to win his fourth reelection bid this year, and he has emphasized his experience in social media advertisements. Darby practiced law in Altus before becoming a judge. Oklahoma City, OK 731118 The Courts Civil Division handles non-criminal cases other than family, juvenile, and probate. Bailiff:Christy [7] To serve on this court, a judge must be licensed to practice law in the state and be a registered voter in the county of nomination. Published: Oct. 31, 2022 at 9:06 AM PDT. Clerk: Lucas The Court is composed of 12 judges, who are divided among four districts with three judges per district. Oklahoma City, OK 73102 709 He received his juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 2001. If more than two candidates file for one seat, they will compete in a primary election. Oklahoma City, OK 73118 Background: Fischer was appointed by Gov. [6] As of April 2023, the only courts of record in the state were in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Direct your argument to the bench not opposing counsel. Henry Bellmon. 631 In Oklahoma County, only two district court judicial seats will have an election on Nov. 8 after three incumbent district judges Amy Palumbo, Natalie Mai and Nikki Kirkpatrick won their . Criminal Court Criminal Court is the court where the state holds people accountable for violations of criminal law. also compiles information on judicial candidates education, background, and past decisions. | Clerk: Mariah Justice Tom Colbert was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2004 by Gov. Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Early voting runs from Wednesday, Nov. 2, through Saturday, Nov. 5. [1], If a judge retires before the end of his or her term, the vacancy is filled just as it normally would be, with the governor appointing a successor from a list of names provided by the nominating commission. The Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals are the states courts of last resort for civil and criminal matters, respectively. Full case number. 109 . Oklahoma has 77 district courts, each with one or more district judges and an associate district judge. JUV-206 The Council on Judicial Complaints (often referenced as "COJC" or "the Council") receives and investigates complaints concerning the alleged misconduct of Oklahoma judges. The justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Court are: Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The district courts are served by Article III federal judges, who are appointed for life during good behavior. Search public court records from participating courts. Oklahoma City, OK 73102 or Reset all of the fields. [5], Judges of the Oklahoma Municipal Courts Not of Record are each appointed to two-year terms by the mayor with approval from the governing body of the municipality. Impeached by a Special Court of Impeachment, May 13, 1965; replaced by Judge Robert E. Lavender. [8] To serve on this court, a judge must have a law degree. She previously served as an assistant district attorney in Oklahoma, Pottawatomie and Muskogee counties, and as a prosecutor in the Attorney Generals Office in the multi-county grand jury unit. State and local courts | (The court picks a new chief justice from among the sitting members every two years.) Turn off or put your phone on vibrate before you enter the courtroom. Oklahoma City, OK 73118 In 1917, the court was expanded to nine justices, with the judicial districts being redrawn accordingly, and with the seats for the fourth and . A good resource for more information on Oklahoma courts and the retention system is courtfacts.org, a nonpartisan guide compiled by the Oklahoma Bar Association. District Judge District 17 Judge for Choctaw County, McCurtain County and Pushmataha County 321 Park Avenue, Rm. But because district court elections are competitive, often with several contenders running against each other for the same office, candidates are allowed to fundraise and organize campaign committees. The Probate Division hears cases concerning the appointment of personal representatives including guardianships for children and conservatorships for incapacitated adults; the distribution and handling of estates of people who have died; petitions regarding trust administration; review and accounting of guardians and conservators; disputes about wills, trusts, and powers of attorney; and other matters that may arise under the Probate code. (Kane is up for retention this year because he was appointed partway through a term.). Each state has a unique set of guidelines governing how they select judges at the state and local level. District and associate district judges hear both civil and criminal cases everything from traffic violations to name changes to homicides. , within the State of Oklahoma; shall be a qualified elector of the respective district; and shall have such additional qualifications as may be prescribed by statute. He also holds a masters degree in law from the University of Virginia. Court Reporter: Scott, Civil Docket, 3rd Floor In 1982, he opened his own firm in Shawnee. a qualified voter in his or her district; and. If, at any time an inmate displays COVID-19 symptom or is known to have been exposed to COVID-19, that inmate will be administered a Rapid test to determine if they have contracted COVID-19 and will be subject to the above-stated policy regarding quarantining or placement in general population. Court Reporter: Pam. 321 Park Avenue, Rm. Kane is Catholic and received support from pro-life groups after his appointment was announced. These courts hear a wide range of criminal and civil cases. Oklahoma has 77 district courts, each with one or more district judges and an associate district judge. For eight months prior to her appointment as a special judge, Wilson worked in private practice specializing criminal and family law. Oklahoma County Courthouse She was appointed to the position two years ago. Clerk: Aimee, Oklahoma County Courthouse Click on one of the judges names in the menu on the left for more information. Just as the Supreme Court is the Oklahomas highest body in civil matters, the Court of Criminal Appeals is the states final authority in criminal cases. Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals Criminal courts conduct arraignments, pretrial hearings, preliminary examination hearings, pretrial law and motion hearings, trials, sentencing, probation-related hearings, and proceedings regarding criminal justice mental health. I would dismiss the case for lack of indispensable parties.. . After graduating from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1996, she worked as a felony prosecutor for 10 years with the Tulsa County District Attorneys office. . He dissented because the tribal nations were not party to the suit. Background: Gregory Blackwell was appointed by Gov. Email correspondence does not satisfy this requirement. 