United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma
(N.D. Okla.)
LocationTulsa
More locations
Appeals toTenth Circuit
EstablishedFebruary 16, 1925
Judges4
Chief JudgeJohn F. Heil III
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyClint Johnson
U.S. MarshalClayton D. Johnson
www.oknd.uscourts.gov

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma (in case citations, N.D. Okla.) is a federal court in the Tenth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

The District was established on February 16, 1925, with the transfer of a judgeship in the Eastern District to the newly established Northern district.[1]

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma is one of three federal judicial districts in Oklahoma.[2] Court for the District is held at Tulsa.

The court's jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Craig, Creek, Delaware, Mayes, Nowata, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Rogers, Tulsa, and Washington.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. As of December 26, 2021 the United States attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma is Clint Johnson.[3]

Current judges

As of January 4, 2024:

# Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
Active Chief Senior
20 Chief Judge John F. Heil III[Note 1] Tulsa 1968 2020–present 2021–present — Trump
18 District Judge Gregory Kent Frizzell Tulsa 1956 2007–present 2012–2019 — G.W. Bush
21 District Judge Sara E. Hill Tulsa 1977 2024–present — — Biden
22 District Judge John D. Russell Tulsa 1963 2024–present — — Biden
13 Senior Judge Terence C. Kern Tulsa 1944 1994–2010 1996–2003 2010–present Clinton
16 Senior Judge Claire Eagan Tulsa 1950 2001–2022 2005–2012 2022–present G.W. Bush
17 Senior Judge James H. Payne[Note 1] inactive 1941 2001–2017 — 2017–present G.W. Bush
19 Senior Judge John E. Dowdell Tulsa 1955 2012–2021 2019–2021 2021–present Obama
  1. ^ a b Jointly appointed to the Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma.

Former judges

# Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
termination
1 Franklin Elmore Kennamer OK 1879–1960 1925–1940[Note 1] — 1940–1960 Coolidge/Operation of law death
2 Alfred P. Murrah OK 1904–1975 1937–1940[Note 2] — — F. Roosevelt elevation to 10th Cir.
3 Bower Slack Broaddus OK 1888–1949 1940–1949[Note 2] — — F. Roosevelt death
4 Royce H. Savage OK 1904–1993 1940–1961 1949–1961 — F. Roosevelt resignation
5 William Robert Wallace OK 1886–1960 1950–1960[Note 2] — — Truman death
6 Luther L. Bohanon OK 1902–2003 1961–1974[Note 2] — 1974–2003 Kennedy death
7 Frederick Alvin Daugherty OK 1914–2006 1961–1982[Note 3][Note 2] — 1982–2006 Kennedy death
8 Allen E. Barrow OK 1914–1979 1962–1979 1962–1979 — Kennedy death
9 H. Dale Cook OK 1924–2008 1974–1992[Note 2] 1979–1992 1992–2008 Ford death
10 Thomas Rutherford Brett OK 1931–2021 1979–1996 1994–1996 1996–2003 Carter retirement
11 James O. Ellison OK 1929–2014 1979–1994 1992–1994 1994–2014 Carter death
12 David Lynn Russell OK 1942–present 1981–1990[Note 2] — — Reagan seat abolished
14 Michael Burrage OK 1950–present 1994–2001[Note 2] — — Clinton resignation
15 Sven Erik Holmes OK 1951–present 1994–2005 2003–2005 — Clinton resignation
  1. ^ Reassigned from the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Jointly appointed to the Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma.
  3. ^ Recess appointment; formally nominated on January 15, 1962, confirmed by the United States Senate on February 7, 1962, and received commission on February 17, 1962.

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

See also

References

  1. ^ U.S. District Courts of Oklahoma, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center
  2. ^ 28 U.S.C. § 116
  3. ^ "Clinton Johnson Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma" (Press release). December 29, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022.

External links

36°09′04″N 95°59′43″W / 36.15123°N 95.99523°W / 36.15123; -95.99523

Active district judges of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
Senior district judges of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States federal courts
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