Richard Darby
Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court
In office
January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022
Preceded byNoma Gurich
Succeeded byM. John Kane IV
Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court
Assumed office
April 5, 2018
Appointed byMary Fallin
Preceded byJoseph M. Watt
Personal details
Born1958 (age 65–66)
Duke, Oklahoma, U.S.
SpouseDana Darby
Children2
EducationSouthwestern Oklahoma State University (BS)
University of Oklahoma (JD)

Richard Darby (born 1958)[1] is an American lawyer and the former chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. On April 5, 2018, Governor Mary Fallin appointed Darby to the Oklahoma Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Joseph M. Watt.[2][3]

In his new position, Darby represents the 9th Judicial District, which includes Harmon, Greer, Jackson, Kiowa, Tillman, Cotton, Comanche, Caddo and Canadian counties.[4] Prior to this new appointment, Darby had served as District Judge for the 3rd Judicial District covering Jackson, Kiowa, Tillman, Greer and Harmon counties. That assignment began in 1994. Before that, he had been a special judge and an associate district judge for Jackson County.[5] He became Chief Judge on January 1, 2021.[6]

Education

Darby earned his Bachelor of Science in political science from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.[7]

Legal career

Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, Richard Darby was a state district court judge in the 3rd Judicial District for 24 years from 1994 to 2018.[2][a] Darby presided over both civil and criminal cases, as well as assigning cases to six other judges in the district. He also managed a staff consisting of a secretary, a bailiff and 5 court reporters.[4] In 2014, he ran unopposed for retention, so he was returned to the district court without appearing on the ballot.[8] Before that, he served as a special judge and an associate district judge in Jackson County, Oklahoma.[9]

Personal

Darby has been married to Dana Darby, Ph.D, who is superintendent of Altus Christian Academy. They have two sons: Ben, a communications officer for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Jonathan, a student at Universal Technical Institute in Irving, Texas.[4]

Notes

  1. ^ The 3rd Judicial District covered Jackson, Kiowa, Tillman, Greer and Harmon counties.

References

  1. ^ "Richard B. Darby Alumni Hall of Fame 2020" (PDF). www.wosc.edu/. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Schwab, Kyle (2018-04-05). "New justice named to the Oklahoma Supreme Court". NewsOK.com. Archived from the original on 2024-01-14. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  3. ^ @GovMaryFallin (April 5, 2018). "Pleased to name District Judge Richard Darby, of Altus, to serve as a justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. PRESS RELEASE (WITH PHOTO): Gov. Fallin Names District Judge Richard Darby to Serve as Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b c "Judge Darby Appointed To Supreme Court." Lawton Constitution. April 6, 2018. Archived July 23, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Accessed June 24, 2018.
  5. ^ Schwab, Kyle. "New justice named to the Oklahoma Supreme Court." NewsOK. April 5, 2018. Archived May 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Accessed June 24, 2018.
  6. ^ "Leadership Changes for State's Highest Courts". Oklahoma Bar Association. January 5, 2021. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  7. ^ "Judge Darby appointed to Supreme Court". The Lawton Constitution. Archived from the original on 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
  8. ^ "Darby, Richard." Ballotpedia. Undated. Archived 2024-01-14 at the Wayback Machine Accessed September 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "Oklahoma governor names Judge Richard Darby to Supreme Court". The Seattle Times. 2018-04-05. Archived from the original on 2024-01-14. Retrieved 2018-07-22.

External links

Legal offices Preceded byJoseph M. Watt Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court 2018–present Incumbent Preceded byNoma Gurich Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court 2021–2022 Succeeded byM. John Kane IV
Statewide political officials of Oklahoma
Categories