321 Park Avenue, Rm. 405-713-1107 According to a 1990 piece in the Tulsa World, Lumpkin was one of the first jurists in Oklahoma to sentence non-violent offenders to work for non-profit agencies, county governments and school boards., In 2017, Judge David Lewis, the courts sole Black judge, criticized Lumpkin for issuing an opinion in a murder case which repeatedly quoted the defendants use of a racial slur. Discovery sanctions may only be sought after a court has made a ruling on a Motion to Compel. LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - 7News continues our pre-election coverage with profiles from District Judge candidates. In 2013, Colbert became the courts first Black chief justice. Oklahomas turnpike expansion plan faces road blocks, Easter Sundaze: Trying to save a dime in the egg aisle, Preserving Hafer Park memories: Welcome to paradise, Oklahomas Broadband Office and the mystery of missing meeting minutes, March Madness 2023: So your bracket is in shambles, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, With more elections around the corner, voter fatigue complicates 2023, Straight party voting throws quite a rager in Oklahoma, Nearly $1 billion: OKCPS passes largest bond package in district history, Wont go woke: Ryan Walters elected state superintendent in win for Stitt, Vicki Behenna beats Kevin Calvey in hotly contested Oklahoma County DA race, Encore: Kevin Stitt reelected governor of Oklahoma, Stitt selects Katherine Curry as new secretary of education, replacing Superintendent Ryan Walters, Board disapproves Catholic charter school application for now, requests corrections, Opponents ecstatic as Turnpike Authority pauses ACCESS Oklahoma expansion plan, Seeking vote on Edmond city projects, Brian Shellem files 3 referendum petitions, Questions linger over Texas water pump on Oklahoma side of Lake Texoma. JUV-208 Oklahoma District Courts are represented in each of the state's 77 counties and organized into 26 judicial districts. Probate court hears cases related to the personal and financial affairs of adults and children. 0:06. Associate judges must have been practicing lawyers or judges for the past two years. Bailiff: Notable decisions: Winchester wrote the majority opinion in Treat v. Stitt, a 7-1 ruling that said the governor did not have the authority to negotiate gaming compacts with tribal nations that included games unauthorized by the Oklahoma Legislature. Ballotpedia features 407,502 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. District Court appeals of civil matters go to the Oklahoma Supreme Court and appeals of criminal matters go to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.[3]. She has also previously taught at the National Judicial College. 321 Park Avenue, Rm. Winchester, along with Rowe, dissented in the 6-3 decision in 2021 that stopped the implementation of a privately managed care program for Medicaid. [1], The presiding judge of each district court is selected by peer vote. After receiving his juris doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2004, Blackwell worked as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, where he defended federal agencies in environmental litigation. Five judges serve on the court and two are currently up for retention. Brad Henry in 2008. There are also two candidates for associate district judge in Beaver, Blaine, Canadian, Carter, Garvin, Latimer, McClain, Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Stephens Counties. Bailiff:Vanessa During college, Cole was a research assistant at the Center for U.S.-China Issues and the Center for Cyber Governance and Policy. I am a fellow sufferer of judge Lynne McGuire. His J.D. NOTE: This post was originally written by OK Policy Intern Forrest Farjadian in 2014 and has been updated periodically. To serve on this court, a judge must be licensed to practice law for two years or have two years of experience as a judge of a court of record. Kathryn Savage serves as a special judge in Oklahoma County, and she was first sworn into that position in November 2017. Oklahoma judicial elections, 2014; Oklahoma judicial elections, 2012; Oklahoma judicial elections, 2010; Selection method See also: Nonpartisan election of judges. He has served on the Court of Criminal Appeals since 1989 and was appointed by Gov. Read the article on the voting for District Judge with interest. Click a state on the map below to explore judicial selection processes in that state. Kevin Stitts first Supreme Court appointee, filling a seat left open by the retirement of Justice John F. Reif. 123 Special Judge Lynn McGuire was appointed as Special Judge in OK County in 2009 but has never been on a retention ballot, as far as I can tell. 5905 Classen Court, Rm. Eastern District of Oklahoma. Oklahoma District Courts The Oklahoma court system is made up of the Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Court of Civil Appeals, 77 district courts and courts of limited jurisdiction. Cole hopes that his work at OK Policy will help make Oklahoma a more just and equitable state for all its residents. 321 Park Avenue, Rm. Court of Civil Appeals District 1, Office 2 Jane P. Wiseman. Kathryn Savage. Bailiff: Alejandra On Day Five, each individual taken into custody will be administered a PCR test (which is more accurate than the Rapid Test and will be of. The Council functions independently of the judicial branch with investigative powers similar to a grand jury. Oklahoma City, OK 73102 The motion may be summarily denied by the court if it does not contain a statement that the movant has conferred or attempted to confer either in person or by telephone with the person or party failing to make the discovery in an effort to secure the information or material without court action.. Oklahomas general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, andpolls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Upon intake, each individual taken into custody will be quarantined for a period of five (5) days. Oklahoma has three appellate courts, which are the courts that hear appeals of decisions by lower courts. Court Reporter: Melinda. Lumpkin graduated from the OU College of Law in 1974. Frank Keating. Court Reporter: Criminal/Civil Docket, 8th Floor The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country. 3Rd Floor in 1982, he opened his own firm in Shawnee during good behavior in before. 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